Dawn:
It begins in darkness. The sun has not yet risen, but the hint of sun just brightening the sky. There are no shadows yet, and no real color yet either, but I can distinguish objects and silhouettes, and I don’t need a flashlight to guide my way. It is this light in the winter that is the backdrop to my morning dog walks. It’s cold, but at least I know the day will get warmer from here. In Western folklore, dawn is the time when evil spirits, demons, vampires, trolls, and even Satan are obliged to disappear. Being creatures of darkness, they hate light, and dawn has just enough sun in it to banish them. Western folklore notwithstanding, we believe that even in the darkness, God’s love reigns. Just as we are born into the love of God that exists before we do, the sun will rise into a world that is already bathed in God’s love and grace.

Sunrise:

Noon:
In those days, a decree went out
Joseph traveled with Mary to Bethlehem, to be registered
And the child was born there, in a stable, because there was no room in the inn.

The child was born into the noon-day sun, full of light and glory
The angels announced the glory to nearby shepherds, who came to see the light for themselves
Mary saw the light, began to understand its warmth, and kept all these things in her heart.

But soon, the light of Jesus shone throughout the whole world
Incarnation of God
Light in the darkness
A noon-day sun, with no shadows, full of heat and light

The Noon-Day Son was full of grace and truth
Full of grace and truth, but also full of words and action
Actions that healed the outcasts and called the marginalized into the light of the sun
Words that called into question habitual practice and raised up parables to the light of day

Living in the sunlight, some flourished in the light of God
Living in the sunlight, some were afraid of the light and the heat
Living in the sunlight, some saw their traditions and rituals fade away
Living in the sunlight, some saw the possibilities of things to come

The Noon-Day Son called forth disciples
Disciples that understood only in part
Full of grace and truth, Jesus called ordinary people
Ordinary people who would also live in the light of God

The light shone throughout the world
Inspiring poets
Converting leaders
Shining into all the corners of the earth

The child, grown into a man, threatened too many people
The Noon-Day Son proved to be too bright
And the shadows sought to overcome it

And so a decree went out, a decree to bring an end to the light
And the light traveled to Jerusalem, to face the decree
And, despite their best efforts to bring shadows, the Noon-Day Son continues to shine into the world.

Sunset:
It’s the clouds that give the sunset their beauty. With the clouds, the setting sun will catch my eye, causing me to pause to watch the passing of the light. Without them, I’m sometimes taken by surprise. My summer chores, or summer pleasures, are slowly bathed in increasing shadows, and it’s time to wind up those projects that require light. In the winter, the sunset happens all too quickly, and I glance out my window only to realize that sunset is upon me and the world is gathering into darkness. In the summer, I can forget the value of a city on a hill or a lamp on a lampstand. But in the winter, those beacons of light can give hope in a world gone dark too soon. The passing of the sun is a reminder of the finitude of the day, the finitude of life. But even in its passing, it can give great beauty, inspire awe, and cause me to pause.

Twilight: