The Light Shines in the Darkness…

I recently read about a missionary named Jeffery Ginn and his family who were serving in Cali, Colombia. One morning Jeffrey entered his office to find that a map of the world that he had taped to the wall had fallen during the night. A corner of the map had remained taped to the wall as the rest fell. Jeffrey took the torn piece from the wall and knelt to repair the map. At that moment his three-year-old daughter came in. She sat down on the floor and watched her father intently. Jeffrey’s wife, noticing that their daughter had grown quiet, called, “Anna, what are you doing?” Their daughter replied, matter-of-factly, “We’re fixin’ the world, Mama! We’re fixin’ the world!”

That’s why Jesus came into the world. To fix it; to save it; to put it back together; and to call out followers who would join him in that mission.

So often when we look at the world around us there is great pain and suffering, greed and selfishness. But at the same time, if we look closely, we will notice there is also great beauty, healing and hope. If we look closely, we will notice people giving very generously; retired grandfathers tutoring inner city kids; moms banging nails for Habitat; neighbors watching children for single mothers; young folks advocating for peace and justice. Our list could go on and on.

The Gospel of John reassures us, “The light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it.”

May God give us eyes to see, and hearts to respond.

Let us pray: Give us eyes to see your light, O God, that we would abound in hope. And grant us hearts to feel your love, that that gift would be ours to share. Amen.