May the Light of Christ Shine through Us

Epiphany. A season that is overlooked by many Christians, but profound in its reminder of the light of Christ coming to the nations.

In the Western church, Epiphany reminds us that the Magi came to see the Christ-child. For Eastern Orthodox churches, Epiphany commemorates the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan.

Every era has needed Christ’s light. Among the generations, some bear scars from World War II and the conditions it led to; others trace their hurts back to the 1960s as drugs and sexual freedom exploded on the scene; yet others still feel the pain of the economic recession seven years ago. And now, unresolved war in Syria, repression and persecution, polarization in public discourse, and the threat of terrorism all remind us that we live in a time of darkness.

So what does the 1 John 1 passage mean for us in this time of Epiphany?

“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.
If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another,
and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”

Will terrorism be avoided by closing our doors to certain sets of refugees? By no means. Terrorists will find easier pathways than that of refugee entry. The refugee process has multiple gates, giving us not only an assurance of proper vetting but also, upon arrival, an opportunity to show the light of Christ—of being in fellowship with one another.

Are our Muslim neighbors to be ridiculed or demeaned? By no means. It is only through acts of friendship and by means of relationships that our Muslim friends and neighbors will see the light radiating from every kind word, each act of respect we offer. God is in this light.

Will political candidates recently elected or still to be selected save us? By no means. Just as the Old Testament believers mixed up their hope, longing for a political savior, we should not expect light from our political leaders; rather, we should direct the light of the Gospel toward all of our pressing problems as we engage political systems and structures. Our ultimate hope is and always should be in the purifying blood of Jesus.

As we walk into this new year, we who are marked by his light need to cast his reflection into this world’s dark corners of hate and hurt, to flood Christ’s light upon the fear mongers who walk in darkness, and to bear the light of Christ for those fleeing war and persecution, showing them the way to freedom—all the way to the foot of the cross.

For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God's glory displayed in the face of Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6)  May it be so in this season of Epiphany, in this New Year, and until he comes again.