In the beginning was the one who was called the Word. The Word was with God and was truly God. From the very beginning the Word was with God. And with this Word, God created all things. Nothing was made without the Word. Everything that was created received its life from him, and his life gave light to everyone. The light keeps shinning in the dark, and the darkness has never put it out.
John 1: 1-5
Reflect on the word LIGHT for a few moments.
The news media seems to have perfected the art of packaging violence to grab attention. We see human faces contorted with grief and hear the gun shots that pursue them. We see fear on the face of an unarmed suspect gunned down by sharp shooters. We can recall the devastation of a fire started by an arsonist as it ravages a city block or engulfs farms and bush.
Yet we know that darkness can never extinguish the light. There is light in the face of a rescue worker, a police officer taking risks to protect a bystander, a fire fighter walking out of the flames with a child in her arms, a light shining from the open door of the Shelter welcoming the abused woman to safety. No. Darkness cannot extinguish the light.
We need to see beyond the darkness of the violence that seems to engulf our world to the light of compassion, mercy and courage that can never be extinguished.
With your Word you created the world, God. Let me be upheld by the light you shine that penetrates darkness.
© Ranjini Wickramaratne-Rebera
For a number of years, our dear friend Ranjini Rebera wrote Biblical reflections for the use of Gungahlin Uniting Church and others, usually for Advent and Lent. We were privileged to receive these, as Ranjini had a working history of writing and teaching on a global stage. Each time she completed the considerable work on one of these studies for us she would announce firmly, ‘That’s it. That is the last one I’m writing. No more. End of story!’ But as Advent or Lent came around again she would start hinting that she’d had an idea for a reflection – and she would write another one.
When she completed a Reflection for Lent 2021, we were not to know that this really was the last one. Ranjini died on 13 October 2021. We miss her intellect, her leadership, her vivid personality, her artistic gifts, her deep faith and her pastoral heart. We have lost some colour from our world.
The Gungahlin Uniting Church Worship Team, where Ranjini served for several years, offers Ranjini’s study material, first produced in 2015, as we give thanks for her life shared among us.