3rd Passiontide 2014, Drops of the Sun

Third Passiontide

John 8: 12-20

And Jesus began to speak to them again: “I am the light of the world; he who

Holman Hunt

follows me will not walk in darkness, but have the light in which there is life.”

Then the Pharisees said to him, “How can you be your own witness? Your testimony is not valid.”

Jesus answered them, “Even if I do bear witness to myself, my testimony is valid, for I know from where I come and where I am going. You judge according to the physical aspect of Man, but I judge no one. Yet even if I did judge, my judgment would be valid; for I am not alone, but HE who sent me is with me. In your Law it says that the testimony of two persons is valid. I bear witness to myself, and the Father who sent me also testifies to me.”

Then they said, “Where is your Father?” And Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. I you knew me, you would know my Father also.” These words he said as he was teaching in the treasury of the Temple. And no one seized him because his hour had not yet come.

3^rd Passiontide

April 6, 2014

John 8: 12-20

No matter whether we are North or South, day or night, the sun continuously rays forth its light. Behind the visible light, there also stream forth invisible forces of life. It is this combination of light and life that draws forth the plants up from the earth. Light and life bids the plants grow, blossom, set seed. Light and life bids them die away, letting their seed essence fall back to earth in order to make way for new life.

Maulsby Kimball

Christ says that He is the light of the world, the light that rays forth life. In Him the essence of the sun itself has descended to earth. The Son God has come to earth so that day or night, we can walk within His living light. In fact, we are able not only live within His light; we can also take the Christ light into ourselves, and ray it forth to others, to the world. That is the meaning of communion: to take the light-seed of Christ into ourselves, for the sake of the world.

What is the nature of the Christ light? It is a living light that is filled with love. Light, life and love express the essence of God. Christ dwells in and streams forth the light of our heavenly Father, who is life, who is love.

‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever [knows and trusts in him] believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life’.[1]

We need not fear darkness, inner or outer; we need not fear our deaths; for the Christ in us is the light-seed of His essence. The Christ seed essence that we take in makes possible everlasting light, ongoing life, and the radiance of love, for the world, for us.

So as Hafiz says:

Keep squeezing drops of the Sun

From your prayers and work and music

….

Keep squeezing drops of the Sun

From the sacred hands and glance of your Beloved.[2]


www.thechristiancommunity.org

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[1] John 3:16

Picture: Christ the Light of the World, Holman Hunt

[2] Hafiz, “ Cast All Your Votes For Dancing” in I Heard God Laughing - Renderings of Hafiz by Daniel Ladinsky