John 9:1-12
1 As [Jesus] walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. 4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, 7 saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. 8 The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some were saying, “It is he.” Others were saying, “No, but it is someone like him.” He kept saying, “I am he.” 10 But they kept asking him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” 11 He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ Then I went and washed and received my sight.” 12 They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”
5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
Last evening, during Confirmation class, I told the students that they have a superpower. They were dubious about this. They are, after all, middle school students who are predisposed to question everything. Your superpower, I told them, is the Light of Christ that shines in and through you everywhere you go. That got their interest. I explained to them that every time someone chooses to speak out against bullying and hate speech, or to respond to anger with grace, or to choose to be joyful in an environment of despair, they change the world around them for the better.
The Light of Christ came into the world in a stable in Bethlehem and the darkness did not overcome it. It has continued to shine in and through the Body of Christ in every generation. Sometimes all we can discern is a tiny flicker in the darkness, but we can dwell in the certainty that it is always there.
Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, Light of the World. Thank you for all the beautiful little flickers of your presence that light our way, and for the opportunity to bear the Light of Christ into the world around us. AMEN