The Light of the Universe

The Light of the Universe January 11, 2024

“Light” is an exciting concept.
The phrase “light of the world” has religious origins and can be found in the Bible, specifically in the New Testament.  Zoroastrians treat it, along with fire, as a sacred cleansing creation.

In Judaism, God appeared to Moses from within a lighted bush of fire. The Temple  had constant burning oil lights.  In Christian theology, it is often used to refer to Jesus Christ. In the book of Matthew, Chapter 5, verse 14, Jesus says to his disciples, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.”

The metaphor of light is used in various religious and philosophical contexts to symbolize illumination, enlightenment, guidance, and truth. It represents goodness, purity, and the dispelling of darkness or ignorance. In the context of Christianity, being the “light of the world” implies being a source of moral and spiritual guidance, reflecting the teachings of Jesus and bringing positive influence to others.

Every time we ignite a fire or candle, we summon up the ethereal.  It’s a simple, yet mystical ritual.  Eastern mysticism, as well as the Judeo- Christian traditions acknowledge  the innate power of Light.  Light has an ecumenical dimension to it.

There’s a lot of meaning in Eastern philosophy’s tenet that  “it’s better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.”  And the analogous reference to forgiveness in the Christian tradition cannot be overlooked.

It’s often said that all the blackness of the universe cannot extinguish just one candle; an utterly amazing thought.  Aside from its physical attributes, light is the essence and energizer of all things.

Light from Light- True God from True God…

In sum-  thank goodness for the Light of the World, which illuminates all of us.

 

 

 

 

 


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