Sermon at First Presbyterian Church Lockhart
by James Greene
As we came into the Sanctuary
tonight, we passed under the stained
glass window that reads “Lux
Lucet In Teberis” translated -"The Light Shines In The Darkness"
It is from The Gospel of John 1:5.
It is the focus
and the call of this church. It
is also the focus of our anticipation
in this Season of Advent. Truly Christ
is our Light that Shines In The
Darkness. We live into the of coming of Emmanuel
(God With us), of The Christ, who is
The Messiah, The One who comes not to redeem just
Israel, but all people, and reconcile and
redeem The Creation. Emmanuel
is The Light that Shines in The Darkness.
He is The Light that comes
into the world illuminating God’s Hope,
Peace, Joy, and Love with His coming.
Emmanuel is that Hope.
He is The One, that comes into
history, and into our lives teaching the radical Hope of God for all people.
He is The One that shines
in and through our lives to, all
those around us.
Emmanuel is that Peace. He is The One, that comes to us, in our chaos, and brings His calming presence that brings us
rest. He brings God’s Peace that lives within us. It becomes
our Peace. It is God’s Promise and Presence ---
with us and within us. It is Christ’s Peace that we share with, all
around us.
Emmanuel is that Joy. He is The One, that
calls
us to Rejoice
in the Lord always.
He calls us to be a walking hymn of praise to God. It is part
of our character and identity; it comes from the core of our very being,
and we are called
to take
it with us and to share
it.
Emmanuel is that Love. He is The One, that
demonstrates God’s unfailing
love towards us. We must be willing to engage in
God’s Love and show God’s Love, in the preaching of our lives, letting God’s love work through us, to those around us.
It
is Hope,
in The One who loves us, saves us, and
redeems us.
It is Peace, in His
calming Presence, that gives
us the Peace of Christ, that is with
us,
It
is Joy, in God’s Gift, that
comes from our heart, and we share it.
It is The Christ who comes to
us, that is The Light that Shines
in The Darkness.
He is the fulfillment of God’s Promise to Creation. It is the relational experience, within
the Trinity; it Guarantees the fulfillment of his Word;
the fulfillment of God’s Promise to Creation. It is bringing full circle God’s plan.
We fulfill our purpose, as The People of God, in sharing
God’s Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. We are to be God’s Light that shines in the
darkness. It is the focus
of our hearts. We are called to share Christ’s Light, to all around
us, rejoicing
in the light of God's
Salvation….
In the Name of …. the Father, the
Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen