“In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light…God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day”(Genesis 1:1, 31).
From the depths of God’s creation come two fundamental premises: The Creator brings forth light and shines forth, and that ALL that is created is good.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it” (John 1:1-5).
For those of us who follow in the Way of Jesus, at the core of our belief is that Jesus manifested both the life and light of God. A light that, despite incredible persecution, could not be overcome by any form of darkness.
“No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:15).
We now, as followers of Jesus, are called to manifest what we proclaim at the Great Easter Vigil “the light of Christ” to the world. We are the ones who continue to boldly proclaim that the darkness cannot overcome THE light.
“And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love” (1 Cor. 13:13).
The world in many respects feels overwhelmingly dark these days. We must hold fast to the faith that is in us. We must manifest the hope that defines us as Easter people. We must, in both word and action, bring forth in love the light of Christ to the world. The light of faith, hope and love. The light that darkness in all forms will not overcome. More now than ever, we must be the light bearers to the world.
Source: Bishop Brian Prior – We Bear the Light