Spiritual Reflection, December 2023

Let There Be Light

As winter approaches, light is diminishing daily. Yet this season includes celebrations that call us to remember light in times of growing darkness – the Festival of Lights, Hannukah, in which each day the light increases until the menorah is fully lit, the Light of the World, the Incarnation/Christmas, in which the Divine came to redeem the world.

In the interwoven cycles of the year and our various faith traditions, many of us Jewish followers of Yeshua seek to live into the traditions of our people. We celebrate the light of Hannukah, a miracle that rekindled the light of the Temple extinguished by the violence of war and the apostasy of assimilation. We celebrate the light of the Incarnation, the miracle of divine life in human flesh, freely given to redeem humanity from sin and the fear of death.

Regardless of increasing darkness – war in Israel, rising waves of antisemitism, famine, conflict and violence on every continent – the words of our ancestors continue to resonate and remind us of God’s ever-present light:

“Though I dwell in darkness, the Lord is a light for me.” (Micah 7:8)

“He reveals mystery from the darkness and brings the deep darkness into light.” (Job 12:22)

“Even in darkness, light dawns for the upright.” (Psalm 112:4)

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overpowered it.” (John 1:6)

“I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” (John 8:12)

From Genesis to Revelation, light is a constant presence. The Creator’s first words were “Let there be light.” Our final destination is a city where “there will be no more night, for the Lord God will give them light.” (Revelation 22:5)

In this season, may we remember, celebrate, and live in the light that no darkness can quench.

Lisa Loden