2-9-21 - Dazzling

You can listen to this reflection here. Sunday's gospel reading is here.

Maybe women did have a hand in writing the gospels; would a man use a laundry image to convey how white something was? And Jesus was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them.

It’s hard to avoid associating "light" and "white" with God and godliness. Jesus spoke of himself using the image of light, and light is generally white. Too often we use these terms without questioning their impact, which can vary according to skin color, geography and temperament. We need to take care not always to equate whiteness with goodness, light with purity.

But here we are, up on that mountain with three disciples – and their experience is of dazzling light, whiter than any bleach can achieve. It’s a wonder they weren’t blinded, as were the Israelites when Moses came down Mount Sinai glowing so brightly after his time in God’s presence, they had to veil him for their own sakes. In this story light and white are linked to divine revelation. I believe that what the disciples saw was Light itself, Jesus revealed as a beam of pure energy, in which there is no darkness at all, as God is pure good without a trace of not-good.

No doubt there is much to be gained by exploring the spiritual gifts of darkness – many spiritual writers, from the unknown 14th century author of The Cloud of Unknowing to Barbara Brown Taylor’s Learning to Walk in the Dark. But this week we celebrate Jesus as the Light of the World, and this moment when that Light was made known to witnesses, who made it known to the world.

How is Jesus the “light of the world” for you? How have you experienced God as light?
What is your experience of light spiritually?

Jesus said not only that he was the Light of the World – he said his followers were also to be light for the world. “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

The light we shine is reflected light, the way the moon reflects the sun’s light rather than being a source itself. If we make it our intention to put ourselves in the way of the Light of the World each day, and keep our reflectors in peak condition, we will indeed let our lights shine before others. And if it’s Jesus’ light we’re reflecting, they may well be dazzled.

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