Looking at the Son

           

You may have noticed people wearing dark glasses in the news recently. They were attempting of course to look at the sun. The great shining light bulb in the sky that we long for and hide from in equal measure. They were waiting for the solar eclipse, when the sun was only visible by its outer rays – when darkness and cold descended during the day. A natural phenomenon that reminds us that we are dependent upon the movement of our planet and the position of the sun and moon for our experience of light and dark, for our experience of time.

It was for some a religious experience: an experience of transcendence that reminds us of our dependence upon the created universe. People were awed, shocked, could only exclaim: ‘Oh, my God!’.

I’ve been to France for my holidays and whilst there we visited the Bayeux Tapestry. In the tapestry, you can see a drawing of Halley’s comet. It was read as a harbinger of defeat for the upstart Harry. A sign of his infidelity. An omen for the people.

The Bayeux Tapestry, Halley's Comet, 
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bayeux_Tapestry_32-33_comet_Halley_Harold.jpg

The similarity between these two events, and the great chasm of time between them struck me. It made me think about how we read our times – and how we make judgements about light and dark, truth and lies, about the actions of those in authority. Harry had been sent to Normandy by King Edward to tell William that he was the rightful heir to the English throne. On his death however, Harold had been crowned King. William, commanding an army sails to England to challenge Harold and claim the throne. William wins and is crowned King. The tapestry tells the tale and sets it within its wider astrological context.

Today, we continue to live our lives within the context of those who fight for, win and lose power over us. Except it’s worked out through the ballot box rather than the battle field; is re-set as a political question and answer, through the arrows of twitter and the duals of televised political debates.  Like those who lived in Normandy and England before us we must learn to discern the truth from the lies, the betrayers from the faithful.

For Christians, finding out what is the will of God is inseparable from recognizing Jesus as Lord. Jesus is effusive when Peter says that he is the Messiah the Son of God: ‘Blessed are you Simon, Son of Jonah…. You are Peter and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it’.

Today, as in every age, we must hang onto Jesus if we are to separate the light from the dark, the truth from the lies. And it is Jesus’ character revealed in his actions that testify that he is the Son of God. His qualities should guide us as we assess and judge the world around us: humble, compassionate, peacemaker, breaker down of boundaries, challenger of the powerful, guardian of the poor and vulnerable, host for the outcast. As Christians we have a certain and clear moral compass and a faithful and true leader whom we follow. The Word of God and the power of God can be manipulated and used in all sorts of ways, to justify all sorts of appalling actions. The faithful and true will be proven by their works. If we keep looking to Jesus, we will be exposed to the greatest light that there ever was and is.

As Christians we keep on looking at the Son – and we don’t need dark glasses. He shines out for us for ever and ever, only once eclipsed by those who could not bear his light, only to rise again more glorious than ever.

Bible References: 

Romans 12:1-8

Matthew 16:13-20