Wednesday Word: Shine
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has dawned upon you.
This is the opening line of Canticle 11, The Third Song of Isaiah, from Morning Prayer and most often said on Wednesdays. It also happens to be one of my favorite Canticles.
It goes on to say, “darkness covers the land, deep gloom enshrouds the peoples,” and, “Nations will stream to your light . . . Your gates will always be open.”
Looking around, Canticle 11 certainly seems to be speaking to us today. Everything from the current political climate to the drought and fires around us to the devastation of Hurricane Helene and the impending disaster of Hurricane Milton to war in the Middle East and Ukraine, darkness covers the land and deep gloom enshrouds the peoples.
In the midst of all of that, though, we are called to shine the light of the Lord into the world. We did a little of that when we gave $5000 to the Fire Relief Fund. We do a little of that by providing Meals for the Soul for individuals who need a quick meal or a supplement between grocery trips. We do a little of that through our support of the Food Pantry.
Our gates aren’t always open, but we’ve begun opening them every weekday at noon for a time of prayer and/or quiet meditation for those who need the space. Nations may not be streaming to us, but beginning on 10/13 or 10/20, we will be streaming out to the nations when our video feed goes live. And I’m working out the details of putting a labyrinth on our grounds that will always be open for people to come and participate in that prayer walk.
Canticle 11 is a song of hope . . . hope in the fulfillment of God’s promises and hope that God’s people will do their part to shine the everlasting light of God onto the world around them.
I pray that each of us individually, and all of us corporately, shine the light of God onto a world covered in darkness and people shrouded by gloom.
Blessings,
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