December 31st Reflection by Bill Lynch

Isaiah 60:1-6

The Ingathering of the Dispersed

Arise, shine; for your light has come,

   and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. 

For darkness shall cover the earth,

   and thick darkness the peoples;

but the Lord will arise upon you,

   and his glory will appear over you. 

Nations shall come to your light,

   and kings to the brightness of your dawn. 

Lift up your eyes and look around;

   they all gather together, they come to you;

your sons shall come from far away,

   and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses’ arms. 

Then you shall see and be radiant;

   your heart shall thrill and rejoice,

because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you,

   the wealth of the nations shall come to you. 

A multitude of camels shall cover you,

   the young camels of Midian and Ephah;

   all those from Sheba shall come.

They shall bring gold and frankincense,

   and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord.

Reflection

"Good morning glory!" This was a saying that I heard almost everyday from my Mom when getting up. It's one of those sayings that bring cheer to you on the moment of rising and everyday since. I can still hear Mom saying this and think of it often.

Mom's words carry the spirit of this passage. Jerusalem is pictured as someone laying on the ground and encouraged to rise and shine. God seeks for us to rise and shine, to reflect God's glory to all the earth and all those we meet. You could stretch this vision to the Church or any number of situations. We are a people and individuals that walk in darkness. Pick up the newspaper and you can easily see the darkness of this world in the current events of the day. Yet as God's Children, we are to rise and shine, for our Light has come.

Out of the darkness of the void of creation a great Light came into this world and became flesh in Jesus. Our Light has come and life is here. Life we don't deserve, but life given out of the love of God for the darkness in which we dwell. Jesus brings life and light to all people who believe. 

God has made himself shine so brightly, we can't help but to notice the Light. God's glory shines brightly in the love of those people sent into the tragic events of the day that give his Light to those in the darkness. This is the morning of the kingdom of God. God shed his Light in Jesus and the Church has begun. A Church to minister to all people and praise God for all God has done for the world. 

Get up and look! Look at God all around! It's an amazing sight to see if you but open your eyes to the Light present in this world of darkness. Don't focus on the darkness of sin, death and the devil. Focus on the Light of God for all people. Shout praises to God and worship him! 

When we focus on the Light of Jesus we too become radiant with that Light. Jesus' light shines in and through us, Jesus' light reflects off of us. This is a thrill for all believers and brings forth a free response to love God and all those God gives to us every moment of our lives.

"Good morning glory! Rise and shine!" Thanks be to God!

Prayer

Jesus, the great Light of the world, shine in and through and off of me this day that all may see you in what I do and say... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen