Giver of Light

When Christ was transfigured on Mount Tabor, His chosen disciples were blinded by the light which emanated from His person such that they could not bear to face Him. And yet that same light warmed them and attracted them, prompting Peter to plead with the Lord that they be allowed to remain there.

In the dismissal hymn we call our Lord the “Giver of light.” Why is He the “Giver of light”? Christ’s teachings, His sacrifice and His resurrection are all light but more importantly, God Himself is the Light. Christ is Light and He was sent to share His Light. In other words, to reveal God to man and bring man to salvation.

That same light which we understand to be an expression of Christ’s divinity – His uncreated energies – is shared with us on the feast day of the Transfiguration of our Lord and Saviour. We are called to receive this light which the Lord in His endless goodness reveals to us, so that we don’t walk afar in spiritual darkness.

That is why we chant in the dismissal hymn, “show us sinners your light which is everlasting.” On this day we glorify Him – we recognise Him as our king and God and we ask Him to show us His light so that we can become partakers in the mystery of His transfiguration.

We read in the Creed that Christ is “light from light, true God from true God.” Christ was sent to deliver us. By delivering us, He revealed the light, giving it to us in abundance. We realise that Christ was sent to reveal the Father. We read in the gospels that “no one comes to the Father, except through Me” (John 14:6). In other words, Jesus is the pathway to our salvation. He enlightens our mind’s eye to the realisation of God and the need to be participants in His body.

In receiving this light, we realise that we cannot do anything without Christ. He illumines our hearts and minds to follow after Him. Man is only a creature of receptivity.

We are candles which bear the light when we are open to receiving what God has in store for us. Without His assistance, we remain in darkness, lost and without bearings.

In the Gospel of John we hear Jesus say, “I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness” (12:46). But just before this He says “And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me.” In other words, Christ shows us that He is sent by the Father, the source of light, to be the giver of light and to pull creation out of darkness.

May we also receive the true Light and exclaim “it is good for us to be here” (Luke 9:33).

Source: Lychnos August–September 2020