The Episcopal New Yorker |

By the Rev. John Beddingfield

The Gospel of John helps us to live in a land of shadows. Light and dark are themes that run through the beginning of this Gospel and continue throughout. It’s as though John wants us to know that while the darkness does not overcome the light, God is in both. God is present, no matter what. In chapter 18 there is darkness in Gethsemane, but God is there. It is dark at the beginning of chapter 20 when Mary Magdalene goes to the tomb, but then light comes with the angels in white who announce good news. In the dark, on the evening of that same day, Jesus appears to the disciples. At daybreak he appears again. Light and dark, dark and light, but all exist within the creation of God.

The light does not do away with the darkness. It does not cancel it out, or overwhelm it, or erase it. This was so from the beginning. In Genesis, “God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night” (Genesis 1:4-5). The darkness had its place. The darkness has its role to play.

In the beginning again of creation, as described in the first chapter of John’s Gospel, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” It is interesting that John uses this negative construction to describe the light’s power. Rather than saying, “The light overcame the dark,” he prefers the more passive sense that the light was not overcome by the dark. It is as if the threat of the dark is well known and, to some extent, respected. Perhaps John knew what we sometimes know, that the world in which we live often seems like a world where the darkness is winning and the forces of darkness prevail. We dismiss or underestimate the dark at our own peril. The Good News comes with the announcement that the Light of Christ has come into the darkness. Into the cold, barren and empty places, light shines. The light endures, persists, and pierces through even the darkest of nights. Living toward the light, we encounter shadows.

John the Baptist delineates the shadows. He preaches a gospel of repentance and helps us to see where the lines are drawn. “Darkness is there,” he says. “Light is over here, so make your choice.” He reminds us that we can choose whether to hide in the shade or to step with faith into the light. The light may hurt our eyes at first, but John assures us that we will adjust. Just as the blind regain their sight, sinners are forgiven, and the dead are raised; we too, we learn to walk as “children of light.”

Advent is a good season for studying the shadows, for noticing where we make the choice of stepping from darkness into light. Even amongst the shadows, may we grow in our ability to recognize and receive the “true light, which enlightens everyone.”

Advent Resources
Here are just a few – and we mean just a few – of the many resources available to enrich your Advent worship and practices.

Episcopal Diocese of New York
Christian Formation – Children’s and Family Ministries Advent Newsletter http://www.dioceseny.org/index.cfm?Action=
Programs.ChristianFormation

Anglicans On Line
http://anglicansonline.org/special/advent.html

Candle Press
http://www.candlepress.com/

Church Publishing
http://www.churchpublishing.org/

Episcopal Books and Resources (EBaR) of the Episcopal Church
http://www.episcopalbookstore.org/wc.dll?main~bd

Episcopal Media Center
http://episcopalmedia.org/

Episcopal Teacher
www.vts.edu/cmt/publications/teacher.asp

Forward Movement
http://www.forwardmovement.org/#Advent

The Worship Well
http://www.theworshipwell.org/index.html

NOTE: This list was prepared for the interest of our readers. This list is not an inclusive list but rather representative of available information. This list is not meant to be an endorsement by ENY of any products.

Lighten Our Darkness, O Lord

THE EPISCOPAL NEW YORKER
Advent: Darkness Into Light	November/December 2006
Light and Dark Darkness into light. Ignorance into knowledge. Despair into hope. The liturgical season of Advent is upon us, and with it our days grow shorter and the dark seems to overcome the light. We prepare for the coming of the Messiah, which we know will take us into the Light of Christ. On these pages, the Episcopal New Yorker takes a look at our short liturgical season of Advent, with a focus on the Gospel of John which notes in the first chapter, The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. ENY also presents information about a service that is growing in the diocese and held during Advent – a special liturgy that helps those that might not be filled with the Christmas spirit. May you have a blessed Advent, and may the Light of the Lord shine upon us all. Byline

By the Rev. John Beddingfield The Gospel of John helps us to live in a land of shadows. Light and dark are themes that run through the beginning of this Gospel and continue throughout. It’s as though John wants us to know that while the darkness does not overcome the light, God is in both. God is present, no matter what. In chapter 18 there is darkness in Gethsemane, but God is there. It is dark at the beginning of chapter 20 when Mary Magdalene goes to the tomb, but then light comes with the angels in white who announce good news. In the dark, on the evening of that same day, Jesus appears to the disciples. At daybreak he appears again. Light and dark, dark and light, but all exist within the creation of God. The light does not do away with the darkness. It does not cancel it out, or overwhelm it, or erase it. This was so from the beginning. In Genesis, “God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night” (Genesis 1:4-5). The darkness had its place. The darkness has its role to play. In the beginning again of creation, as described in the first chapter of John’s Gospel, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” It is interesting that John uses this negative construction to describe the light’s power. Rather than saying, “The light overcame the dark,” he prefers the more passive sense that the light was not overcome by the dark. It is as if the threat of the dark is well known and, to some extent, respected. Perhaps John knew what we sometimes know, that the world in which we live often seems like a world where the darkness is winning and the forces of darkness prevail. We dismiss or underestimate the dark at our own peril. The Good News comes with the announcement that the Light of Christ has come into the darkness. Into the cold, barren and empty places, light shines. The light endures, persists, and pierces through even the darkest of nights. Living toward the light, we encounter shadows. John the Baptist delineates the shadows. He preaches a gospel of repentance and helps us to see where the lines are drawn. “Darkness is there,” he says. “Light is over here, so make your choice.” He reminds us that we can choose whether to hide in the shade or to step with faith into the light. The light may hurt our eyes at first, but John assures us that we will adjust. Just as the blind regain their sight, sinners are forgiven, and the dead are raised; we too, we learn to walk as “children of light.” Advent is a good season for studying the shadows, for noticing where we make the choice of stepping from darkness into light. Even amongst the shadows, may we grow in our ability to recognize and receive the “true light, which enlightens everyone.” Advent Resources Here are just a few – and we mean just a few – of the many resources available to enrich your Advent worship and practices. Episcopal Diocese of New York Christian Formation – Children’s and Family Ministries Advent Newsletter http://www.dioceseny.org/index.cfm?Action= Programs.ChristianFormation Anglicans On Line http://anglicansonline.org/special/advent.html Candle Press http://www.candlepress.com/ Church Publishing http://www.churchpublishing.org/ Episcopal Books and Resources (EBaR) of the Episcopal Church http://www.episcopalbookstore.org/wc.dll?main~bd Episcopal Media Center http://episcopalmedia.org/ Episcopal Teacher www.vts.edu/cmt/publications/teacher.asp Forward Movement http://www.forwardmovement.org/#Advent The Worship Well http://www.theworshipwell.org/index.html NOTE: This list was prepared for the interest of our readers. This list is not an inclusive list but rather representative of available information. This list is not meant to be an endorsement by ENY of any products. Lighten Our Darkness, O Lord

Light and Dark