John 1:6-8, 19-28
There are both written and silent witnesses to the overwhelming light that burst into the night sky on July 6, 1054.
- About two hours after midnight…the Chinese royal astronomer Yang Wei-te was a witness to a great light.
- He saw what he called a “guest star” in the constellation of Taurus the Bull.
- According to Yang…it was a reddish-white color and displayed pointed rays all around.
- The star was so bright it was visible in broad daylight for 23 days.
- And visible at night for a couple of years.
Japanese astronomers were also witnesses to the light…and recorded its appearance in their archives.
- And thousands of miles away…the Native Americans we now call the Anasazi were witnesses to the light.
- They did not write it down but we know…anyway.
- How?
- Go to Chaco Canyon…in New Mexico…and you will find gently crumbling ruins of an ancient civilization whose trade routes spanned thousands of miles.
About three-and-a-half miles north of the Pueblo del Arroyo…
- You will find yourself standing under a rock ledge where someone painted a many-pointed star…
- A crescent moon and a handprint.
- Many believe this is a record of one who also saw the same star as the Chinese and Japanese astronomers.
We know what they were seeing was not just a nova…
- An exploding star nearing the end of its life…
- But a supernova.
- Supernovas occur when the largest stars have spent much of their fuel burning fiercely bright.
- With a breathtaking suddenness…they collapse into their now solid iron cores…
- And often become for a short time brighter than all the billions of stars in their home galaxy combined.
An event like this had to have been very significant for all who saw it.
- The Chinese astronomer Yang wrote to the emperor to tell him it meant there was a wise and virtuous person in the country.
In today’s gospel passage…the author is also talking about a witness to a startling light… who pointed to a wise and virtuous person.
- John the Baptist was sent by God…we are told…to witness to the light…but he himself was not the light.
- Jesus is the light.
- Jesus was the wise and virtuous person that John was pointing to.
- He is the light who shines in the darkness.
- The light that the darkness is powerless to overcome.
Some say we are descended from the dust of supernovas.
- Some say we are the remains of exploding stars.
- The remnants of cataclysmic explosions blown about on galactic winds that found their way into the cosmic nursery where our own star was born.
- Making it the source of all life.
That may or may not be so…but in John’s gospel…this light that shines in the darkness is the source of life for all!
- And that is why John appears.
- Stepping forward in a startling manner from the desert to witness to the light and to baptize others in the water of the Jordan River.
We are part of a great chain that continues to this day.
- A chain of witnesses who do not point to themselves.
- But like John…point to one who is greater.
- This is our charge in Advent.
Whether it is in the form of an official report:
- “Behold…I bring you tidings of great joy!”
- Or in artwork…like a nativity set.
- Or a Christmas card.
- Or a favorite carol.
- Or a Christmas cantata.
- We are all…appealed to…in this season of Advent…to be witnesses to the light.
- It shouldn’t be that hard. Right?
But…nowadays it’s harder than ever simply to witness to the glories of the night sky.
- There’s too much light pollution over the whole globe.
- We have the same sort of clutter in our lives…
- Too much light and sound and noise.
- Obscuring our ability to witness to the Light that shines in the darkness of our lives.
So…what does an exploding star…John the Baptist and our holiday clutter and fatigue have to do with each other?
- Well…those ancient astronomers were looking outside themselves.
- They were pointing to something greater than themselves.
- John the Baptist was looking beyond to something greater…someone greater than himself.
Remember…that bright star 1,000 years ago was not the same as the one that shone 2,000 years ago to call anyone who would pay attention to find their way to the infant.
- The Magi saw a sign in the heavens and acted.
- But Herod and his court were mystified by the report of the wise men.
- Because there was too much clutter from political intrigue and infighting to leave space for gazing into the high sky.
There is still a lot of clutter…so witnessing about the light is not going to be easy.
- This is a tough time.
- It is made tougher by the fact that the weight of all this forced merriment can leave us blue.
- Especially as we think about things left unaccomplished or about empty seats at our holiday tables.
But Jesus is at the heart of everything to do with the swirl that is rushing around us.
- It may not be obvious…but he is there.
- He is the light about which we witness.
That exploding star from a thousand years ago?
- You may not be able to look up in the night sky and still see it.
- But with a good pair of binoculars or an average telescope you can see the remains of that explosion.
- It is now called the Crab Nebula…and though it can be hard to see…
- It still sends out loud radio and X-ray signals for those who know how to look.
And we can still see the remnants of the Star of Bethlehem whenever we see lives changed because of Jesus.
- We can still hear the echoes of the angels who sang that night…
- Whenever we hear of people offering a cup of cold water to the least of these in the name of the infant Christ.
And we ourselves are an echo of sorts.
- In this season of distraction…we… through our faithfulness…are the proof that there is still hope to be found amid despair.
- A light that still shines in the darkness.
The charge is there for us:
- To look.
- To see.
- To touch.
- To taste.
- To feel.
- To tell.