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Today's Scripture
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came to tell what he knew about the Light so that all men might believe through him. 8 John was not the Light, but he was sent to tell about the Light.
9 This true Light, coming into the world, gives light to every man. 10 He came into the world. The world was made by Him, but it did not know Him.
*St. John 1.6-10, NLV
Wisdom Sayings
From within or from behind, a light shines through us upon things, and makes us aware that we are nothing, but the light is all.
*Ralph Waldo Emerson
A sensible man will remember that the eyes may be confused in two ways - by a change from light to darkness or from darkness to light; and he will recognize that the same thing happens to the soul.
*Plato
Wisdom Story
The Romance of the Sun and Moon
The moon was alone one evening, shining in the midnight sky. Although she was surrounded by myriads of tiny, sparkly stars, she felt as if there was no one to understand her. She eagerly searched the skies for a friend, perhaps a meteor, with whom to discuss the joys and sorrows of her life. But there was nobody.
On the other side of the world, the sun yawned and awoke to shine his light upon the blue-green temples of God. He heard the call to worship, and saw the waves of people bowing and praying. He felt full of good will and charity towards the masses of God's servitors. Perhaps they were not holy, but at least they were faithful.
The moon stayed alone, suspended in the sky with none to touch her. A tiny star whispered to her of a great being, the sun, who brought joy and light to the world. She listened with interest, for it seemed that once, a long time ago, she had seen a being such as this. Beautiful as he was, the sun seemed always just beyond her reach. She would visit the places where he had been, and would always find that he had just left. Those who knew him spoke of his wonder and his glory, and she felt unworthy to be in his presence.
Now the sun was unaware of her yearning, for he was too busy making the crops grow and warming the world. Those who wished his light had only to look upward to heaven and he was there, beaming down upon them.
The moon continued to follow the sun, always coming nearer to him, always hearing that he had just left that portion of the sky, or was just over the next mountain range. Where before there was despair, now she was ever more hopeful, for she knew that she was approaching his presence.
She came closer and closer, until one glorious day came when she stood before him, naked and unafraid. The world looked up and saw only blackness - in the middle of the day. But the moon stood mid-way between the sun and the earth, and all of his glory was for her.
His light blotted out all of her loneliness, all of her pain, all of her past. She stood bathed in wonder before him, and his light filled her soul.
She passed away from him full of light and joy, and though his light was too bright to remember, it was also too powerful to forget. She was dizzy with wonder. As time passed, it seemed that she once had been a being full of light, yet it was so long ago ...
Wisdom Poem
The Light of God
St. John of the Cross
The essence of the spiritual path is the Light of God,
blazing and shining across the heavens
Its flame begins within the heart of man,
after much suffering and pain
When the joys of spirit move man from within
And his heart is cleansed by love of the divine
Then does this flame begin to grow,
shining out across the world
Pure love, divine ecstasy, which blazes the spirit into life
Causing the soul to be a pure channel for God's holy radiance
Turning the self into a shining cobweb, sparkling with dew
O blazing light, whose rainbows lighten up the darkness with God
O holy light, who in mercy doth descend to the heart of man
Come down! Come down! The struggles and cries of mankind plead for you
That you may bring the brilliance, which destroys all pain
Reflections
Consider the two Wisdom Sayings. How do they apply to your life? How do they connect with Today's Scripture?
What does the story for today speak to you about your relationship with the Divine?
What lessons does St. John of the Cross' poem communicate about how Christ shares with us each? The world? How we are to share with others?
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*Sources. Wisdom Sayings ~ quotegarden.com ; Wisdom Story, Wisdom Poem ~ crystalrivers.com .
For Brian's on-line audio sermons, go to www.wherethelightshines.org and select Pastor's Corner; on the following page is his weekly sermons given at Christ United Methodist Church, Punta Gorda, FL.
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For replies and biographical information, and submission to "The Light Shines" daily devotionals ~ a ministry of Christ Community United Methodist Church, Punta Gorda, FL, see next page:
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