So, I was in Church today and the readings kind of confused me. In particular, it was the two new testament readings - Ephesians 5: 8-14 and the Gospel John 9: 1-41 that kind of threw me for a loop. I don't know much of this blog you've read or how much has been expressed in here, but I'm kind of a fan of the Dark and Dr. D of the Light. For several years, I've grappled with the portrayal of Dark as evil, but then again, I'm one of those people who is not quite sure that there is good and evil, but if you consider that there is, kind of thinks there can't been good without evil, Yin without Yang, etc. You know what I'm saying. So, to me that kind of makes light and dark equal - to me they play off each other and help keep the balance of the Cosmos. I mean you can't have day without night, can you?
However, today's Scripture readings seem to be encouraging just that: From the Ephesians reading:
for once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light
(for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true)
Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.
For it is a shame even to speak of the things that they do in secret;but when anything is exposed by the light it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light.Therefore it is said,
"Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light."
Hmmm, so according to that reading, the light is clearly good and anything to do with the dark is clearly bad. Maybe that is just symbolism of the time, when darkness was really scary - cuz like they didn't have electric lights and things.
From today's gospel:
Jesus talking: We must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day; night comes, when no one can work.
As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
More of this light is good stuff.
So, I guess taking away any symbolism, "darkness" cannot be good - but I don't believe that is the case and I think we need to realize that wonderful things can happen in the dark at night - music, dancing, lovemaking - swimming under the moonlight for goodness sakes! I guess maybe I am just wrestling with the choice of symbolism here and taking it too literally - which of course is a problem that fundamentalists have and something I should be able to move beyond.
In a literal sense darkness can be good - but if we are symbolizing Jesus as the light of the world - meaning light symbolizes everything that is good - than I guess I'm okay with it. But, can we come up with a new symbol. Have we not outgrown, surpassed with technology, the old "darkness is bad" analogy. Any thoughts?
However, today's Scripture readings seem to be encouraging just that: From the Ephesians reading:
for once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light
(for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true)
Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.
For it is a shame even to speak of the things that they do in secret;but when anything is exposed by the light it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light.Therefore it is said,
"Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light."
Hmmm, so according to that reading, the light is clearly good and anything to do with the dark is clearly bad. Maybe that is just symbolism of the time, when darkness was really scary - cuz like they didn't have electric lights and things.
From today's gospel:
Jesus talking: We must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day; night comes, when no one can work.
As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
More of this light is good stuff.
So, I guess taking away any symbolism, "darkness" cannot be good - but I don't believe that is the case and I think we need to realize that wonderful things can happen in the dark at night - music, dancing, lovemaking - swimming under the moonlight for goodness sakes! I guess maybe I am just wrestling with the choice of symbolism here and taking it too literally - which of course is a problem that fundamentalists have and something I should be able to move beyond.
In a literal sense darkness can be good - but if we are symbolizing Jesus as the light of the world - meaning light symbolizes everything that is good - than I guess I'm okay with it. But, can we come up with a new symbol. Have we not outgrown, surpassed with technology, the old "darkness is bad" analogy. Any thoughts?
