Seeing the Light at Christmas and Beyond

Jesus opens blind eyes. He illumines darkness. He is the light of the world. What kind of light? One that reveals, cleanses and strengthens all He chooses to shine upon. He reveals the truth about Himself and us. He cleanses us from sin's defiling effects. He grows His Church as He sees fit.

It is interesting to me that Jesus, the light, makes lights of His chosen ones. "Let your light so shine", He says, so that others may glorify your Father in heaven when they see your good works. As the prophet Isaiah spoke, "Arise, shine, for your light has come". We are lesser lights, reflecting the glory of "the true light coming into the world that enlightens every man". So, as God illumines us, we "shine like stars in the universe", one among many reflecting the glory of the true Light.

Often, because we are weak and burdened by sin's effects, we are tempted to set the dimmer switch on low, hiding from the world and obscuring the light of the gospel. When we do that we hinder the work, we get in the way, and make it difficult for others to see the "light of the gospel seen in the face of Christ.