Light and the Climate Crisis

Post Author: Rev. Kara Wiechmann

This is final installment of a sermon series on the promise of Advent and the reality of living in the midst of a climate crisis. Read the rest of the series by selecting the Cultivating Hope in the Climate Crisis tag.

Prayer of the Day
God, you cultivated a world that is full of your glory. When we are struggling with dark thoughts and heavy burdens, when we are tired and weary, when we are longing to see you, open our eyes to see your light shining in and through our lives. Guide us to be light-bearers for all those still struggling down paths obscured by despair. Amen.

Commentary on Isaiah 9:2-7 & Psalm 97
Advent is the season in the church year that is all about preparation for the coming of God, while Christmas is the celebration of God showing up in the flesh as Jesus, bringing light to the dark world (John 1). Of course, such metaphors have been used to perpetuate racist and ableist values, and have been used without recognizing the ways we flourish in the dark and without sight. When we read these passages, we must interrogate the ways they have been misinterpreted and used to undermine the Good News. As we prepare to preach on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, may we hear the words of Isaiah 9 and Psalm 97 as words of promise for those of us living in times of crisis.

All year we watched the news and heard stories about record breaking heat, stronger hurricanes, more frequent tornadoes, harsher droughts, devastating floods, and catastrophic fires. The world around us is suffering. We are trying to figure out how to cultivate good when we keep hearing only about the bad. Many of us are burdened by our own unknown futures and find ourselves feeling hopeless. We are expected by our churches to show up on Christmas and preach happy thoughts while feeling the stress of consumerism, natural disaster, political polarization, etc. We are waiting and looking for a bit of light to help guide us into the future. We ask: how do we find the energy to keep cultivating anything good when we are ready to tune out the world and take a nap? Where is the light guiding us into a better future since the one in front of us is obscured by disaster? How do we cultivate light strong enough to be a beacon for our entire community?

Lit candles on map of the world.

Isaiah 9:2-7 is one of the scriptures for Christmas Eve (Nativity of Our Lord I). While many will focus on the gospel telling the story of Jesus’ birth, as part of our Revised Common LectionaryRCL readings we also hear from this prophet with a message for people who were feeling lost, burdened, confused, even angry. Isaiah in 9:1-2 names the reality that while people have been struggling to find their way, they also have experienced hope. The hope of a child who was born to bring light to a shadowed world. Into a world of pain and turmoil, this child shows up and is given names that hint at what deeds will be accomplished: “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (9:6). Isaiah tells us that through this child, God brings peace, justice and righteousness into our world. Our reality remains polluted by greed and violence, but God’s light pierces the haze.

Psalm 97 is one of the Psalms assigned to Christmas Day (Nativity of Our Lord II). The Psalmist writes, “Clouds and darkness surround the Lord, righteousness and justice are the foundations of God’s throne” (97:2). Darkness here is simply another manifestation of glory, reminding us that mystery still surrounds God. God reigns and we should rejoice, giving thanks that our God is full of glory and might. Our God is powerful, and that power is visibly seen through fire and lightning and is able to cause the earth to tremble and mountains to melt (97:4-5). As we strive every single day to care for the earth and all who dwell in God’s creation, we are invited to keep our eyes on God and to be “honest of heart” as we follow God’s light through the clouds and darkness (97:11), trusting the hope at the heart of the mystery.

Our world may be mired in a climate crisis and political turmoil, and each of us may be enduring ongoing personal struggles, but our God can use the smallest flame to light a warm fire or the smallest ray to illuminate our next steps in the muck. And our God calls for us to be part of bringing that light to others. As we celebrate Christmas once more, many of us will be using light in our places of worship. Whether you use candles, glow sticks or flashlights, may those small but mighty lights remind you that God is with us, guiding us through.

Hymn suggestions:
Christ, Be Our Light
Once in Royal David’s City
I am so Glad Each Christmas Eve
Joy to the World
Hark! The herald angels sing

Where We’ve Been:

Advent 1: Cultivating Hope – Isaiah 64:1-9 & Mark 13:24-37 by Rev. Elizabeth S. Ivell
Advent 2: Cultivating Peace – Isaiah 40:1-11 & Mark 1:1-8 by Rev. Corey Turnpenny
Advent 3: Cultivating Joy – Luke 1:46b-55 by Rev. Merianna Harrelson
Advent 4: Cultivating Love – Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26 by Rev. Talitha Amadea Aho

Rev. Kara Wiechmann is an ordained minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and serves as pastor at Bethel Lutheran Church in Bartonville, IL. The two dogs who live with her like to make their presence known when they crash all the church parties (aka Bible studies, quilting, etc) to get extra love and attention.

Image by: Kara Wiechmann
Used with permission