In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. . . . There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.   
John 1: 4, 9-13

THE TRUE LIGHT
O gracious light, so pure and bright
Dispel the darkness of our hearts
That by your brightness we may know the light.

St. Paul’s conversion begins with a brilliant flash of light and the audible voice of the Lord. The glorious radiance of the risen Lord overwhelms him leaving Paul helpless and blind.  The men traveling with Paul take him by the hand and lead him on to Damascus where he is prayed for by Ananias and his vision restored. Through the transforming grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, Saul, the persecutor of the early Christian church becomes St. Paul, the much beloved Apostle to the Gentiles.  The darkness in Saul’s heart is driven out and replaced by the light of Jesus’ presence.

In a similar way, Isaiah’s vision of the Lord on His throne, high and lifted up, with the angels crying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord,” reveals the prophet’s sinfulness and he exclaims, “Woe is me for I am undone.  I am a man of unclean lips and I dwell with a people of unclean lips and I have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”  Isaiah, like St. Paul, recognizes his sinfulness and is helpless before the Lord.  It is only when the Seraphim touches his lips with the fiery, white-hot coal from the altar that Isaiah is purified, his sins forgiven.  Then he is able to hear the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send and who will go for me?” And Isaiah responds, “Here am I! Send me.”

How desperately we need the light of God’s presence and His cleansing, healing touch so like the apostles and prophets of old, we can hear and respond to the Savior’s voice.  In the eighth chapter of Mark’s gospel, Jesus heals a blind man, restoring his vision.  However when the Lord asks the man what he sees, the man responds, “I see men but they look like trees walking.”  Jesus then touches his eyes again so that he sees clearly.  This miraculous healing is unique because Jesus touches the man not once but twice. The healing is progressive. In his infinite love and compassion, Jesus does the same for us. He touches us over and over again, as many times as necessary, to conform us to His image.  He, who is called the Author of Life, meets our deepest needs, forgives our sins, heals our wounds and fulfills our deepest desires.  In light of all that God has done for us through His Son, we respond to His gracious gift with willing and thankful hearts.

Traditionally, Advent is a penitential season, a time of reflection, contemplation and waiting. We prepare our hearts for the Nativity, the birth of the Christ-Child.  As we journey towards Bethlehem, our joyful anticipation of Christmas is best described by the words of the Reverend Phillip Brooks (1835-1903). May all of our “hopes and fears” be met in Him tonight.
Loren Baker, Professor of Art

O little town of Bethlehem how still we see thee lie;
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth, the everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.

O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!
Phillip Brooks