One of the appointed psalms in the lectionary this week was Psalm 36. In it is a beautiful line that reads: “For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light”. How do we, during this rather busy time of year, feel the closeness of this life and light-giving source? In all the hustle and bustle of Christmas, the family gatherings and the feasting, is there a sense that God is bringing into being something new in our own lives, and not just in the life of a young, pregnant girl in the Middle East, over two thousand years ago?
I don’t know about you but I find fountains rather special; whether it is those of the Moorish gardens in southern Spain or the more imposing ones of Madrid. There is a sense that both sound and sight urge you to pause, and not simply walk by. At the end of this rather turbulent year on the global stage, I feel perhaps I ought to ask God: what exactly does a fountain of life look like? Would it be gushing out peace treaties for the world’s conflict zones, grain and water for those who are suffering from famine, cures for diseases we are yet to conquer, and stone and brick homes for refugees? Also, what would this sort of fountain look like on a personal level? If the psalmist is saying that with God is the fountain of life, as we enjoy the last few days of 2017, what would this kind of fountain look like for us in the year to come?
The Christmas story is a complex and constant juxtaposition of light and well, less light, shall we say: the baby dancing in Elizabeth’s womb, on the one hand, and the children killed by Herod, on the other; the glory of the annunciation, but also the fear and anxiety inherent in the flight to Egypt; the rejection of the inn-keepers, and then, later, the offering of some shelter in the stable. And yet, we are meant to see light in the light. In truth, life teaches us that light may often be obscured by global situations, personal contexts, and the tremors of everyday life.
What does 2018 hold for you? What are you most looking forward to, and what are you most dreading? Where will you encounter God’s fountain of life over the next twelve months? And how will you see light in God’s light? This season tells us that God’s light has been brought closer through the birth of Jesus Christ. His life, death and resurrection also testify to the conquering nature of that light. As the New Year approaches, I pray that God’s light brings hope, restoration, healing, and love, and that we begin to see and feel more through that glorious presence.
A very Happy New Year to you all.
Dr Mariama Ifode-Blease
Community Engagement and Outreach Officer
