Malachi 3:1-4 | Psalm 84:1-6 | Hebrews 2:14-18 | Luke 2:22-40

“O Light of all the Earth, Thy Children wait for thee.”1

Pictures are a marvelous thing. Just two weeks ago in the program that many of you shared with me we had ten years worth of pictures—each one evoking a memory of people, events and joys. A lot of pictures were taken that evening and have been shared. Each time I look at them I am reminded of that evening of your love and the people at that event and the joy that I experienced that evening. I am still kind of floating up there. Pictures are marvelous in that way. They open for us both understanding and imagination; they help us remember.

With that I want you to come back to the scriptures we just heard to the picture presented to us by Luke. A picture of Simeon with this babe in his arms and his prayer. We know as he held the child in his arms he said, “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace according to your word. For my eyes have seen your salvation for which you prepared in the presence of all peoples. A light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people of Israel.” Or using the more familiar words that were in the anthem we started the service with, Simeon saw a light to enlighten the nations. Jesus, a light to the nations of the whole world, a light to this nation to our United States. A light to the people around you right now, members and citizens of the United States. A light to them and a light to me. A light shared within our lives and within our works.

In much of our praying in worship we invite this light into our hearts we invite this light to be here. In much of our praying in worship we ask the light of the world, Jesus, to shine through the things that we say and do. When we are quiet and reflective we can see that the light that enlightens the nations does this one person and one event at a time. The light that enlightens our nation is not some grand light that stands over the United States, it is you and me in the store, highway and where we work and play. The light that enlightens the nation does this one person and one event at a time.

In a few moments we will gather around the font and the paschal candle is lit. This is always lit at the Easter vigil; we also light it at every baptism and every memorial service. Within the Easter Vigil it is a reminder that though the darkness thought it had done a powerful and complete work on Friday, that the Messiah was dead, buried and the end of the story reached, the darkness was mistaken. We light this candle to remember that Jesus rose on the third day and that his triumph over death is shared by everyone in this room that has come to know that light. So at baptisms we bring the Paschal Candle out again to say, “Yes, this is God’s light.” The light that will be enkindled in those baptized here. The light that will be taken into the world by those about to be baptized. This is the light that enlightens the nations.

Light is an important element in many scripture stories, too. Remember? Right at the beginning of the Bible, how does it start? Things are dark, chaotic and there is only a great void. Then comes the very first word that God speaks, “Let there be light.” As you look upon the Paschal Candle, be put in mind of these first words of God. And, as you look upon the Paschal Candle, be put in mind of God’s final word: “There will be light and life.” Jesus rose from the dead on the third day. Life abundant could not be conquered. Eternal life with God became our inheritance on Easter.

So today as we gather and celebrate the baptism, we remember that Jesus is our light. Our light in the midst of many darknesses that kind of hover around to get our attention. Maybe even some darkness that resides within our own hearts. I do not think you have to look very far in today’s world to find darkness. In fact if you begin with yourself sometimes there is darkness in our own heart. The darkness might be a hate that divides us and isolates us from others. Or maybe the darkness is a grudge held for many years. A darkness of harsh words ready to burst out. A darkness of impatience with those around us, or of greed, envy or sloth—pick a sin. It is not too hard to find a little bit of that darkness in there ready to overwhelm us.

When we look around the world we see illness and death as a darkness that’s there. Accident and death, the news yesterday (as the Shuttle Columbia disintegrated) certainly brought that home. Violence and death, war, poverty, malnutrition, racial and religious hatred which separates and divides and spawns other violence. We look around at stories of greed and the abusive power and economic divisions. We are aware of addictions of all kinds. So the darkness is always there. We could go on for awhile.

We face that darkness and today we remember something else that is true. We remember as we hold the scriptural snapshot in our hearts that Jesus is a light to enlighten the nations. Jesus is our light. We remember the words that we heard at the beginning of the season of Epiphany from the prologue to John’s gospel. He said quite clearly, “The light (that is, Jesus), the light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.” I remember Robert standing here and preaching. I remember the conviction of his faith shared with us. The words in John’s prologue, Robert shared with us, were not just once, spoken long ago and far away, they are here and now. They are forever. The darkness will never overcome this light. That is what we celebrate this season and remember this day.

Reflection is a wonderful thing. I want to share in brief terms some of my Saturday with you and I do that in order to invite you to do the same—to look back and see the light shining in and through you. See the light (Jesus) shining in events that seemed a bit dark at the moment or maybe seemed to have nothing; but because you were there, there was light.

Like many of you, I began Saturday with the news of a national tragedy. I was reminded that something we have come to take for granted shouldn’t be taken for granted. That shuttle Columbia had suffered an accident and all the astronauts were killed shattered the taken-for-granted attitude about launchings and recovery of the space shuttle. Later that morning I gathered here to pray with a family as they mourned the loss of one they loved and commended him to God. A little bit later, I gathered with the Despras family to speak about baptism. We were there to talk about the baptism of their son Nicholas and discovered that Debbie, the mother, who thought she was baptized, was not. She asked, “Is it okay to be baptized with my child?” I said, “Of course.” A little bit later still, I gathered with the Hernandez family at the hospital. Rose’s mother, Irene, had been quite ill and died. I joined the family and we prayed. Looking back at the Saturday morning with the eyes of faith I can see that in each of those moments light and darkness were indeed engaged. Even as the scripture tells us they are. I can see the truth of our Epiphany season that the light shines in the darkness. The darkness has not overcome it. I can see the truth of the words of Simeon that Jesus is the light to enlighten the nations. To enlighten every situation and not just long ago and far away but in February 2003.

I believe that Jesus, our light was in every place yesterday in the events surrounding the shuttle. He was with each of the seven crew members as they realized the trouble they were in. He was with the families they left behind. He was with the co-workers as they grappled with the situation and the realization of what had happened. He was with the President as he addressed the nation. He was with our neighbors and with each of us. In every part and every one of us who encountered that situation, there was Christ, our light shining in that darkness.

Jesus was with Kit Kline, the widow, sixty years married and now at St. Margaret’s to pray for her husband. Jesus was with her and all of us gathered in the chapel yesterday. The light shone through her son, Bob as he spoke of his father and the difference his father made in his life. That light was present in the hugs shared. The light was present in the hospitality of our parishioners, the Cavanaugh’s, who opened their home to the family for a reception. They have been neighbors for a number of years. In fact the light shone in a hundred little ways in that situation. You just had to have the eyes to see it.

Within the Despras family and Aberg family the light was more easily detected. There was a real joy in the smile of the parents with eyes crinkling with awe and expectation. The light shining through moms and dads preparing themselves and their children for baptism. The light shone within Debbie as she prepared to take that step herself. The light that enlightens the nation shone with these parents and families. They desired that light to shine through their children and we will help them.

Then later at the bedside with the Hernandez family, amidst the tears and sorrows the light was present there. Its radiance banished the darkness that wanted to overwhelm Rose and her family. The light was a powerful barrier to the darkness that would terrify and destroy and would say: “This is death; this is the only true thing, you lose.” But the light of the victory of the resurrection shone and dispelled that darkness. That faith was alive in that family as we gathered and commended Irene to our God. The light was present there.

So at some point yesterday we shared at least one moment when we learned the shuttle had been destroyed. Then we traveled different paths through the rest of the day. My question to you, “Where else did you travel yesterday? In what places did you find yourself and was the darkness nearby?” I suspect it was. Looking back now can you see the light that enlightens the nations was present everywhere you were? Can you see the light shining through you? Can you see the light that enlightens the nations was present in the store when you let that person go ahead of you in line; present on Highway 111 when you slowed for that person to come over. The light shining through you as you listened to the words of burden, or sorrow, or confusion that your friend had been carrying around for a long time. Can you see that the light was shining through you and was present with you when you said you were sorry and could you start again? Was the light there? Sure it was. Sit back and find that light and rejoice in that light. Jesus the light that enlightens the nations does this one person and one event at a time.

So today we remember that Jesus is our light and we remember the promise of Jesus to be with us always and everywhere: for all time, even to the end of time. We remember that the light will never be overcome by the darkness. We remember God had the first word, “Let there be light.” We remember that God will have the last word, “Come, come into the light.” Come into the arms of Jesus. We remember that it is up to us to invite others to know that light and come into that light and be bathed in that light.

Listen to our prayers through this service today and see that we invite the light to be within us and shine through us. I want to finish with a reprise of the prayer we used in the candle procession at the start of the service. Let us take the truth of this prayer into the world with us today.

God our Father source of all light, today you revealed to the aged Simeon your light which enlightens the nations. Now fill our hearts with the light of faith that we may walk in the path of goodness and come to the light that shines forever, your son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.2

1 Verse 4 of the hymn “Hail to the Lord who comes” (Hymn 259, Hymnal 1982)

2 The Book of Occasional Services, “Candlemas Procession,” p. 54

The Rev. Daniel Rondeau