The Revs. Smiths’ Message for November 29, 2020

Dear Friends,

Menorahs, Diwali lights, Advent wreaths. Many people of faith, at the darkest time of the year in Canada, turn to agents of light and find hope.

John refers to Jesus as the light of all people. And “the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” (John 1:5)

Lit candles at the Milan Cathedral. Picture by Giovanni Dall’Orto.

Mary Jo Leddy, theologian and activist, wrote a book called “Say to the darkness, we beg to differ”. The title comes from graffiti found on a Queen St. West wall. The graffiti reads: “When we light a candle at midnight we say to the darkness we beg to differ.”

We are now in lockdown. Some of us have been laid off. We are to stay as much as possible in our own homes and avoid gathering with anyone, other than those in our own households.

But the light still comes. As you light your candles this Advent, say to the darkness: “We beg to differ.”

Blessings for Advent,

Revs. Bob and Helen Smith

A version of this message first appeared in the Saturday, November 28, 2020, edition of Tidbits.