The Church of Ireland
Diocesan Press Release

Text: St. John 1 v.5. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it.

On the return journey from Malawi some years ago following a holiday with our eldest son, we flew over much of Africa during the night. Above us the moon and the stars shone brightly but below was an enormous abyss of darkness, only occasionally broken by a mere pinprick of light, most probably an open fire in a village. The contrast was stark as we flew over parts of Europe. There we looked down on the blazing lights of villages, towns and cities. It was quite an extraordinary contrast to the blackness of Africa. Yet even there the darkness did not overwhelm or contain the light from those small fires that still could be seen from thirty thousand or more feet high in the sky.

In the Gospel reading for today, St. John the Evangelist uses the word, ‘light’, no less than six times in the opening eight verses of his prologue; each one in relation to the coming of Jesus – the Word made flesh. St. John contrasts this light with the darkness of ignorance and rejection: "He was in the world and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own and his own people did not accept him". Yet the light shone on in this darkness which was unable to overcome it even in death.

To this day the light of Christ remains undiminished. It may flicker at times, but it has never gone out. I had a vivid example of this a few weeks ago when a Russian Orthodox Archbishop paid a courtesy call. Amongst those who accompanied him was an official of the Russian Embassy here in Dublin. The official told us that prior to Gorbachev arriving on the political scene he had to have his children baptised secretly in his home because if they were baptised in church that event had to be registered and he would have lost his job as a lecturer in the University of Moscow. Now here he was representing his Government as an openly practising Christian. For many years every effort had been made to stamp out Christianity in that country. Yet despite all the colossal earthly power at its disposal the regime was unable to stamp out the light of faith. It may have guttered and flickered but the darkness could not overcome it.

LIGHT WAS THE FIRST THING GOD CREATED

In the Genesis story light is at the beginning of all creation. The author pictures God looking out over a formless void at darkness and chaos. What is the first thing that He does in his act of creation? First of all according to Genesis He says, ‘Let there be light and there was light and He saw that the light was good’. In other words light brings order out of chaos. A long time later, God looked at His creation darkened by the evil deeds of men and women and sent His Son to be the light of the world, to give us the opportunity of putting chaos to flight.

MANY INDIVIDUAL LIVES ARE IN CHAOS

Today in our complex world many individual lives are in chaos as people run hither and thither looking for some principle to guide them. Left to ourselves we are prey to all sorts of passions and desires, which pull people’s lives this way and that, leaving behind a trail of misery, hopelessness and despair. Drug abuse may ease the pain of living in a difficult world but that relief is only momentary. We still have to face the real world once again when the effects wear off. In fact the effect is that we are even less able to face the real world, than we were before, as addiction holds us in its powerful grasp. It is sad, too, to see people putting their trust in their so-called ‘stars’ or horoscopes while others are led astray by advertisements for Tarot cards and psychics.

'POWER TO CHANGE' LENTEN CAMPAIGN 2002

During Lent 2002, we will see a very different kind of advertising. At least a million pounds will be spent by businesses here in Ireland and with help from Canada on an advertising campaign entitled, "Power to Change". The point of it is to illustrate that Jesus has the power to change lives not just temporarily but also for life. The campaign has been endorsed by all the Church Leaders, both North and South, and my prayer is that it will at least be a beginning in changing the lives of many.

The promoters of this campaign rightly point to Jesus as the Light for the ordering of people’s lives. It is He who shines light on our path through life; it is He who casts light on the darker sides of our nature; it is He who withers those dark elements within us by the blazing light of His truth and love and it is He who brings power and order into our chaotic lives. For as St. John says "The light shines in the darkness and the dark did not (and does not) overcome it".

NOTHING IS HIDDEN FROM GOD

A few moments ago we noted that it was upon the world that the Creator shed His light. And let us not forget that it was also to the world that the Father sent His only Son, to be the light of that world. He does not send that gift on individuals only, but also upon societies and nations. Those who do evil seek darkness lest the light shows up their evil deeds. But that is futile for nothing is hidden from God.

That power of worldly evil was evident at an early stage in the life of the Babe of Bethlehem. An evil king, Herod, feared the birth of another king who one day might challenge him. Because of that fear, which darkened his mind, he sent his soldiers to Bethlehem to slaughter innocent children, as we shall be recalling in three days time. The powers of darkness, both ecclesiastical and political, were to affect Jesus’ entire ministry and on the cross it seemed that they had finally overcome him. But not so – never so.

THE POWER OF DARKNESS IS AT WORK IN OUR WORLD

That same darkness was seen in all its naked power at the Twin Towers on the 11th of September where innocent people died in their thousands. The response to that has brought even more awesome power to bear, again on many innocents.

Here in Ireland light has been brought to bear on the activities of citizens of this country through the various tribunals. What has been revealed is not a pretty sight, to put it mildly. We see there the darkness of deceit, of greed, of contempt for the rest of society. We have seen too, the horror of child abuse – children who are very special to Christ whose souls have been darkened by evil men. The framers of laws are not evil in themselves but laws, which lead to desperate people being asphyxiated in a container, must be changed. We see contempt for human life in the carnage on our roads and in the almost daily reports of murder and violence. How badly the Light of Christ is needed in those darker areas of our national life.

WE ARE CALLED TO BE HIS LIGHT BEARERS

As followers of Christ, we are called and challenged to be His light bearers wherever we are. You will note that in our Gospel for today there is no mention of shepherds, wise men, angels or even the manger in Bethlehem – the very stuff of which Christmas cards and carols are made. They are but the stage props of a great earthshaking drama. At the heart of that drama is the dazzling truth that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son to us. He was and is the light of truth, the light of hope, the light of faith, the light of joy, the light of love – the divine light of heaven. What a wonderful message!

May I wish each and every one of you a joyful, blessed and peaceful Christmas.