In this glorious vision, we see the light of God breaking over the darkness of the world. I envision this as the gradual turning of the night sky to a brilliant baby blue, awash with light pink clouds as the sun begins to rise. Maybe you picture a dark room, suddenly filled with pure, white light. Regardless of the image this reading evokes, these words hold a promise. No matter how desperate the state of the world seems, no matter the proliferation of war or drought or senseless, violent death, no matter the voices that cause us to fear or hate the “other”, God is not done with us yet. The worst thing is never the last thing. The light shines in the darkness and Jesus is proof that the darkness cannot overcome it.
As we prepare for 2023, where, in your life or in the world, would you like to see the light of Christ shine? What glimmers of light are you already seeing? Reflecting back over the past year, what have been the gifts of 2022?
Today, offer a prayer of hope, asking for the light to come into the dark corners of your spirit and into the dark corners of those situations you have identified as dire.