Moths Drawn To The Light
Sermon
One summer we spent a week or two in Corfu, one of the larger Greek islands. During the balmy summer evenings we would stroll down to the local taverna for an excellent meal, enjoying the warmth of the evening and the last rays of the sun as it filtered through into the courtyard where the tables were set.
But there was one disturbing feature of the taverna. Attached to one wall was a small box-like structure which contained an ultraviolet unit. As the sun went down and dusk increased, so insects were attracted to the ultraviolet rays from the box. As they drifted into the orbit of the box they were zapped, so there was a constant sizzle as the insects were routinely fried.
It was infinitely better than having insects buzz around our heads or worse, land in our meals, but each sizzle was a bit sickening as we were eating. And when a locust was zapped and fell with a thud because it was a big and heavy insect, we knew it was time to go.
In this country in the summer we sometimes have problems with birds in our medieval churches. Occasionally birds fly in through the open door, but are then unable to escape. They instinctively fly upwards into the very high roof of the church, then seek to escape by flying towards the light which streams in through the windows. But they can't get through the glass and don't have the built-in instincts to fly down to the level of the door. Consequently they're trapped until they can be persuaded to fly low and back out through the door.
It seems that the contrast between light and darkness is important for all living creatures. Some animals and insects are creatures of the night and are only seen during the hours of darkness, but others sleep at night and are abroad during the day. Even plants mostly require light to keep them strong and healthy.
Darkness and light have become important symbols for humanity.Darkness is usually associated with evil, while light is associated with all that's good. But as the insects at that taverna discovered the hard way, too much light may not be good for the system. Human beings have also discovered that too much light may be damaging, and summers now are punctuated by public warnings to filter the light, as an excess of sunlight can lead to a number of nasty conditions.
Way back in the time of Moses, the people were aware that too much light could be dangerous. They knew that anyone who set eyes of God would be so blinded and overwhelmed by God's radiance that they would die. When God passed by Moses, he hid Moses in a crevice in the rock so that Moses would not have to view God, but would only see God disappearing (Exodus 33:21-22).
But on the whole, darkness is more damaging than light, for without light human beings cannot survive. In today's reading from Isaiah 60, the images of darkness and light form a strong contrast. "Your light has come," says Isaiah firmly, "and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you. Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn."
The third Isaiah was writing either during or immediately after the Exile, when the people had felt themselves to be in darkness for generations. But Isaiah writes with hope. He sees the darkness as being so dispersed that peoples from all over the world will flock to the light, bringing gifts for the King of Kings.
This prophecy was brilliantly fulfilled at Epiphany, when the Magi followed their star to reach the new baby, born in the stable. They represented human beings from all over the world, both Jews and Gentiles and they brought with them gifts which were symbolic of the future ministry of the Messiah, gold for a king, incense for a priest, and myrrh, the burial spice.
At that first Christmas human beings were drawn to the light as moths are drawn to a candle flame, but even at that beginning stage the seeds of future tragedy could be seen in the gift of myrrh.
The Wise Men were wise indeed, with a wisdom direct from God. They weren't necessarily Jews; we don't know anything about their religion. But whatever their religion and even if they had none, they were still highly sensitive towards the light and the source of that light. They opened their hearts to God and were therefore able to recognise God in the tiny baby at Bethlehem.
As we bid farewell to Christmas for another year, let us ask God to protect us from the darkness and lead us into light throughout this year of 2005.
But there was one disturbing feature of the taverna. Attached to one wall was a small box-like structure which contained an ultraviolet unit. As the sun went down and dusk increased, so insects were attracted to the ultraviolet rays from the box. As they drifted into the orbit of the box they were zapped, so there was a constant sizzle as the insects were routinely fried.
It was infinitely better than having insects buzz around our heads or worse, land in our meals, but each sizzle was a bit sickening as we were eating. And when a locust was zapped and fell with a thud because it was a big and heavy insect, we knew it was time to go.
In this country in the summer we sometimes have problems with birds in our medieval churches. Occasionally birds fly in through the open door, but are then unable to escape. They instinctively fly upwards into the very high roof of the church, then seek to escape by flying towards the light which streams in through the windows. But they can't get through the glass and don't have the built-in instincts to fly down to the level of the door. Consequently they're trapped until they can be persuaded to fly low and back out through the door.
It seems that the contrast between light and darkness is important for all living creatures. Some animals and insects are creatures of the night and are only seen during the hours of darkness, but others sleep at night and are abroad during the day. Even plants mostly require light to keep them strong and healthy.
Darkness and light have become important symbols for humanity.Darkness is usually associated with evil, while light is associated with all that's good. But as the insects at that taverna discovered the hard way, too much light may not be good for the system. Human beings have also discovered that too much light may be damaging, and summers now are punctuated by public warnings to filter the light, as an excess of sunlight can lead to a number of nasty conditions.
Way back in the time of Moses, the people were aware that too much light could be dangerous. They knew that anyone who set eyes of God would be so blinded and overwhelmed by God's radiance that they would die. When God passed by Moses, he hid Moses in a crevice in the rock so that Moses would not have to view God, but would only see God disappearing (Exodus 33:21-22).
But on the whole, darkness is more damaging than light, for without light human beings cannot survive. In today's reading from Isaiah 60, the images of darkness and light form a strong contrast. "Your light has come," says Isaiah firmly, "and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you. Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn."
The third Isaiah was writing either during or immediately after the Exile, when the people had felt themselves to be in darkness for generations. But Isaiah writes with hope. He sees the darkness as being so dispersed that peoples from all over the world will flock to the light, bringing gifts for the King of Kings.
This prophecy was brilliantly fulfilled at Epiphany, when the Magi followed their star to reach the new baby, born in the stable. They represented human beings from all over the world, both Jews and Gentiles and they brought with them gifts which were symbolic of the future ministry of the Messiah, gold for a king, incense for a priest, and myrrh, the burial spice.
At that first Christmas human beings were drawn to the light as moths are drawn to a candle flame, but even at that beginning stage the seeds of future tragedy could be seen in the gift of myrrh.
The Wise Men were wise indeed, with a wisdom direct from God. They weren't necessarily Jews; we don't know anything about their religion. But whatever their religion and even if they had none, they were still highly sensitive towards the light and the source of that light. They opened their hearts to God and were therefore able to recognise God in the tiny baby at Bethlehem.
As we bid farewell to Christmas for another year, let us ask God to protect us from the darkness and lead us into light throughout this year of 2005.
