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From Your Assistant Minister
Welcome to the ‘season of mists and mellow fruitfulness…’! October
heralds the onset of autumn as the leaves fall from the trees, the wind
feels noticeably colder, and the days get shorter as we head towards
winter. Many of the churches in our Benefice celebrate their Harvest
festivals this month, and it is good to thank God for everything that
He, in His love, provides for us through the abundance of creation.
Throughout September many of us have been thinking and praying
particularly about our relationship with the natural environment, and
reminding ourselves that we need to treat it with respect, recognising
that it belongs, not to us, but to God Himself. Now, as the evenings get
darker earlier and earlier, let us remind ourselves that the very first
thing recorded in the story of creation in Genesis is God’s Word: Let
there be light. At this time of year, as the hours of daylight get
shorter, it is good to remember the Source of the light. The sun that
gives light to the world is only there because of God’s grace in
creation, and it is God who set the natural rhythms of life, the
seasons, the tides, the great circle of life itself, in place so that we
could gaze in wonder at the amazing environment in which we live, and
recognise in it something of God’s power and majesty.
In St John’s gospel the theme of light is very significant, and Jesus
describes himself as ’the Light of the world.’ We, in this country, at
this point in history, often take artificial light for granted – we have
street lamps and illuminated shop fronts, and at home or at school or at
work we can easily switch on an electric light if it’s dark outside. In
Jesus’ day people could not take light for granted in the same way. All
they had were candles or dim oil lamps, and so for Jesus to claim that
He was the light of the world was to claim that he had the same power as
the sun! But the light that Jesus was talking about, and that St John
had in mind when he was writing his gospel, is actually even more
awesome than the light of the sun. Jesus was claiming that his words and
life revealed the truth about God in a way never done before. In and
through Jesus Christ, light would shine in the world that would chase
away the fear and ignorance that darken life. In Jesus the Word of God
really had come, that there might be light for the whole world.
St Matthew also picks up on this theme of light – but he records Jesus
telling his disciples that they are the light of the world. If Jesus is
the supreme light, the source of all light, then we who are called to
follow him need to reflect his light by living in ways that reveal his
love and truth. As the natural daylight diminishes at this time of the
year, let us respond by shining more brightly with the love and light of
Jesus Christ in our hearts.
Yours in the light of Christ,
Peter Ostli-East
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MARSHFIELD
BENEFICE
