A Light in Darkness

Propers: Candlemas, A.D. 2017 A

Homily:

Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Jesus Christ is the Light of the world, the Light no darkness can overcome: the Light to reveal God to the nations, and the glory of His people Israel.

Life is not a struggle between good and evil, between darkness and light. It is often presented as such, as though there were two opposing forces making up our world. But in truth, there is no such thing as darkness. It has no substance, no material to it at all. Darkness is merely the absence of light, an illusion. There is no “thing” there, literally nothing.

The idea that there’s a light side and a dark side, a yin and a yang, is the conceit of evil, claiming that evil is simply another position, another pole, another extremity in a world that must be balanced between the two. But there’s nothing there. Just as cold is the lack of heat, lies the lack of truth, and sin the lack of love, so evil is simply the lack of goodness, truth, and beauty—in short, the lack of God. Evil cannot overcome goodness any more than lies can falsify fact or shadows smother light. All the darkness in the world cannot overcome the light of a single candle.

The Zoroastrians once believed in two competing gods, one good and one evil, struggling for final control over the cosmos. The symbol of their faith was a flame, and any flame, they claimed, always casts a shadow. But that’s not true. Light a match and hold it up to look at its shadow on the wall, and you will see the matchstick held in your hand—but not the flame. Light has no shadow.

The devil would have us believe otherwise. He would like us to think that the world is a struggle between two opposing gods, between Satan and Jesus Christ. But Satan is no god. He’s not even an anti-god. He’s just the twisted, broken wreckage of a creature that once was beautiful. And he tries to cast himself as the tragic hero, or as the monster challenging God, but he’s no more a challenge to God than are shadows to the sun. Like so many sinners, he tries to pass off his empty failure as noble accomplishment.

Let us remember this, in our brokenness, in our sorrows. Let us remember how the light of a single candle dispels all darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it. Jesus Christ has come into the world to bring us light and warmth and life eternal, to pour out upon us the infinite Goodness and Truth and Beauty that are God. Christ is the Light of the world, and He has proclaimed that you are the Light! No one lighting a lamp hides it under a basket, but sets it high upon the lampstand so that it gives light to the entire household!

So it is with you. The world often seems dark and cold, but the Light of Christ burning within even one single soul illumines all the world around her. Let your light so shine before others that they see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven.

In the Name of the Father and of the +Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Candle Blessing:

The Phos Hilaron is the earliest known Christian hymn outside of the Bible. Let us pray:

O Gracious Light, Lord Jesus Christ

In You the Father’s glory shown

Immortal, holy, blest is He

And blest are You, His holy Son

Now sunset comes, but light shines forth

The lamps are lit to pierce the night

Praise Father, Son, and Spirit: God

Who dwells in the eternal Light

Worthy are You of endless praise,

O Son of God, life-giving Lord;

Wherefore You are through all the earth

And in the highest heaven adored. Amen.

Before the throne burn seven lamps of fire, which are the seven spirits of God. Brothers and sisters, we are gathered this evening to give thanks to God, and we seek His blessing as we set apart these candles to the glory of the Father, and of the +Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Let us pray:

O God, who revealed to us the vision of Your Son in the midst of candlelight, and of Your Spirit in seven lamps of fire before Your throne, how often do we kindle light during vigils of community grief and on occasions of community celebration. Grant that these candles, to be used for Your glory, may be to us signs of Your presence, of the promise of eternal Light, and of Christ, the Light of the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Accept this Easter candle,

A flame divided but undimmed,

A pillar of fire that glows to the honor of God

For it is fed by the melting wax

Which the mother bee brought forth

To make this precious candle.

Let it mingle with the lights of heaven

And continue bravely burning

To dispel the darkness of this night!

May the Morning Star which never sets

Find this flame still burning:

Christ, that Morning Star,

Who came back from the dead,

And shed His peaceful light on all humanity,

Your Son, who lives and reigns forever and ever.

Amen.