Birhan “The True Light”
The last four weeks before nativity have especial name in our church and it is called “Zemene Sibket “Season of Preaching” to remember the teaching of our Holy Prophets prophesying about the coming of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The second Sunday of ZEMEN SBKET IS CALLED B'RHAN (LIGHT)- we not only remember how the prophets talked about the True Light would come to this world to save humanity but also celebrate the fulfilment of those prophecies in the coming of the OUR LORD AND GOD JESUS CHRIST. St. Yared's theme of song for the second week of Sunday is also about:
B'RHAN - LIGHT
"B'RHAN ZEMETSA WSTE ALEM AQEDIMU NEGERE B'ORIT KEM YMETSE WELD BESBHAT WENZENW LETSION BETFSHIT"
"THE LIGHT HAS COME TO THE WORLD. IT HAS BEEN TOLD SINCE THE OLD TIMES TO ZION (Church, believers) THAT THE SON WOULD COME IN GLORY."
In the beginning, the Bible tells us that the earth was “void and dark” and then God said, “let there be light, and there was light” [Gen 1:2,3]. Without God, darkness would have prevailed. St John said, “in the beginning was the Word, ...and the Word was God. All things were made through Him and without Him nothing was made that was made[Jn 1:1-3]. So When Our Lord Jesus Christ said, “ I am the light of the World,” He is right and justified, because He is “the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world” [Jn 1:8].
In the Old testament, He has shown our forefathers his glory in form of light to those who were matured in the fullness of their spiritual time. He appeared to Moses in the burning bush as the light in the fire; He lead the Israelites as a column of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night. One time, prophet Moses saw God from the back and his face shone with the light of God to extent that the people couldn’t look at him. Remind you, when we speak of light, we are also speaking of the absence of darkness. We are created to live in and with light. But we strayed away from the true light [God] and become blind, not able to choose what is right and serving the darkness. Humankind remain utterly in spiritual darkness until the coming of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This is why we see throughout the Old Testament, many Prophets pleading with God to send the True Light, saying, "Oh, send out Your light and Your truth! Let them lead me; Let them bring me to Your holy hill And to Your tabernacle”. [Ps. 43:3-4]. He is the "true light from light, true God from God" that came to destroy darkness and ignorance in the world. The Prophet Isaiah wrote about Him, “the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined” [Isa 9:2]. “The message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, ” said apostle John, “that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all”[1 Jn 1:5]. Then he added, “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it” [Jn 1:4-5].
What Light can do for us --
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Light reveal us the truth. “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days He has spoken to us by his Son,whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. [ Heb 1:1-2]. In the beginning was the Word, and then the Word took flesh and become man and He taught our forefathers His Word to find Hope, Joy and Comfort in it. This is why Psalms said, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path”.
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Light guide us. Though God, He emptied Himself of many of His privileges and power of God and took the form of a slave, lived like us, resembled us in everything except sin. During His life on earth, He lived the perfect life, and showed the human race by example the way each one us should live.
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Light give us Security. Anyone who lives with the Light could definitely pray with Psalm saying, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley I will fear no evil, for you are with me,” because he trust the Word Our Lord spoke saying “I am the light of the world.Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” [Jn 8:12].
Prerequisite for the Light to live in us
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Need to have faith in Him - The light descends due to faith, and when it comes it richly enlights the one receiving him. “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him” [Jn 14:23].
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Need to have Love of brother. Whoever love his brother - love the Light. Whoever hate lacks Light. “He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes” [ 1 Jn 2:9,11]
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Avoid bad company as St Paul said, “Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits”. Bad habit….sin.. friend…inclination that would prevent you from seeing the True light.. Therefore avoid it. God’s Judgment states, “when I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ if he turns from his sin and does what is lawful and right, if the wicked restores the pledge, gives back what he has stolen, and walks in the statutes of life without committing iniquity, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of his sins which he has committed shall be remembered against him; he has done what is lawful and right; he shall surely live[ Ez 33].
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Repent and take the Holy Communion often - He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him” [Jn 6].
Glory to God
May the Intercession of St Mary be with us all.
Dn Fresenbet.