I love this season of light! Seeing the lights go up around my neighborhood makes me realize how fortunate we are. Before electricity was widespread, young Robert Louis Stevenson watched with wonder as the lamplighters did their work on his street in Scotland, climbing their ladders, lifting the glass lid, lighting the torch, shutting the lid, climbing down, and moving on to the next lamp. As dusk settled into night, one light would be kindled, then another, and another. He turned to his parents and said: “Look, they’re punching holes in the darkness!”
In Luke 7, Dr. Luke shows us Jesus doing the same thing. Notice the people he helped in this season: a Roman centurion, a grieving mother, and a woman with a bad reputation. Not only did the religious leaders look askance at Jesus’ work, but even John the Baptist wondered whether Jesus was the One the world waited for. Jesus applauded the faith of the centurion and healed his servant. Seeing the grieving mother, Jesus disrupted the funeral and brought the boy back to life. When a woman washed his feet, Jesus forgave her sin and took away her shame.
You don’t need me to tell you our world is a dark place. One possible option is to try to be around the spiritual people so we can shine our lights on each other. Maybe, if we close our doors tightly enough we can keep the dark from disrupting our light. But Jesus said, “Let your light shine before others so that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Today, let’s put the light of Christ on display and punch holes in the darkness.
