THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE - ISAIAH 9:2-7 AND LUKE 2:1-20 - FR. JOSEPH ALSAY, ST. AUGUSTINE OF CANTERBURY EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Excepts of a Sermon Delivered by
The Reverend Joseph C. Alsay
on
The Feast of the Nativity of our Lord – 2020
Isaiah 9:2-7 & Luke 2:1-20
 
“This Little Light of Mine”
 
We humans are mystified by light. All cultures and religions lift up the power and potency of light. Be it Diwali, Kwanza or this Festival of the Incarnation; commonly known as Christmas. We are drawn to light like a moth to a flame and this month especially when the nights are so long, cold and dark we pine for the light. Be it the soft glow of a candle; the heat and intensity of a roaring fire; or a light show that brighten the night. seems that light truly becomes our closest friend.
No, the holiday season would not be complete without our gazing upon the lights. Be they on our Christmas tree or dramatically displayed in a Winter Wonderland park scene. Not unlike those in Yukon.
It is said that there are some five million lights, covering 100 acres of the Freedom, Chisholm Trail and City Parks with over 400 displays.
Wow! It’s electrifying and must be an electric company’s dream come true.
But none of that would be possible without the invention of something called a light bulb. In fact it is said that the light bulb was invented not but Thomas Edison. But, rather almost 100 years earlier by Humphrey Davy.
Imagine a world were the only light you had was by a candle or the sun.
The people who heard the message of the Prophet Isaiah must have known something of this. A people in need of direction hear that those who walked in darkness have the promise of seeing a great light.
Words of light in the deep and dark night of despair.
Words of love in the midst of hate.
Words of peace in the face of war.
How we need to hear those words of assurance again in our time and age.
You see my friends. Dr. King said that darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. A single light in darkness can change anything. A single candle can banish the darkness of the world around.
To know that we can make a difference in the world.
How do you know that we can make a difference?
Because though our baptism into Christ we have been made Children of Light.
It is at our baptism that we receive the light of Christ from that burning Paschal candle and promise to let our light so shine before others that they will see the good works that we do and give glory to God in heaven.
Yes, we need the light of the Son to illumine of pathway and our life.
Understand that the sun of which I speak is not that celestial object composed of hot gases that is fixed in the center of our solar system and is some 92.92 million miles away from earth. That primary light source for all of us and with which all life on the planet exists and is sustained.
The Son of which I speak is that One who was God’s only begotten Son.
The One whom we worship and adore on this day.
The One whose birth in the most meager of accommodations the Church around the world is preparing to celebrate.
The One who was Light from Light true God from true God. Amen.
 

​Fr. Joseph C. Alsay, Rector, St. Augustine of Canterbury Episcopal Church