2 Peter 1:16-21
We have not depended on made-up stories in making known to you the mighty coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. With our own eyes we saw his greatness. We were there when he was given honour and glory by God the Father, when the voice came to him from the Supreme Glory, saying, “This is my own dear Son, with whom I am pleased!” We ourselves heard this voice coming from heaven, when we were with him on the holy mountain.
So we are even more confident of the message proclaimed by the prophets. You will do well to pay attention to it, because it is like a lamp shining in a dark place until the Day dawns and the light of the morning star shines in your hearts. Above all else, however, remember that none of us can explain by ourselves a prophecy in the Scriptures. For no prophetic message ever came just from the human will, but people were under the control of the Holy Spirit as they spoke the message that came from God.
When arriving for a camping holiday, the twilight only enabled us to find a flat space with no rocks, before deepening into that nocturnal dark of the outback. The rain became heavier as we unrolled and (tried to) set up the tiny tent. As the storm took hold, the water droplets at first, rolled down the inside onto the bedding, before being shaken more broadly by the turbulent wind buffeting the material. When the gas cooker popped its declaration that it was blocked, we ate a cold meal, washed down with no warming drink, and flopped, quite miserably, into the sleeping bags.
However, the dawn breaking with the light of the morning star brought such breath-taking beauty into focus. Overwhelmed, we sat with silent voices as the song of the birds and trees rustling in the breezes, spoke out both reverence and joy.
God’s light shines into the dark spaces of reality in ways that we do not fully understand. We cannot always explain or rationalise the rich moment where Spirit and soul connect. It is often in the clanging loudness of distress, God’s quietness focuses us towards the important; or the powerful brightness of hope, shines in the midst of the stormy actuality. God’s grace cradles our brokenness, and we hear deep in our hearts, the revelation that we are loved.
Prayer
Shining Light,
illuminate our seeing;
So that, as we sit in reality,
which hurts, confuses or causes anger,
Your glowing love
draws us on beyond our emotions and anxieties.
Dawning Light,
bring us to a new view of life each day;
So that, we understand where to bring your Light,
drawing hope into our Way of Being
justice with our Way of Living,
and radiant peace into twilight darkness
where-ever our Emmaus walk takes us. Amen