The season of Epiphany lasts for seven Sundays this year. I write this year because the length of the season changes every year, as the date for Easter changes. In the season of Epiphany, light is everywhere in our worship: scripture, prayers, music. We celebrate during this season, because Jesus, the light of the world, has come into our midst.
Together, we sing about light,
“I want to walk as a child of the Light,
I want to follow Jesus.
God set the stars to give light to the world,
the Star of my life is Jesus.”
Together we hear the words of the prophet Isaiah,
“Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord is upon you.”
How do you walk as a child of the light? How do you shine? How do we shine our light together?
A few years ago, I heard a great lecture on shining our lights. The teacher started out by handing us all a picture of a lighthouse. She said, “You are the lighthouse.”
What does a lighthouse do? A lighthouse is firmly planted on the shore, and shines light into a body of water. The light helps others to navigate, to see where there is safe passage or rocky terrain. The light may be a comfort in a storm or hope in the darkness. The lighthouse works best when on solid foundation, and when the light is shining through is not distorted (or blocked) by a soiled lamp. Those who maintain a lighthouse know the importance of keeping the lamp clean and the building on solid foundation.
So, if we are the lighthouse: How are we shining? What might be muddying up our lens? Are we firmly planted in Jesus?
In this season of Epiphany, let’s continue to shine the light of Christ brightly! Later this month, as we move
into the season of Lent (starting on Ash Wednesday, February 22), let’s examine our lens, and ask God to cleanse it so that others may see the light of Christ shining brightly through us.
It is my great joy and privilege to shine my light with you,
The Rev. Lisa Saunders+
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