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Á¦¸ñ ÀηùÀÇ Âü ºûÀ̽Š¿¹¼ö´Ô/Our Lord Jesus Christ as the Light
ÀÛ¼ºÀÚ °ü¸®ÀÚ ÀÛ¼ºÀÏ 2014-09-01



ÀηùÀÇ Âü ºûÀ̽Š¿¹¼ö´Ô(2014-02-07)


»ç¶ûÇÏ´Â ±³¿ì ¿©·¯ºÐ
Áö³­ ÁÖÀÏ, ¿ì¸®´Â ¿ì¸® ÁÖ ¿¹¼ö ±×¸®½ºµµ²²¼­ ºÀÇåµÇ´Â ÃàÀÏÀ» Áö³Â½À´Ï´Ù. ÀÌ ÃàÀÏÀº ºûÀ̽Š¿ì¸® ÁÖ ¿¹¼ö ±×¸®½ºµµÀÇ ÃàÀÏÀÔ´Ï´Ù. ½Ã¸Þ¿ÂÀº ¿¹¼ö²² ¡°ÀÌ ºÐÀº ¡®¿Ü±³ÀÎ(èâÎçìÑ)À» ºñÃ߽ô ºûÀ̽ÿÀ, ³× ¹é¼º À̽º¶ó¿¤ÀÇ ¿µ±¤À̷δ١±(·ç±î2;32)¶ó°í ¸»¾¸Çϼ̽À´Ï´Ù. ¼¼·ÊÀÚ ¼º ¿äÇÑÀÇ ¾Æ¹öÁö ÀÚÄ«¸®¾Æ´Â ÀÏÂïÀÌ ¸»¾¸ÇϽñæ:¡±ÃµÁÖÀÇ ÀÎÀÚÇϽŠ¸»¾¸À¸·Î½á Çϸ®´Ï, ÀÎÀÚÇϽŠÅ¾çÀÌ ³ôÀº µ¥¼­ µ¸¾Æ ¿ì¸®¸¦ ã¾Æº¸½Ã°í, ¾îµÓ°í ¹× Á×´Â ±×´Ã ¼Ó¿¡ ¾ÉÀº ÀÚµéÀ» ºñÃ߽øç, ¶Ç Æòź(øÁ÷¤)ÇÑ ±æ·Î ¿ì¸® ¹ßÀ» ÀεµÇϽø®·Î´Ù.¡±(·ç±î 1:78-79). 


Å©¸®½º¸¶½º ¶§, ±×¸®½ºµµÀÇ ¿À½ÉÀº ¸ñµ¿µé¿¡°Ô ºñÃß´Â ºû¿¡ ÀÇÇØ ºÐ¸íÇØÁ³½À´Ï´Ù:¡±È¦¿¬ ÁÖÀÇ Ãµ½ÅÀÌ °¡±îÀÌ ¼­°í ¶Ç õÁÖÀÇ ±¤Ã¤°¡ ÀúµéÀ» µÎ·ç ºñÃ߸Å.¡±(·ç±î 2:9) ¶ÇÇÑ ±×¸®½ºµµ¸¦ ã´Â  µ¿¹æÀÇ »ê¿Õ(ß²èÝ)¿¡°Ôµµ Çϴÿ¡¼­ ¸Å¿ì ƯÀÌÇÑ ºûÀ» ºñÃß´Â ½Åºñ·Î¿î º°¿¡ ÀÇÇØ °íÁö(ͱò±)µÇ¾ú´Âµ¥, ÈÄ¿¡ ¡°Àúµé ¾Õ¿¡¼­ Çü»óÀ» º¯ÇϽôÏ, ±× ¾ó±¼ÀÌ Å¾簰ÀÌ ºû³ª°í ±× ÀǺ¹ÀÌ ´«°°ÀÌ Èñ´õ¶ó.¡±(¸¶Å׿À 17:2)

ÀÌ ¸ðµç °ÍµéÀº ÀÌ»ç¾ß¿¡ ÀÇÇØ ¿¹¾ðµÈ °ÍÀÔ´Ï´Ù:¡±Èæ¾Ï¿¡ ÇàÇÏ´ø ¹é¼ºÀÌ Å« ºûÀ» º¸°í »ç¸ÁÀÇ ±×´ÃÁø ¶¥¿¡ °ÅÇÏ´ø ÀÚ¿¡°Ô ºûÀÌ ºñÃëµµ´Ù¡± (ÀÌ»ç¾ß. 9:2, ¸¶Å׿À 4 :16). ¶ÇÇÑ ³»°¡ ¶Ç ³Ê·Î À̹æ(ì¶ÛÀ)ÀÇ ºûÀ» »ï¾Æ ³ªÀÇ ±¸¿øÀ» º£Ç®¾î¼­ ¶¥ ³¡±îÁö À̸£°Ô Çϸ®¶ó¡±(ÀÌ»ç¾ß 49 :6, Á¾µµÇàÀü13 :47). ±×¸®°í ¿¹¾ðÀÚ ¸»¶óÅ°´Â ¡°³» À̸§À» °æ¿ÜÇÏ´Â ³ÊÈñ¿¡°Ô´Â ÀǷοî ÇØ°¡ ¶°¿Ã¶ó¼­ Ä¡·áÇÏ´Â ±¤¼±(³¯°³)À».¡± (¸»¶óÅ° 4:2) ¹°·Ð ÀÌ°ÍÀº ¹°ÁúÀûÀ¸·Î º¸À̴ žçÀÌ ¾Æ´Õ´Ï´Ù. ¾î¶»°Ô ±×·¯¸é ¡®¾ç ³¯°³¡¯¸¦  °®À» ¼ö Àִ°¡¿ä ? ÀÌ´Â ¿ì¸® ÁÖ ¿¹¼ö ±×¸®½ºµµÀ̸ç, ±× ºÐÀÇ ¾ç ³¯°³´Â ±¸¿øÀ̶ó´Â, Áï ¿µÈ¥ÀÇ °Ç°­È¸º¹ÀÌ ÀÖ´Â °÷ÀÎ ½ÊÀÚ°¡ À§¿¡¼­ ÆîÄ£ ÆÈÀÔ´Ï´Ù.

¼º ¿äÇÑÀº ¸»¾¸ÇϽñæ:¡±¿ì¸®µéÀÌ ±×¸®½ºµµ²² µè°í ¶ÇÇÑ ³ÊÈñµé¿¡°Ô ÀüÇÏ´Â º¸°í(ÜÃͱ)´Â ÀÌ°ÍÀÌ´Ï, °ð, õÁÖ²²¼­´Â ºûÀ̽øç, ±× ¾È¿¡´Â Á¶±×¸¶ÇÑ ¾îµÒµµ ÀÖÁö ¾Æ´ÏÇÏ´Ù´Â °ÍÀ̴϶ó.¡±(¿ä¾È1¼­1:5). ¼º ¾ß°íº¸´Â ¡±¿Â°® ÁÁÀº ¼±¹°°ú ¸ðµç ¿ÏÀüÇÑ ¿¹¹°Àº À§¿¡¼­ºÎÅÍ, °ð, º¯ÇϽɵµ ¾ø°í º¯ÃµÇÔÀÇ ±×¸²ÀÚµµ ¾ø´Â ºûÀÇ ¾Æºñ½ÅÀڷκÎÅÍ ³»¸®´Ï¶ó.¡±(¾ß°íº¸ 1:17) ¹Ù¿À·Î ¼ºÀÎÀº ¹Ð¾¸ÇϽñæ, ÁÖ´ÔÀ» ¡°Àú´Â Ȧ·Î ºÒ¸ê¼ºÀ» °¡Áö½Ã¸ç, Á¢±ÙÁ¶Â÷ ÇÒ ¼ö ¾ø´Â ºû Áß¿¡ »ç½Ã³ë´Ï, ¾Æ¹«µµ Àú¸¦ º¼ ¼ö ¾ø¾úÀ¸¸ç, ºÆ¿Ã ¼öµµ ¾øÀ½À̶ó.¡±(Å׸𵥿À Àü 6:16) õÁÖ²²¼­´Â ºûÀ̽ʴϴÙ. ÀÌ´Â ¹«½¼ ÀǹÌÀΰ¡¿ä?

¾î´À ÀÌ´ÜÀÚµé, ¸¶´Ï±³µµ(ؤÒùÎçÔ³)µéÀº ±×¸®½ºµµ²²¼­´Â µ¿¹°Á¶Â÷µµ º¼ ¼ö ÀÖ´Â Çϴÿ¡ ¶° Àִ žçÀÌ´Ù¶ó°í ¹Ï¾úÁö¸¸, ÀÌ´Â Áø¸®¿¡¼­ ¸Ö¸® ¹þ¾î³­ °ÍÀÔ´Ï´Ù. ¼º ¹Ù¿À·Î²²¼­ ¸»¾¸Çϼ̵íÀÌ ÃµÁÖ´ÔÀÇ ºûÀº ¡®Á¢±ÙÇÒ ¼ö ¾øÀ½¡¯ÀÌ¸ç ±× ¾î´À Àΰ£µµ ÀÚ¿¬ÀÇ ÈûÀ¸·Î õÁÖ´ÔÀ» º¼ ¼ö ¾ø´Ù´Â °ÍÀÔ´Ï´Ù. ¼º ¾î°Å½ºÆ¾Àº ¸»¾¸ÇϽñæ: ¡°±×¸®½ºµµ´Â ¶°¿À¸£°í Áö¸ç, ±¸¸§¿¡ ÀÇÇØ ºûÀÌ Â÷´ÜµÇ´Â ÀÌ·± ¹°ÁúÀûÀΠžçÀÌ ¾Æ´Ï´Ù. ±×¸®½ºµµ´Â âÁ¶µÈ žçÀÌ ¾Æ´Ï¶ó ±× žçÀ» âÁ¶ÇÑ ºÐÀ̽ôÙ! ¡°¸¸¹°ÀÌ ´Ù Àú·Î ¸»¹Ì¾Ï¾Æ Á¶¼ºÇÔÀ» ¹Þ¾ÒÀ¸´Ï, Á¶¼ºÇÔÀ» ¹ÞÀº °ÍÀÌ Àú ¸»¾¸À» ¸»¹Ì¾ÏÁö ¾Ê°í µÈ °ÍÀº µµ¹«Áö ¾ø´À´Ï¶ó.¡± (Jn. 1:3).¶ó°í  ¸»¾¸ÇϽʴϴÙ.


¸¸µç ÀÌ°¡ ±× ÀÛÇ°º¸´Ù À§¿¡ ÀÖµíÀÌ, ±×°¡ Á¶¼ºÇÑ ÇÇÁ¶¹° ¹× ±×°¡ ¸¸µç ºûº¸´Ùµµ ¹«ÇÑÈ÷ ¿ìÀ§¿¡ ÀÖ´Â °ÍÀÔ´Ï´Ù. (°úÇÐÀÚµéÀº ºû Á¶Â÷µµ ÀÔÀÚ·Î ¸¸µé¾îÁ³´Ù°í ¼³¸íÇÕ´Ï´Ù) ±×¸®½ºµµ´Â ¿ì¸®ÀÇ À°¾ÈÀ¸·Î º¼ ¼ö ÀÖ´Â ±×·± ºûÀÌ ¾Æ´Ï¶ó, ¿µÀûÀÎ ´«, ¸¶À½ÀÇ ´«, ³»ºÎ ±â´ÉÀÎ Áö¼ºÀ¸·Î º¼ ¼ö ÀÖ´Â ¿µÀûÀÎ ºûÀ̽ʴϴÙ. (¿¡Æä¼Ò 1;18) ±× ºÐÀº Áö¼ºÀ» ºñÃß´Â ºûÀ̽ʴϴÙ. ±× ºÐÀº ¿µÀûÀÎ ºûÀ» âÁ¶ÇÏÁö ¾Ê¾ÒÀ¸´Ï, ¡®ÃµÁַκÎÅÍ ³ª½Å õÁÖÀ̽øç, ºû¿¡¼­ ³ª½Å ºûÀ̽øç, Âü õÁַκÎÅÍ ³ª½Å Âü õÁÖÀ̽ʴϴÙ.¡¯

½ÉÁö¾î ¿ì¸®ÀÇ ´«À¸·Îµµ ¿ÏÀüÇÑ ¾îµÒ ¼Ó¿¡¼­´Â ¾Æ¹« °Íµµ º¼ ¼ö ¾ø½À´Ï´Ù. ¿ì¸®°¡ ´«À¸·Î »ç¹°À» º¸±â À§Çؼ­´Â ¹°ÁúÀûÀÎ ºûÀÌ ÇÊ¿äÇÕ´Ï´Ù: ºûÀº ±× ÀÚü°¡ °¡½ÃÀû(ʦãÊîÜ)À̸ç, »ç¹°À» º¼ ¼ö ÀÖ°Ô ÇØÁÝ´Ï´Ù. ¿ì¸®ÀÇ Áö¼ºµµ ÀÌ¿Í °°½À´Ï´Ù. ¿ì¸®ÀÇ ÁöÀû ±â´ÉÀº »ç¹°À» ÀÌÇØÇϱâ À§Çؼ­´Â ³»ÀûÀÎ ºûÀÌ ÇÊ¿äÇÕ´Ï´Ù: ±× ÀÚ¿¬Àû ±â´ÉÀº ¿ì¸® °¢ÀÚ ³»ºÎ¿¡ ÀÖ´Â ¡®ÁöÀû ´ë¸®ÀÚ¡¯¶ó°í ºÒ¸®¿É´Ï´Ù.


Å丶½º ¼ºÀÎÀº ÀÌ°ÍÀ» ¼º¿µÀÇ ±¸Àý¿¡ Àû¿ëÇÏ´Â µ¥ ¡°ÁÖÀÇ ¾ó±¼À» µé¾î ¿ì¸®¿¡°Ô ºñÃß¾îÁÖ¼Ò¼­, ±×´ë ³» ¸¶À½ ¾È¿¡ ±â»ÝÀ» ÁֽóªÀÌ´Ù¡±(¼º¿µ4:7) ±×·¡¼­ ÀÌ ÁöÀû ´ë¸®Àڴ õÁÖ´Ô ºûÀÇ ¹ÝÇâ(ÚãúÂ)À̸ç, ¿ì¸®º¸´Ù ÈξÀ ³ôÀÌ, ¹«ÇÑÀÌ ¿Ã¶ó°¡ ¿ì¸®°¡ ÀÌÇصǵµ·Ï µµ¿òÀ» Áֽô õÁÖ´ÔÀÇ ºûÀ̽ʴϴÙ.

±×·¡¼­ ¡¯ºû¡¯À̶ó´Â ´Ü¾î´Â ¿ì¸®°¡ Áö½ÄÀÇ ±Ù¿ø(ÐÆê¹)À» ¾Ë ¼ö ÀÖµµ·Ï Çϴ  ¹Ù·Î ±×°ÍÀÓÀ» ¾Ë·ÁÁÝ´Ï´Ù. ±×¸®½ºµµ´Â ¿ì¸®ÀÇ ºûÀ̽ʴϴÙ, ¿Ö³Ä ÇÏ¸é ±× ºÐÀº ¿ì¸®¿¡°Ô ÀÚ½ÅÀ» ¼ººÎ¿Í õÁÖ¼ºÀ» Áö´Ñ ¾Æµé°ú ¼º½ÅÀ» µå·¯³» º¸ÀÔ´Ï´Ù. ±× ºÐÀº ±Ã±ØÀû Çö½Ç, ±Ã±ØÀû Áø¸®, °¡Àå ³ôÀº Çö½Ç, °¡Àå ³ôÀº Áø¸®ÀÌ¸ç ±Ã±ØÀû °è½ÃÀÔ´Ï´Ù. ¼º ¿äÇÑ Á¾µµ²²¼­´Â ¾²½Ã±æ: ¡±Àú ¸»¾¸¿¡°Ô »ý¸íÀÌ ÀÖÀ¸´Ï, ÀÌ »ý¸íÀÌ °ð »ç¶÷ÀÇ ºûÀ̶ó. ÀÌ ºûÀÌ ¾îµÎ¿î µ¥¿¡ ºñÃßµÇ, ±× ¾îµÎ¿òÀÌ ±× ºûÀ» ¿ë³³ÇÏÁö ¾Æ´ÏÇϸ®¶ó. (¿ä¿Õ1:4-5)


Áï ¾îµÎ¿ò¿¡ ÀÖ´Â ÀÚµéÀº ±×¸®½ºµµ¸¦ ¹ÏÁö ¾Ê¾Ò½À´Ï´Ù. ¼º ¿äÇÑÀº °è¼Ó ¸»¾¸ÇϽñæ:  ¡±¸»¾¸ÀÌ ÀÌ ¼¼»ó¿¡ ¿À´Â ¸ðµç »ç¶÷À» ºñÃß´Â ºûÀ̶ó.¡±(¿ä¿Õ1:9) ¡±¾îµÒ¿¡·ÎÁ¶Â÷ ºûÀÌ ºñÄ¥Áö¾î´Ù.¡± ÇÏ°í ¸»¾¸ÇϽŠõÁÖ²²¼­´Â õÁÖÀÇ ¿µ±¤¿¡ ´ëÇÑ ÀνÄÀ» ¿¹¼ö ±×¸®½ºµµÀÇ ¾ó±¼¿¡ ºû³ª°Ô ÇϽñâ À§ÇÏ¿© ºûÀ» ¿ì¸®ÀÇ ¸¶À½ ¼Ó¿¡µµ ºû³ª°Ô Çϼ̵µ´Ù.¡± (ÄÚ¸°Åä ÈÄ4:16)

Àú °è½Ã(ÌöãÆ)¿¡ ´ëÇØ, »ç¶÷Àº ¹Ýµå½Ã ½Å¾ÓÀ¸·Î ¹ÝÀÀ(Úãëë)ÇØ¾ß ÇÏÁö¸¸, ¸ðµç »ç¶÷ÀÌ ¹ÝÀÀÇÏ´Â °ÍÀº ¾Æ´Õ´Ï´Ù: ¡±ÁË·Î ÆÇ´ÜÇÔÀº ´ëÀú ºûÀÌ ¼¼»ó¿¡ ÀÓÇÏ¿´À¸µÇ, »ç¶÷µéÀÌ ºûº¸´Ù ¾îµÎ¿òÀ» ´õ »ç¶ûÇÔÀÌ´Ï ÀúµéÀÇ Çà½ÇÀÌ ¾ÇÇÑ ¿¬°íÀ̴϶ó¡±(¿ä¿Õ3:19) ÀÚ, ÀÌ´Â ¿ì¸®·Î ÇÏ¿©±Ý ÀÌ·± »ý°¢À» ÇÏ°Ô ¸¸µì´Ï´Ù! õÁÖ²²¼­ ¿ì¸®¿¡°Ô ¸»¾¸ÇÏ½Ç Àû¿¡ ¿ì¸®°¡ ³Ã´ãÇÒ ¼ö ¾ø½À´Ï´Ù. ¿ì¸®´Â ¹Ýµå½Ã ¡°±× ºÐÀ» ¹Þ¾Æµå·Á¾ß¡± ÇÕ´Ï´Ù. Áï, ¹Ï¾î¾ß ÇÕ´Ï´Ù:¡±º» ¶¥¿¡ ¿À½ÃµÇ ±× ¹é¼ºÀÌ ¿µÁ¢Ä¡ ¾Æ´ÏÇÏ¿´°í ¹«¸© ´ç½ÅÀ» ¿µÁ¢ÇÏ¸ç °âÇÏ¿© ±× À̸§À» ¹Ï´Â ÀÌ¿¡°Ô´Â ´ÉÀ» ÁÖ»ç °ð õÁÖÀÇ Àڳడ µÇ°Ô ÇϽôÏ.¡±(¿ä¿Õ 1:11-12) ¿ì¸® ÁÖ²²¼­ Ä£È÷ ¸»¾¸ÇϽñæ: ¡±³ª´Â ºûÀ̷δÙ. ¼¼»ó¿¡ ¿Í¼­ ¹«¸© ³ª¸¦ ¹Ï´Â ÀÚµé·Î ÇÏ¿©±Ý ¾îµÎ¿î µ¥ ¸Ó¹°Áö ¾Æ´ÏÄÉ Çϳë¶ó.¡±(¿ä¿Õ 12:46)

¡°³ª´Â ¼¼»óÀÇ ºûÀÌ´Ï, ³ª¸¦ µû¸£´Â ÀÚ´Â ¾îµÎ¿î µ¥¿¡¼­ ÇàÇÏÁö ¾ÊÀ» °ÍÀÌ¿ä, ¿ÀÁ÷ »ý¸íÀÇ ºûÀ» ¾òÀ¸¸®¶ó.¡±(¿ä¿Õ8:12): ¡±³»°¡ ¼¼»ó¿¡ ÀÖ´Â µ¿¾È¿¡´Â °ð ¼¼»óÀÇ ºûÀ̷δ١±(¿ä¿Õ9:5) ¡°¾ÆÁ÷µµ Àá±ñ µ¿¾È ³ÊÈñ°Ô ºûÀÌ ÀÖÀ¸´Ï, ºûÀÌ ÀÖÀ» ¶§¿¡ ÇàÇÏ¿© ÇÏ¿©±Ý ¾îµÎ¿òÀÌ ³ÊÈñ¸¦ ¾ö½ÀÄ¡ ¾Æ´ÏÄÉ Ç϶ó. ¾îµÒ ¼Ó¿¡ ÇàÇÏ´Â ÀÚ´Â ¾îµð·Î °¡´Â ÁÙÀ» ¸ð¸£´Ï¶ó. ³ÊÈñ°¡ ºûÀÌ ÀÖÀ» µ¿¾È¿¡ ºûÀ» ¹Ï¾î ÇÏ¿©±Ý ºûÀÇ ¾ÆµéÀÌ µÇ°Ô Ç϶ó.¡±(¿ä¿Õ12;35-36)

¿ì¸® ÁÖ²²¼­ Àεµ(ìÚÓô)ÇϽô »õ·Î¿î ÁÖÁ¦°¡ ÀÖÀ¸´Ï, ¡®ºûÀ» µû¸£¶ó¡¯´Â ÁÖÁ¦ÀÔ´Ï´Ù. ½ÇÁ¦·Î ¿ì¸® ÁÖ ¿¹¼ö ±×¸®½ºµµ²²¼­´Â ¼ººÎ¿Í ¼ºÀÚ¿Í ¼º½ÅÀ¸·Î¼­ õÁÖ´ÔÀÇ ³»Àû º»ÁúÀ» ¿ì¸®¿¡°Ô º¸¿©ÁÖ½Ç »Ó¸¸ ¾Æ´Ï¶ó ¿ì¸® »îÀÇ ±Ã±ØÀûÀÎ ¸ñÀûÀÎ ±× ºÐÀ» º¸´Â °ÍÀ̶ó´Â °ÍÀ» µå·¯³» º¸À̽ʴϴÙ! ¡°¼ººÎ ¿ì¸®¿¡°Ô ¾î¶°ÇÑ »ç¶ûÀ» Á̴ּÂÁö¸¦ ³ÊÈñ´Â º¼Áö´Ï, °ð ¿ì¸®´Â õÁÖÀÇ ÀÚ½ÄÀ̶ó ÀÏÄÃÀ½À» ¹Þ°í ¶ÇÇÑ »ç½Ç·Î ±×·¸°Ô µÇ¾ú´À´Ï¶ó. ÀÌ·Î ¸»¹Ì¾Ï¾Æ ¼¼¼ÓÀº ¿ì¸®¸¦ ¸ð¸£³ë´Ï, ´ëÀú ±×´Â õÁÖ¸¦ ¸ð¸£´Â ¿¬°íÀ̴϶ó. Ä£¾ÖÇÏ´Â ÀÚµé¾Æ, ¿ì¸®´Â ÀÌÁ¦ õÁÖÀÇ ÀÚ½ÄÀ̷δÙ. ¿ì¸®°¡ ÀåÂ÷ ¹«¾ùÀÌ µÉ °ÍÀÎÁö´Â ¾ÆÁ÷ ¸í¹éÇÏÁö ¾ÊÀ¸´Ï¶ó. ±×·¯³ª ÀÌ°ÍÀÌ ¸í¹éÇÏ¿©Áú ¶§¿¡´Â ¿ì¸®°¡ õÁÖ¿Í ºñ½ÁÇÒ °ÍÀ» ¾Æ³ë´Ï, ´ëÀú »ç½Ç´ë·ÎÀÇ Àú¸¦ ºÆ¿Ã °Í ÀÓÀ̶ó. ¹«¸© ÀÌ·¯ÇÑ Èñ¸ÁÀ» Àú¿¡°Ô ´ëÇÏ¿© °¡Áö°í ÀÖ´Â ÀÚ´Â Àú °Å·èÇϽɰú °°ÀÌ Àڱ⸦ ¶ÇÇÑ °Å·èÇÏ°Ô ÇÏ´À´Ï¶ó.¡±(¿ä¾È 1¼­3:1-3)

¹Ù¿À·Î ¼ºÀÎÀº ±ÛÀ» ¾²¸é¼­ ±âµµÇÏ±æ ¡°ÀÌ´Â ¿ì¸® ÁÖ ¿¹¼ö ±×¸®½ºµµÀÇ ÃµÁÖÀ̽Š¿µ±¤ÀÇ ¼ººÎ·Î ÇÏ¿©±Ý ÁöÇý¿Í °è½ÃÀÇ ¼º½ÅÀ» õÁÖ²² ´ëÇÑ ¿ÏÀüÇÑ ÀνÄÀ¸·Î ¸»¹Ì¾Ï¾Æ ³ÊÈñ¿¡°Ô ÁÖ»ç ½á, ³ÊÈñ ¸¶À½ÀÇ ´«À» ºñÃß¾î Áֽñ⸦ À§ÇÔÀ̴϶ó. ÀÌ´Â ³ÊÈñµé·Î ÇÏ¿©±Ý ³ÊÈñ´Â ¾î¶°ÇÑ Èñ¸Á¿¡·Î ºÎ¸§À» ¹Þ¾ÒÀ¸¸ç ¶ÇÇÑ ¼ºµµµé¿¡°Ô ³¢ÃÄÁÖ½Ç À¯¾÷ÀÇ ¿µ±¤°ú dzºÎÇÔÀÌ ¾î¶°ÇÑ°¡¸¦ ÀνÄÇÏ°Ô Çϱ⸦ À§ÇÔÀ̸ç.¡°(¿¡Æä¼Ò1:17-18)

ÁÖ´ÔÀº ¶ÇÇÑ Àμº(ìÑàõ) ¾È¿¡¼­ ¸ñÇ¥¿Í ±× ºÐÀÌ ±æÀ̽ÉÀ» µµ´ÞÇϱâ À§ÇÑ ¹æ¹ýÀ» Á¦½ÃÇϽʴϴÙ. ¡±³ª´Â ±æÀÌ¿ä, Áø¸®¿ä »ý¸íÀÌ´Ï, ³ª·Î ¸»¹Ì¾ÏÁö ¾Æ´ÏÇÏ°í´Â ¾Æ¹«µµ ¼ººÎ²² ³ª¿ÀÁö ¸øÇÏ´À´Ï¶ó.¡±(¿ä¿Õ14;6) ÀÌ ±æÀ» °É¾î°¨À¸·Î½á, Áï ¿ì¸® ÁÖ ¿¹¼ö±×¸®½ºµµÀÇ Ç¥¾ç(øúåÆ)°ú ´öÇàÀ» µû¶ó°¨À¸·Î½á Áø¸®¿Í »ý¸íÀÇ ¸ñÀûÀÎ ±× ºÐ¿¡°Ô µµ´ÞÇÒ°Ô µÉ °ÍÀÔ´Ï´Ù.

¡®±×¸®½ºµµ ºû ¾È¿¡¼­ °È±â¡¯À§ÇÑ Ã¹Â° Àǹ«´Â Á˸¦ ÇÇÇÏ´Â °ÍÀÔ´Ï´Ù. Á¾µµ ¼º ¿äÇÑÀÌ ¸»¾¸ÇϽŠ°Íó·³: ¡°¿ì¸®µéÀÌ ±×¸®½ºµµ²² µè°í ¶ÇÇÑ ³ÊÈñµé¿¡°Ô ÀüÇÏ´Â º¸°í(ÜÃͱ)´Â ÀÌ°ÍÀÌ´Ï, °ð õÁÖ²²¼­´Â ºûÀ̽øç, ±× ¾È¿¡´Â Á¶±×¸¶ÇÑ ¾îµÎ¿òµµ ÀÖÁö ¾Æ´ÏÇÏ´Ù´Â °ÍÀ̴϶ó. ¸¸ÀÏ ¿ì¸®°¡ ¸»·Î´Â Àú¿Í ´õºÒ¾î ÇÕü°¡ µÇ¾ú´Ù°í ÇϵÇ, ½ÇÁ¦·Î´Â ¾îµÎ¿ò ¼Ó¿¡ °Å´ÒÀº´Ù¸é ÀÌ´Â °ÅÁþ¸»À» ¸»ÇÏ´Â °ÍÀ̸ç Áø¸®¸¦ µû¶ó ÇàÇÏ´Â °ÍÀÌ ¾Æ´Ï´Ï¶ó. ±×·¯³ª Àú Ä£È÷ ºû °¡¿îµ¥ °è½É°ú °°ÀÌ ¸¸ÀÏ ¿ì¸®°¡ ºû °¡¿îµ¥ °Å´ÒÀº´Ù¸é ÀÌ¿¡ ¼­·Î°¡ ÇÕüµÈ °ÍÀ̸ç, ÀúÀÇ ¾ÆµéÀ̽Š¿¹¼ö ±×¸®½ºµµÀÇ ¼ºÇ÷Àº ¿ì¸®¸¦ ¿Â°® Á˾ǿ¡¼­ Á¶ÃÍÄÉ ÇϽÉÀÌ µÇ´Â µµ´Ù.¡± (¿ä¾È 1¼­1;5-7)

±×¸®°í ¹Ù¿À·Î ¼ºÀβ²¼­´Â ¿¡Æä¼ÒÀε鿡°Ô ÀÌ·¸°Ô ±ÛÀ» ¾¹´Ï´Ù:¡±´ëÀú ³ÊÈñµéÀº ÀÌÀü¿¡ À־´Â ¾ÏÈæÀ̾ú¾úÀ¸³ª, Áö±Ý¿¡´Â ÁÖ ¾È¿¡ ÀÖ¾î ±¤¸íÀ̴϶ó. ÀÌ¿¡ ³ÊÈñ´Â ±¤¸íÀÇ ÀڽĴä°Ô °Å´ÒÀ» Áö´Ï¶ó. ±¤¸íÀÇ ¿­¸Å´Â ¿ÏÀüÇÑ ¼±°ú ÀǷοò°ú Áø½ÇÇÔ¿¡ ³ªÅ¸³ª´Ï¶ó. ¾î¶°ÇÑ °ÍÀÌ ÃµÁÖ¿¡°Ô ÀÇÇÕÇÏ´Â °ÍÀΰ¡¸¦ À½¹ÌÇÏ¿© º¼Áö¾î´Ù. ±×¸®°í ¿­¸Å¸¦ ¸ÎÁö ¸øÇÏ´Â ¾ÏÈæÀÇ ¾÷(åö)¿¡´Â Âü¿©ÇÏÁö ¸» °ÍÀÌ¸ç ¿ÀÈ÷·Á ±×·¯ÇÑ °ÍÀº ºñ³­ÇÒÁö´Ï¶ó. ´ëÀú ÀúµéÀÇ ºñ¹Ð¸®¿¡ ÇàÇÏ´Â °ÍÀº ¸»¸¸ ÇÏ¿©µµ ÃßÀâÇÑ °ÍÀ̴϶ó. ¹«¸© ¸¸ÀÏ ÀÌ ¸ðµç °ÍÀ» ºñ³­ÇÔÀ¸·Î½á µå·¯³½´Ù¸é ºû¿¡ ºñÃß¾î µå·¯³ª°Ô µÇ¸®´Ï, ´ëÀú µå·¯³ª´Â ¸ðµç °ÍÀÌ ºûÀÌ µÇ´Â ¿¬°í´Ï¶ó. ±×·¯¹Ç·Î Àáµç ÀÚ¾ß, ±ú¾î³ª Á×Àº ÀÚ °¡¿îµ¥·Î Á¶Â÷ ÀϾÁö¾î´Ù. ÀÌ¿¡ ±×¸®½ºµµ ³Ê¸¦ ºñÃ߽ø®¶ó ÇÏ´Â ¸»ÀÌ ÀÖ´À´Ï¶ó.¡±(¿¡Æä¼Ò 5:8-14)

µ¥»ì·Î´Ï¾ÆÀε鿡°Ôµµ ¸»ÇϽñæ;¡±´ëÀú ³ÊÈñ´Â ±¤¸íÀÇ ÀÚ½ÄÀÌ¸ç ¶ÇÇÑ ¹éÁÖ(ÛÜñ¸)ÀÇ ÀÚ½ÄÀÌ´Ï, ¿ì¸®´Â ¹ãÀ̳ª ¾îµÎ¿òÀ¸·Î ´õºÒ¾î´Â ¾Æ¹«·¯ÇÑ °ü°èµµ ¾øÀ½À̴϶ó. ±×·¯¹Ç·Î ¿ì¸®´Â ´Ù¸¥ »ç¶÷°ú °°ÀÌ ÀáÀÚÁö ¸»°í ¿ÀÁ÷ ±ú¾îÀÖÀ» °ÍÀ̸ç, ´ëÃë(ÓÞö­)ÇÏÁö ¸»Áö´Ï¶ó. ´ëÀú ÀÚ´Â ÀÚ(íº)´Â ¹ã¿¡ ÀÚ¸ç ¶ÇÇÑ ¼ú¿¡ ÃëÇÑ ÀÚµµ ¹ã¿¡ ÃëÇÏ´À´Ï¶ó. ±×·¯³ª ¹éÁÖ(ÛÜñ¸)ÀÇ ÀÚ½ÄÀÎ ¿ì¸®´Â ÀýÁ¦ÇÏ¿© ½Å¾Ó°ú »ç¶ûÀÇ °©¿ÊÀ» ÀÔÀ» °ÍÀ̸ç, ±¸¿ø¿¡ ´ëÇÑ Èñ¸ÁÀ¸·Î½á Åõ±¸(÷ãÎý)¸¦ »ïÀ»Áö´Ï.¡±(ÅÝ»ì·Î´ÏÄ« Àü 5:5-8)

¡®ºûÀÇ Àڳ࡯°¡ µÇ±â À§ÇÏ¿©, ±×¸®½ºµµÀÇ ¡®ºû ¾È¿¡¼­ °È±â¡¯ À§ÇÏ¿©´Â ¿ì¸® ÁÖ ¿¹¼ö ±×¸®½ºµµ²²¼­ °¡¸£ÃÄÁֽŠ±³¸®ÀÇ ºû ¾È¿¡¼­, ¿µ¿øÀÇ ºû ¾È¿¡¼­, ½ÊÀÚ°¡ÀÇ ºû ¾È¿¡¼­, ¸ðµç »ç¹°À» ¹Ù¶óºÁ¾ß ÇÑ´Ù´Â °ÍÀ» ÀǹÌÇϹǷÎ, õÁÖ²²¼­´Â Ç×»ó ¿ì¸®¸¦ º¸°í °è½Ã°í, ¿ì¸® °ç¿¡ Ç×»ó °è½Ã¸ç, ¿ÀÈ÷·Á ¿ì¸® ¾È¿¡ °è½Ê´Ï´Ù. ¸¸¾à ±×¸®½ºµµ²²¼­ ¿ì¸® ¾È¿¡ »ì¾Æ°è½Å´Ù¸é, ±× ºÐÀº ´ÙÀ̾Ƹóµå ¼Ó¿¡ ºû³ª´Â ºû°ú °°½À´Ï´Ù. ´ÙÀ̾Ƹóµå´Â ÀÚü ±× Ȧ·Î ±× ºû°ú ¾Æ¸§´Ù¿òÀÌ ¾øÀ¸³ª ºûÀÌ ´ÙÀ̾Ƹóµå¸¦ ºñÃßÀÚ¸¶ÀÚ ´ÙÀ̾Ƹóµå´Â ¼ö õ °¡ÁöÀÇ ¿µ·Õ(ç¿Öê)ÇÑ ºûÀ» ¹ßÇÏ¿© Áö±ØÈ÷ ¾Æ¸§´Ù¿öÁý´Ï´Ù.


¿ì¸® ÁÖ ¿¹¼ö±×¸®½ºµµ²²¼­ »ì¾Æ°è½Ã°í ºñÃß¾î ÁÖ´Â ¿µÈ¥µµ ÀÌ¿Í °°½À´Ï´Ù. ±×·¡¼­ ¹Ù¿À·Î ¼ºÀÎÀº ÀÌ·¸°Ô ±ÛÀ» ¾µ ¼ö ÀÖ½À´Ï´Ù: ¡°ÀÌ´Â ³ÊÈñµé·Î ÇÏ¿©±Ý ÀÌ ¾ÇÇÏ°í ºÎÆÐÇÑ ¼¼ÀÎ(á¦ìÑ) Áß¿¡¼­ Ã¥¸ÁµÉ °÷ÀÌ ¾ø´Â ¼ø°áÇÑ ÀÚ, ¶ÇÇÑ ÃµÁÖÀÇ ¹«ÁËÇÑ Àڳడ µÇ±â¸¦ À§ÇÔÀ̴϶ó. ³ÊÈñ´Â ÀÌ·¯ÇÑ »ç¶÷µé Áß¿¡ ¼¼»ó¿¡¼­ º°°ú °°ÀÌ ºû³ª´Ï¶ó.¡±(Çʸ³ÇÇ2:15) ±×¸®°í ¿ì¸® ÁÖ ¿¹¼ö ±×¸®½ºµµ²²¼­ ¸»¾¸ÇϽñæ: ¡°³ÊÈñ´Â ¼¼»óÀÇ ºûÀÌ´Ï, »ê»ó¿¡ ¼¼¿î À¾³»°¡ ´ÉÈ÷ ¼û¾îÀÖÁö ¸øÇÒ °ÍÀÌ¿ä, ¾Æ¹«¶óµµ µîºÒÀ» ÄÑ ¸ð¹ß ¹Ø¿¡ µÎÁö ¾Æ´ÏÇÏ°í ¿ÀÁ÷ ÃË´ë(õ·Óæ) À§¿¡ µÎ¾î ÇÏ¿©±Ý, Áý¾È¿¡ ÀÖ´Â ¸ðµç À̸¦ ºñÃß°Ô ÇÏ´À´Ï, ÀÌ¿Í °°ÀÌ ³ÊÈñ ºûÀ» »ç¶÷ ¾Õ¿¡ ºñÃß¾î ÇÏ¿©±Ý ³ÊÈñ ÂøÇÑ Çà½Ç(ú¼ãù)À» º¸°í Çϴÿ¡ °è½Å ³ÊÈñ ¼ººÎ¸¦ Çö¾ç(úéåÀ)ÄÉÇ϶ó.¡±(¸¶Å׿À 5:14-16)¡± ±×·¯³ª ³ÊÈñµéÀº °£¼±µÈ ÀÎÁ¾ÀÌ¸ç ¿Õ(èÝ)´Ù¿î »çÁ¦±º(ÞÉ ð® ÏØ)ÀÌ¸ç °Å·èÇÑ ¹ÎÁ·À̸ç õÁÖÀÇ ¼ÒÀ¯·Î °£ÅÃµÈ ¹é¼ºÀÌ µÇ´À´Ï, ÀÌ´Â ¾îµÎ¿ò ¼ÓÀ¸·ÎºÎÅÍ ´ç½ÅÀÇ ±â¹¦ÇÑ ºû¿¡ ³ÊÈñ¸¦ ºÎ¸£½Å ÀÌÀÇ ÇàÇϽŠ¹Ù ¿µÀû(çÏîÜ)À» ³ÊÈñ·Î ÇÏ¿©±Ý º¸(ÜÃ)ÇÏ°Ô ÇϽñ⸦ À§ÇϽÉÀ̴϶ó.¡±(º£µå·ç Àü2:9)

±×·¡¼­ ÀÌ»ç¾ß´Â ¿ì¸® ¸ðµÎ¸¦ ±Ç°íÇÕ´Ï´Ù:¡± ¾ß°ö Á·¼Ó¾Æ, ¿À¶ó, ¿ì¸®°¡ ÁÖ ¾ßÈÑÀÇ ºû ¾È¿¡¼­ ÇàÇÏÀÚ¡± (ÀÌ»ç¾ß. 2:5). ¿ì¸®´Â ÁÖ´ÔÀÇ ºû ¾È¿¡¼­, ºûÀ̽ŠÁÖ´ÔÀ» ÇâÇÏ¿© °È½À´Ï´Ù. ±×·³À¸·Î Çؼ­ ¿ì¸®°¡ ±× ºûÀ¸·Î ¿µ¿øÈ÷ ä¿öÁú °ÍÀÔ´Ï´Ù. ¼º¿µÀÇ ÀúÀÚ°¡ ¸»¾¸ÇϽõí: ¡±´ëÀú »ý¸íÀÇ ¿øõÀÌ ÁÖ²² ÀÖ»ç¿À´Ï, ÁÖÀÇ ±¤¸í ¾È¿¡¼­ ¿ì¸®°¡ ºûÀ» º¸¸®ÀÌ´Ù.¡± (¼º¿µ 35:10). ÀÌ°ÍÀÌ Ãµ±¹ÀÌ µÉ °ÍÀÔ´Ï´Ù.


õ±¹¿¡¼­, ¿ì¸® ÁÖ ¿¹¼ö ±×¸®½ºµµ ¾Æ·¡¿¡¼­, ¸Å¿ì Ưº°ÇÑ ¹æ¹ýÀ¸·Î ºû³ª´Â ÇÑ ºÐÀÌ ÀÖ½À´Ï´Ù. ¡°¾Æħ ºû °°ÀÌ ¶Ñ·ÇÇÏ°í ´Þ °°ÀÌ ¾Æ¸§´ä°í ÇØ °°ÀÌ ¸¼°í ±âÄ¡(Ðýöº)¸¦ ¹úÀÎ ±º´ë °°ÀÌ ¾öÀ§(åñêÎ)ÇÑ ¿©ÀÚ°¡ ´©±¸Àΰ¡¡± (Cant. 6:9).


¼Ö·Î¸óÀÇ Àú Áú¹®¿¡ ´ëÇÏ¿© ¼º ¿äÇÑÀº ¹¬½Ã·Ï¿¡¼­ ÀÀ´äÇÕ´Ï´Ù : ¡®¶ÇÇÑ Çϴÿ¡ Å©³ªÅ« ¡Á¶°¡ ³ªÅ¸³µ´À´Ï, °ð žçÀ» ¸ö¿¡ µÎ¸¥ ºÎÀÎÀÌ ÀÖ¾î, ±× ¹ß ¹Ø¿¡´Â ´ÞÀÌ ÀÖ°í ¸Ó¸®¿¡´Â ¿­ µÎ °³ÀÇ º°·Î µÈ °ü(ή)ÀÌ ÀÖ´õ¶ó. ¡®¡¯(¹¬½Ã·Ï12 :1) ÀÌ ºÐÀº µ¿Á¤³à ¸¶¸®¾ÆÀÔ´Ï´Ù ! ¼º¸ð²²¼­´Â ½ÇÁ¦·Î ¿ì¸® ÁÖ ¿¹¼ö±×¸®½ºµµÀ̽Š¾Æµé·Î ¿Ê ÀÔ¾ú°í, ¼º ¹Ù¿À·Î²²¼­ ÀÌ·¸°Ô ¸»¾¸Çϼ̽À´Ï´Ù. ¡®¡¯¿ÀÁ÷ ÁÖ ¿¹¼ö ±×¸®½ºµµ¸¦ ÀÔÀ»Áö¾î´Ù. ±×¸®°í Á¤¿åÀÌ Ã浿µÇµµ·Ï  À°Ã¼¸¦ ¼¶±âÁö ¸»Áö¾î´Ù.¡¯¡¯(·Î¸¶ 13 :14) ÀÌ°°ÀÌ ¿ÏÀüÇÏ°Ô ÇàÇϽÉÀ¸·Î½á, ¼º¸ð²²¼­´Â  ¡®Å¾çÀ» ÀÔÀº¡¯ Áï ¿ì¸® ÁÖ ¿¹¼ö ±×¸®½ºµµ¸¦ ÀÔÀº °ÍÀÔ´Ï´Ù. ±× ºÐÀº ÀÇ(ëù)·Î¿î žç(¸»¶óÅ°4 ;2) À̽ʴϴÙ.


¡°°¡¸®¿ìÁö ¾ÊÀº ¾ó±¼·Î ÁÖÀÇ ¿µ±¤À» ¿ì·¯·¯º¸´Â ¿ì¸®µéÀº, ´Ù ÀÌ ¿ì·¯·¯º½À¸·Î½á, Ç×»ó ´õ¿í ¿µÈ­·Ó°Ô ÁÖ¿Í µ¿ÀÏÇÑ ¸ð»óÀ¸·Î È­(ûù)ÇÒ °ÍÀÌ´Ï, ÀÌ´Â ÁÖÀÇ ¼º½ÅÀ¸·Î ¸»¹Ì¾Ï¾Æ µÇ´Â °ÍÀ̴϶ó.¡±(ÄÚ¸°Åä  ÈÄ3:18)

ÀÌ ¸ðµç °ÍÀÌ Å©¸®½º¸¶½ºÀÇ ¸Ó¸®¸»¿¡¼­ ¿ä¾àµË´Ï´Ù: ¡±¼ºÀ°½Å(à÷ë¿ãó)ÀÌ µÇ½Å ¸»¾¸ÀÇ ½Åºñ¿¡ ÀÇÇØ, ÁÖ´ÔÀÇ ¹àÀº ºûÀÌ ¿ì¸® ¸¶À½ÀÇ ´«À» ºñÃß¾úµµ´Ù: ±×·¡¼­, ¿ì¸®°¡ õÁÖ´ÔÀ» ºÐ¸íÈ÷ ÀνÄÇÏ´Â µ¿¾È, ¿ì¸®°¡ º¼ ¼ö ¾ø´Â »ç¶û°¡¿îµ¥   Å©°Ô ±â»µÇϸ®´Ï¡±: Áï, Âü õÁÖÀ̽øç Âü »ç¶÷À̽Š¿¹¼ö´ÔÀÇ ÀμºÀ» º½À¸·Î½á, ±× ºÐ¿¡ ÀÇÇØ À̲ø¸®¾î ÀÌ ¾Æ·¡ ¸ðµç »ç¹° À§¿¡ õÁÖ´ÔÀ» »ç¶ûÇÏ°Ô²û ±×·³À¸·Î½á Áö±ØÈ÷ °Å·èÇϽŠ¼º»ïÀ§ ¸ð½ÀÀ» »ç¶ûÇÒ ¼ö ÀÖµµ·Ï ÇսôÙ.

¿ì¸® ÁÖ ¿¹¼ö ±×¸®½ºµµ²²¼­ ¿ì¸®¿¡°Ô ÀÌ °°Àº ¼ºÃÑÀ» Áֽþî, ¡°¿Ü±³ÀÎ(èâÎçìÑ)µéÀ» ºñÃß´Â ºû¡±ÀÌ µÇ½Ã¾î, ¡°¿µ¿øÇÑ ºûÀÌ ¿ì¸®¸¦ ºñÃßµµ·Ï ÇÏ½Ã±æ º÷´Ï´Ù. ¾Æ¸à  


ÇÁ¶û¼Ò¾Æ ·¹³× ½ÅºÎ(¼ººñ¿À10¼¼È¸ ¾Æ½Ã¾Æ°ü±¸ ¼Ò¼Ó »çÁ¦)

Our Lord Jesus Christ as the Light


Last Sunday we had the feast of the presentation of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the feast of our Lord Jesus Christ as the Light: Simeon said to Jesus that He was ¡°the light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel¡± (Lk. 2:32) 


 Already the priest Zachary, St John the Baptist¡¯s father, had announced: ¡°the bowels of the mercy of our God, in which the Orient [=the rising sun] from on high hath visited us: To enlighten them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death: to direct our feet into the way of peace¡± (Lk. 1:78-79)


At Christmas the coming of Christ was manifested by light to the shepherds: ¡°an angel of the Lord stood by them , and the brightness of God shone round about them¡± (Lk. 2:9)


And to the Magi Christ had been announced by a miraculous star, an extra-ordinary light in the sky. Later ¡°he was transfigured before them. And his face did shine as the sun: and his garments became white as snow¡± (Mt. 17:2)


All this had been prophesised by Isaias: ¡°The people that walked in darkness, have seen a great light: to them that dwelt in the region of the shadow of death, light is risen¡± (Is. 9:2) quoted by Mt. 4:16  And again ¡°Behold, I have given thee to be the light of the Gentiles, that thou mayst be my salvation even to the farthest part of the earth¡± (Is. 49:6 )


 I only quote a PART of that passage. Only put that part.
 quoted by Acts 13:47). And the prophet Malachy said: ¡°But unto you that fear my name, the Sun of justice shall arise, and health in his wings¡± (Mal 4:2). I only quote a PART of that passage. Only put that part.
: of course it could not be a material sun: how then could it have ¡°wings¡±? But this is our Lord Jesus Christ, and His ¡°wings¡± are his extended arms on the Cross, in which we find salvation, i.e. the health of the soul.


St John tells us: ¡°And this is the declaration which we have heard from him, and declare unto you: That God is light, and in him there is no darkness.¡± (1 Jn. 1:5) 


 And St James tells us: ¡°Every best gift, and every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no change, nor shadow of alteration¡± (Jam. 1:17)


And St Paul says that God ¡°inhabiteth light inaccessible, whom no man hath seen, nor can see:¡± (1 Tim. 6:16) I only quote a PART of that passage. Only put that part.
. God is ¡°light¡±: what does that mean?


Some heretics, the Manicheans, believed that Christ was this sun which even animals can see shining in the sky. But this is far from the truth! As St Paul just said: the Light of God is ¡°inaccessible¡± and no man can see God by the sole powers of nature. St Augustine says: ¡°Christ is not this [material] sun, which comes up and goes down, which is prevented to shine by clouds; this is not Christ! Christ is not the sun that has been created, but the One Who made this sun! By Him all things were made and nothing was made without Him. (Jn. 1:3)


¡± As the Maker is above His work, so is God infinitely above His Creation and all material light. (Scientists explain that even light is made of particles). Christ is not the light that can be seen with the eyes of the body, but He is the spiritual light that can be seen by the ¡°eyes of the heart¡± (Eph. 1:18) I only quote a PART of that passage. Only put that part., i.e. the interior faculties, the intelligence: He is Light to the intelligence. He is uncreated Light, ¡°God from God, Light from the Light, true God from the true God¡±.

Even with our eyes open, in complete darkness we cannot see anything: we need light (material light) in order to be able to see with our eyes: light is visible by itself and makes things visible. So also for our intelligence: our intellectual faculty does need an interior light in order to be able to understand things: that natural faculty is called the ¡°intellect agent¡± in each of us. St Thomas applies to it the verse of the psalm: ¡°The light of thy countenance, O Lord, is signed upon us: thou hast given gladness in my heart¡± (Ps. 4:7) I only quote a PART of that passage. Only put that part.
. Thus the ¡°intellect agent¡± is a reflection of the Divine Light, and it helps us to understand how high and elevated, infinitely above us, is Divine Light.


Thus the word ¡°light¡± here signifies: that which MAKES US KNOW, the source of knowledge. Christ is our Light, because He reveals to us His Father, His own Divinity as the Son and the Holy Ghost: He is the ultimate revelation of the ultimate reality, the ultimate Truth, the highest reality, the highest truth!


St John the apostles wrote: ¡°In him [in Christ] was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it¡± (Jn. 1:4-5) , that is, did not believe in Him. St John continues: ¡°That was the true light, which enlighteneth every man that cometh into this world¡± (Jn. 1:9)  ¡°For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Christ Jesus¡± (2 Cor. 4:6)


To that Revelation man must respond by faith. But not every man does respond: ¡°And this is the judgment: because the light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than the light: for their works were evil¡± (Jn. 3:19) .


Now this must make us think! When God speaks to us, we cannot be indifferent, we ought to ¡°receive Him¡±, i.e. to believe Him: ¡°He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, he gave them power to be made the sons of God, to them that believe in his name¡± (Jn. 1:11-12)  Our Lord Himself said: ¡°I am come a light into the world; that whosoever believeth in me, may not remain in darkness¡± (Jn. 12:46)

¡°I am the light of the world: he that followeth me, walketh not in darkness, but shall have the light of life¡± (Jn. 8:12). ¡°As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world¡± (Jn. 9:5) ¡° ¡°Yet a little while, the light is among you. Walk whilst you have the light, that the darkness overtake you not. And he that walketh in darkness, knoweth not whither he goeth. Whilst you have the light, believe in the light, that you may be the children of light¡±.


Here there is a new theme that Our Lord introduces: that of ¡°following the light¡±. Indeed, our Lord Jesus Christ not only reveals to us the inner Nature of God as Father, Son and Holy Ghost; He also reveals to us that the ultimate goal of our life is to SEE HIM! ¡°Behold what manner of charity the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called, and should be the sons of God. Therefore the world knoweth not us, because it knew not him. Dearly beloved, we are now the sons of God; and it hath not yet appeared what we shall be. We know, that, when he shall appear, we shall be like to him: because we shall see him as he is. And every one that hath this hope in him, sanctifieth himself, as he also is holy¡± (1 Jn. 3:1-3)


And St Paul writes to the Ephesians that he prays ¡°that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and of revelation, in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your heart enlightened, that you may know what the hope is of the glory of his inheritance in the saints¡± (Eph. 1:17-18)


He also revealed to us the WAY to reach that Goal, and the Way is Himself, in His human nature: ¡°I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No man cometh to the Father, but by me¡± (Jn. 14:6)


By walking on this Way, i.e. by following the examples of our Lord Jesus Christ, His virtues, we shall reach Him as goal (the Truth and the Life)


The first duty in order to ¡°walk in the light of Christ¡± is to avoid sin, as St John the Apostle says: ¡°And this is the declaration which we have heard from him, and declare unto you: That God is light, and in him there is no darkness. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he also is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin¡± (1 Jn. 1:5-7)


And St Paul writes to the Ephesians: ¡°For you were heretofore darkness, but now light in the Lord. Walk then as children of the light. For the fruit of the light is in all goodness, and justice, and truth; proving what is well pleasing to God: and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For the things that are done by them in secret, it is a shame even to speak of. But all things that are reproved, are made manifest by the light; for all that is made manifest is light. Wherefore he saith: Rise thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead: and Christ shall enlighten thee.¡± (Eph. 5:8-14)


And to the Thessalonians: ¡°For all you are the children of light, and children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore, let us not sleep, as others do; but let us watch, and be sober. For they that sleep, sleep in the night; and they that are drunk, are drunk in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, having on the breastplate of faith and charity, and for a helmet the hope of salvation¡± (1 Thess. 5:5-8)


To be ¡°children of light¡±, to ¡°walk in the light¡± of Christ, this means to see all things in the light of the doctrine taught by our Lord Jesus Christ, in the light of eternity, in the light of the Cross; to remember that God sees us at all time, He is always near us, nay within us. If Christ lives in us, He is like the light that shines in a diamond: the diamond by itself has no light and no beauty, but as soon as the light shines on it, it gives thousands of fires and becomes most beautiful. So is the soul in which our Lord Jesus Christ lives and shines. Thus St Paul can write: ¡°That you may be blameless, and sincere children of God, without reproof, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation; among whom you shine as lights in the world¡± (Phil. 2:15)


And our Lord Jesus Christ said: ¡°You are the light of the world. A city seated on a mountain cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but upon a candlestick, that it may shine to all that are in the house. So let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven¡± (Mt. 5:14-16)


¡°But you are a chosen generation, a kingly priesthood, a holy nation, a purchased people: that you may declare his virtues, who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:¡± (1 Pet. 2:9)


So Isaias exhorts us all: ¡°O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord¡± (Is. 2:5)


We walk in the light of the Lord, towards the Lord Who is light, so that we might be eternally filled with that light, as the psalmist says: ¡°For with thee is the fountain of life; and in thy light we shall see light¡± (Ps. 35:10) . This will be heaven!


In Heaven, below our Lord Jesus Christ, there is one person that shines in a very special way: ¡°Who is she that cometh forth as the morning rising, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, terrible as an army set in array?¡± (Cant. 6:9)  To that question of Solomon, St John answers in his Apocalypse: ¡°And a great sign appeared in heaven: A woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars:¡± (Apoc. 12:1) 


 This is the Blessed Virgin Mary! She is really clothed with her Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, as St Paul had said: ¡°put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh in its concupiscences¡± (Rom. 13:14) By doing this to the perfection, she is really ¡°clad with the sun¡±, i.e. with our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the ¡°Sun of Justice¡± (Mal. 4:2)


It is in prayer that ¡°we all beholding the glory of the Lord with open face, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord¡± (2 Cor. 3:18)


All this is summed up in the preface of Christmas: ¡°by the mystery of the Incarnate Word, the Light of thy brightness has shone to the eyes of our mind: so that, while we acknowledge God visibly, we may be enraptured in the love of the invisible:¡± that is, seeing the human nature of Jesus, true God and true man, we may be led by Him to love God above all things here below, and thereby the vision of the Most Holy Trinity.


May our Lord Jesus Christ, ¡°light to the revelation of the Gentiles¡±, grant us this grace, so that ¡°eternal light may shine upon us¡±, Amen!


Fr. F. Laisney