What color calls to you today?

But Jesus is trustworthy Feb 12, 2024

John 12:34-36, 44-46 [The crowd asked] “Just who is this Son of Man anyway?” Jesus replied, “My light will shine for you just a little longer. Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you. … Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light. … I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark.”

“Walk in the light … Put your trust in the light.”

Early this morning I dropped my car off for servicing. As I walked down one of Pittsburgh’s famous block-long public staircases and on downhill to a bagel shop to wait for our mechanic’s call, thinking about this week and about this text from John 12, I found my mind swirling with color.

It started Friday in my granddaughter Juliana’s bedroom when sunshine suddenly broke through the winter gloom to fill the room with rainbows refracted through the prisms her mom hung in her windows. Juju was as delighted as by bubbles dancing in the sunshine a few weeks ago.

Shutterstock: MarcelClemens

Then came a marvelous Saturday women’s retreat, where the colors contained in the Light, representing the variegated wisdom God shares with us, splashed across the tables, the walls, and even the tableware, and showed up in our “color prayers” at the close of the retreat. So richly God’s wisdom enriched our souls at this retreat!

Then yesterday, to help celebrate our son-in-law Cesar’s birthday, I wore red, his favorite color. It turned out this worked also for cheering for the KC Chiefs. Yes, KC, because I lived there during high school and had my first experience of a super bowl as the Chiefs won in 1970. The only way I could understand the hysteria at the time was comparing it with a country winning the soccer World Cup.

Red, of course, will work Wednesday as well, as North America celebrates Valentine’s Day.

Then on Friday comes my granddaughter Talita’s fourth birthday. She’s chosen a mermaid theme for her party Sunday afternoon, so iridescent purples, pinks, greens, and blues join the mix of colors in my head.

And in the middle of all this comes Ash Wednesday, the end of Epiphany and the beginning of Lent. What color is Ash Wednesday? Grey, I guess, because of the ashes, although Google tells me it’s violet or unbleached linen, and the color of Lent is purple.

What’s my takeaway from this rich palette filling my imagination? Jesus not only created light, he is light. Every color is contained within him and expressed through us, his Body. How boring it would be if we were all—pick a color—all red, or all blue, or all yellow. God painted his world with color, gave us each different personalities, gifts, interests, passions, griefs, and joys. He delights in each one of us.

One of the joys of Saturday’s retreat was the fun of spending hours together with friends, old and new. Google tells me the color of friendship is orange. I’m carrying that into this week, wanting to share the rich hues of salmon, and peach, and coral with the friends whose lives intersect with mine this week.

What about you? Which color speaks to you today?

Thursday I’ll offer you a challenge for Lent. Spoiler: it too involves color!

By the way, EA Books surprised me by publishing Book 3 of the Cally and Charlie series, Facing the Faeries 1906, sooner than I expected. It’s now available on Amazon in paper and as an ebook. Enjoy! And if you do, please write a review to help others find the book. Of course, you’ll enjoy Book 3 more if you read, or reread (and review!), Books 1 and 2 first.

I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light, by Kathleen Thomerson

And in an entirely different style, Walk With Jesus, Consumed by Fire

Hope or dystopia?

But Jesus’ light can’t be extinguished by darkness

John 1:1-18 In the beginning the Word already existed. … The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. … So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. … Jesus Christ has revealed God to us.

I’ve missed you! And I’ve enjoyed focusing on other things, like vacation. And the details of publishing Facing the Faeries 1906.

I’m returning to this blog halfway through the season of Epiphany, which ends with the beginning of Lent on February 14. The readings for this season have included the Gospel of John, with his emphasis on Christ as the Light of the world.

Epiphany began on January 6, the day selected by early church fathers to remember the magi visiting baby Jesus in Bethlehem and bringing him gifts. The magi were not Jewish, hence the connection with Jesus bringing light to the world, not just to the people God chose to be his earthly family and lineage. The wise men illustrate for us the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham that through him and his descendants, all the earth would be blessed (Genesis 22:18).

Returning to twice weekly postings on this blog, I have four opportunities to think about John’s view of Jesus as the Light of the world before we enter Lent. It seems John can hardly wait to get into this theme. As one of Jesus’ disciples, walking with him for at least three years, John was well positioned to tell us what he personally saw and experienced of what he calls Jesus’ glory, the divine light of unfailing love and faithfulness shining through him.

John was no pushover. Jesus called him and his brother James “Sons of Thunder” (Mark 3:17). They wanted to call fire from heaven to burn up a Samaritan village that didn’t accept Jesus (Luke 9:52-54). Yet in John’s writings (he’s the most prolific New Testament writer after Paul), his emphasis is on love. His life was transformed by the light of Jesus shining into his personal darkness, gentling him and dramatically changing his perspective on the “others” in his world.

For us, you and me, grappling daily with the darkness, violence, and brokenness of the world, John’s introduction to his Gospel is tremendously encouraging. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” Think about that. Isn’t it good news, solid rock on which to place our feet, a promise we can count on no matter how dark things get? We don’t see it yet, but the ending of the story will be glorious!

Tucked inside my fortune cookie! Isn’t that cool?

Thinking about this promise, I feel my anxiety for the world dissipate like air leaking from a balloon. My thoughts turn to my small role in shining his light into the darkness around me, beginning in my own heart. What a relief to know I’m just a minor character in this huge story God is writing. He has the whole thing figured out! Hallelujah!

Amy Grant celebrates this: Lighten my darkness …

And have you been enjoying the Advent ABC playlist? It still brings me to tears.

Speaking of stories, watch this space for an announcement about Facing the Faeries 1906!

No, don’t be quiet

But Jesus heals us so we can see

Mark 10:46-52 As Jesus and his disciples left Jericho, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus was sitting beside the road. When he heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” “Be quiet!” many of the people yelled at him. … But Jesus stopped and said, “Tell him to come here.” So they called the blind man. “Cheer up! Come on, he’s calling you!” Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus. “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked. “My rabbi,” the blind man said. “I want to see!” And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus.

Epiphany. A season of revelation. Of a clearer vision of Jesus.

It seems fitting that the last story in Mark before the events of Holy Week is about seeing. And that yesterday, Christians around the world considered Jesus’s transfiguration, as a portion of Jesus’s glory was revealed to his followers, Moses (representing the law), and Elijah (representing the prophets). The Father said, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him” (Mark 9:1-8), then Moses and Elijah were gone, and the disciples saw only Jesus.

How have you seen Jesus during these weeks of Epiphany? Has God opened your eyes in some way? Has he spoken to you personally or acted on your behalf to change the direction things were going? What’s your story of encounter with God?

Between Epiphany and Holy Week, we walk with Jesus through Lent. Many evangelical Christians don’t have experience with observing Lent. I knew nothing about it when I was growing up. On Thursday I plan to post my current thoughts and recent experience of Lent. Perhaps you’ll want to take steps toward honoring this in-between season, observed by many in Christ’s church almost from the beginning.

Also during the weeks of Lent (Feb. 23-April 1), I want to publish your story about how you have seen God’s revelation of Jesus during Epiphany. Write it down in one page and send it to me at debrakornfield@gmail.com. Your story will encourage others and you’ll have it to refer to yourself when you need reassurance that God sees you and cares for you.

During Epiphany, we’ve been looking at the question, “Who is this man?” from Mark’s point of view. Perhaps you’d like to look back over the topics we’ve considered since January 6. Ask God to open your eyes to see what he wants to show you and to open your ears to hear the words of love he is always speaking to you.

“I want to see!” The passion and desire of a lifetime poured into Bartimaeus’s words. I love that Jesus asked him what he wanted, giving this man the opportunity to use his voice and express what had been stomped down inside him his whole life.

Do you, too, want to see? Don’t be quiet. Cry out to the Lord for his mercy and healing.

Being human is good

But Jesus, fully God, is fully human as well

Mark 1:1 This is the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God … John [the Baptist] baptized Jesus in the Jordan River. As Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending on him like dove. And a voice from heaven said, “You are my beloved Son, and you bring me great joy.”

Hebrews 4:15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do.

2 Peter 1:2-3 May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord. By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life.

During these seven weeks of Epiphany, I want to look at the question, “Who is this man?” from the perspective of the Gospel of Mark. Mark isn’t part of our lectionary readings this year, but I’ve written a lot in the past from Matthew, Luke, and John and have neglected Mark.

Since I’m on vacation, I invite you to listen to Kevin Antlitz’s New Year’s sermon, “What Christmas teaches us about being human.” Our problem is not that we’re human; it’s that we’re not human enough, as Jesus was. Kevin cites St. Gregory: “What Jesus does not assume [we could use the word “incarnate” here], he does not heal.”

Happy listening!!

This is the irrational season

When love blooms bright and wild.

Had Mary been filled with reason

There’d have been no room for the child.

—Madeleine L’Engle