“Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.”
One of the earliest names for Christians were those that followed “the way” (Acts 9:2). Jesus said that he was “the way, the truth, and the life” and Christians were thought to be followers of “the way” in being followers of Jesus. Today’s first reading speaks about God leading us “on the way you should go” and the Psalmist talks about the Lord “watches over the way of the just.” One of the ways God guides us on the way is with light.
Christ describes himself as the light of the world. Our Advent waiting occurs in the darkness of winter, which strengthens our longing for light – natural and supernatural. Christ was born at night, a light to our dark world. Christ is the light that comes to meet us in our darkness, as a guide, a comfort, and an aid in our journey. The gift of our faith is a light to each of us as we walk upon the way of salvation. Pope Francis says that our “Faith is not a light which scatters all our darkness, but a lamp which guides our steps in the night and suffices for the journey.” Christ brings this light of faith into our world, into our hearts, and thus makes us living lights to go and do likewise with others we meet along ‘the way.’ During Advent, we pray for the day when Christ our light will return to dispel all darkness. During Advent, we rejoice that Christ our light has come into our dark world and given us light to walk by here and now on “the way.” During Advent, let us look for ways to spread this light of Christ to people and places in our world who have yet to see and feel the warmth that Christ’s light brings.