If you extend your soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light shall dawn in the darkness, and your darkness shall be as the noonday. – Isaiah 58:10

Here is another word (this morning’s word) from the daily text. Over the past weeks at Bethel we have been looking at what it means to be Christmas lights (out of storage, untangle the mess, hang them up, plug them in, bask in the glow). This verse struck me this morning, because it again reminds us that we have a vital part to play in the work of God here on earth. “If you …, then your light shall dawn …” We often hear speak, especially in our Lutheran churches, that the “Light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend it.” We talk of Christ as the Light of the World. All through Advent, we light candles – purple, purple, pink, purple – in anticipation of that white candle signifying the light of Christ.

Christ is indeed the Light of the World. But let us say this – if we talk of the soft flame of a candle as Christ’s light, let us consider ourselves the wicks. And, when we look upon the glow of the lights of our tree, consider ourselves the filament through which light manifests itself. The Light of Christ must find place to rest here on earth so that it might find place to disperse the darkness. A flash of lightning or a spark from the fire holds but a transient power unless it finds space to invade and dwell. Let us make a home for the Light in our own lives.

We are to image God. He is love – unconditional love. We are to reflect this same wondrous grace to those among whom we live. The redemption is realized in full at the cross of Jesus Christ, but the reclamation and reconciliation of mankind rests upon our reflecting the Light of Christ. May God show us this way ever more and more.

And, as I was again led to consider this chapter of Isaiah, I was reminded of the song 58: Here I Am that I wrote a few years ago. It’s been some time since I’ve listened to it, so figured I’d pull it out and share.