SERMON “To testify to the Light.”
Dear God,
let your Word shine in our hearts
by your Holy Spirit.
Make it so bright and warm
that we always find
our comfort and joy in it.
Amen.
-This beautiful prayer by Martin Luther truly captures the Spirit of today and the Spirit of the Season. We are waiting for the light. We are longing for the light. We are preparing, praying and persistently proclaiming light.
Here at Advent and Christmas time we cannot get enough light, can we? Especially as a Dane you are given a Carte Blanch to light as many candles as possible, which we like. Candlelight is Hygge time. Candlelight is what warms us in the dark month of December. So, go ahead: release your inner Dane and light candles: here, there and everywhere. Let there be light because we are here to testify to and for the light.
It is the 3. Sunday in advent and we are on our path towards the light. Our paths are enlightened by more and more lights, symbolizes with 3 beautiful candles in our Advent Wreath.
It is also Santa Lucia Day. Another day to remind us about Light.
The story behind the beautiful tradition of singing Santa Lucia and celebrating Lucia Day in our Scandinavian churches at home or abroad, tells us the story about Lucia, a young Christian woman, who lived in Syracuse on Sicily in the 4th century. Santa Lucia lived a short life and was martyred at the age of 20. Though she lived a considerably short life, she is still celebrated on this Day. And she was there and still is here to testify to the light.
Lucia was born into a wealthy Sicilian family. At a time of Christian persecution, Lucia vowed at a young age to live her life in the service of Christ. Lucia had the heart of a Saint and she wanted to help her neighbors. In the safety of the dark nights, Lucia snook out to deliver food to the poor. To be able to find her way and have her hands free to give and serve, she wore a crown with candles around her head.
Lucia’s mother attempted an arranged marriage for her daughter to a pagan man. When Lucia refused, the angry suitor reported her to Roman authorities, and Lucia subsequently was sentenced to life in a brothel and forced into prostitution. Staunchly loyal to her faith, Lucia benefitted from divine intervention: when it came time for her to be placed in the brothel by Roman guards, she became immovable; it was as if she had turned to stone and the guards could not move her. The soldiers then built piles of wood around her to burn her alive. Lucia was untouched by the flames and survived the inferno. Lucia ultimately met her death, however, when she was stabbed with a sword. She died on December 13 304 which was to become the day to celebrate her and her legacy.
News of Lucia’s defense of Christianity quickly spread, and she became one of the earliest Christian saints to achieve popularity. And in some way the legend traveled all the way to the far North to Sweden.
Since the late 1800s, December 13 – the feast day of Santa Lucia – is widely celebrated throughout Sweden. There is speculation that stories of Lucia’s bravery were brought to Sweden by traders and even by Vikings after their journeys to Southern Europe.
Another explanation has to do with the name Lucia, which is derived from the Latin word “lux”, meaning light. It is believed that Lucia and her feast day were adopted to let in some light at the beginning of the dark, cold Swedish winter.
Nu bæres lyset frem Now the light is carried forth
stolt på din krone proud on your crown
rundt om i hus og hjem in every house and home
sangen skal tone the song shall sound
nu på Lucia-dag this Lucia Day
hilser vort vennelag we greet our friends
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia
Her ved vor ønskefest Here at our feast of wishes
sangen skal klinge the song shall sound
gaver til hver en gæst presents to every guest
glad vil du bringe happy you will bring to us
skænk os af lykkens væld give us abundance of happiness
lige til livets kvæld until life ends
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia
So, today we celebrate Santa Lucia and her testimony to the light, - and today we celebrate John the Baptist in the Gospel of today: and his testimony to the light.
Santa Lucia and John the Baptist were messengers, witnesses to testify to the true light.
So, Lucia light up the darkness, just as John the Baptist lit up the darkness to prepare the way for the light.
Many of us growing up in Denmark have been part of the Lucia Procession. At my elementary school all the girls in 7th grade, were assigned as Lucia Singers. We were carrying the candles and singing the songs at school, at nursing homes, in churches and other gatherings. Usually, that is when the country and the world, is not held captive by an airborne Virus, - we too here at the Danish Lutheran church celebrate Santa Lucia with a beautiful procession of girls and boys, carrying candles and bringing light. This year we are not able to meet like that, - but the song of Light is still to be sung. So, we have made a video of two sweet Lucia Brides Tempest and Bella, who sing beautifully for us. We will share that after the service.
Because we are celebrating the light in the darkness. Maybe more than ever this year, as the Pandemic seems to have dimmed so many lights, canceled celebrations and silenced our songs. We need to listen to the song of light. We need to believe in the light.
Some of us might be afraid of darkness. We might imagine everything imaginable and unimaginable that can hide in the darkness. And if we are afraid of darkness: then we also know what darkness is afraid of: light and song.
If we light candles, darkness is not as dark as before. If we sing songs of light and joy, darkness is not as dark, silent and scary as before.
We might not be afraid of darkness. But we might be afraid of other kinds of darkness that we are feeling in this time: anxiety, fear, depression, loneliness and worry for the future of humankind.
How do we silence dark thoughts like that? Maybe we should light some candles and sing some songs.
Light shines in darkness, and darkness did not over come it.
That is where we begin. With the light. The light of creation. The light of Jesus being born. That light falls upon us and our lives – and we must testify to that light and live in the light.
Candles are cozy, so hyggelige. But light is more than hygge. Christmas is more than hygge, ableskiver and pebbernodder.
The light points away from us, up to God, who gave us life – and out to other people, who is our life and needs our support.
The Legend about Lucia, with the crown of candles on her head to have both of her hands free to carry food to the poor, - should be an inspiration to us.
Maybe we cannot conquer darkness, but we can light one candle, one more, one more and then one more…. Lights that remind us about him who said: I am the light of the World.
Maybe take a nighttime star walk this Advent?
Maybe on a clear night, bundle up if it is cold and go on a nighttime star walk. So much of Advent and Christmas stories is guided by stars and walking. Remember the journey to Bethlehem and the Wise Men’s journey. Breathe in the night air and the gaze up upon the wonder of the stars.
“God is here, even in the darkness, the difficulties and the dangers. God is here. “
Nu bæres lyset frem Now the light is carried forth
stolt på din krone proud on your crown
rundt om i hus og hjem in every house and home
sangen skal tone the song shall sound
nu på Lucia-dag this Lucia Day
hilser vort vennelag we greet our friends
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia
Her ved vor ønskefest Here at our feast of wishes
sangen skal klinge the song shall sound
gaver til hver en gæst presents to every guest
glad vil du bringe you will bring to us
skænk os af lykkens væld give us abudance of happiness
lige til livets kvæld until life ends
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia
“God is here, even in the darkness, the difficulties and the dangers. God is here. “
Or as the ever wise Desmond Tuto once said:
“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.”
Amen.