Metaphor is more than mere decorative language; it’s a means of expressing something profound. Consider the factual statement: “A stove is a household appliance used to prepare food by conducting heat through metal coils.” This is a straightforward, non-metaphorical description of a physical phenomenon. Now, take the metaphor: “The stove is a member of the family, a warm companion, readying cold foodstuffs for a comforting meal.” This metaphorical language, while not literal, conveys the same truth about what a stove is and what it does, prompting us to see and think about a stove in a new, imaginative way.
Metaphor encourages us to look beyond the surface and reassess our habitual perspectives. When we say, “God is our rock,” it doesn’t mean God is a literal stone but invites us to ponder God’s steadfastness and reliability. Speaking and thinking about God through metaphor helps us grasp who God is and, more importantly, what he does more deeply. By stepping out of our usual pattern of thinking without thinking, we can appreciate the rich, multidimensional aspects of our relationship with God and engage our discipleship with more meaningfulness. Metaphor, therefore, bridges the gap between the known and the unknown and provides us language to talk about things that might otherwise impossible to talk about. Keep that in mind as we go forward.
Let us pray. May only God’s Word be spoken and may only God’s Word be spoken; in the name of Jesus. Amen.
The incarnation of Christ—when the Word became flesh and brought grace and truth into the world. Grace and truth are at the heart of the incarnation. Jesus, the Word made flesh, embodies God’s unmerited favor and the ultimate reality of his love and justice. This duo calls us to embrace both the compassion and the integrity of our relationship with God.
St. John proclaims to us today something utterly fantastic, but we’ve heard it so much that it’s kind of lost its oompf: “the true light that gives light to everyone is coming into the world.” That’s big news, folks! The true light that gives light to everyone is coming into the world! Jesus, as the Light of the World, brings grace and truth into the dark realities of our lives. This light exposes falsehood and sin, and offers instead hope and redemption.
Last week, we looked at the life of St. Patrick of Ireland and how he embodied simplicity in his relationship with God. This week, we’re turning our attention to another saint—St. Lucia of Syracuse. Lucia’s life was marked by acts of grace and a commitment to truth. Lucia, also known as St. Lucy, was born in Syracuse, Sicily, and her parents gave her a name that means “light;” her story is most certainly a beacon of how grace and truth can illuminate even the darkest circumstances. She is one of the most revered saints in Christianity, especially in Scandinavian countries, where her feast day on December 13—in the time of deepest darkness in the year—is celebrated with great enthusiasm. According to tradition, Lucia dedicated her life to Jesus and vowed to remain a virgin, refusing marriage and choosing instead to distribute her dowry to the poor. Her charity and relationship with God led to great hardship for her during the Diocletianic Persecution, a time when Christians faced severe oppression.
Lucia is often depicted wearing a crown of candles on her head. This tradition stems from the legend that she would secretly bring food and aid to Christians hiding in the catacombs of Rome. To keep her hands free to carry supplies, she wore a wreath of candles to light her way through the dark. This symbol of light has made Lucia an enduring symbol of hope and faith in God, illuminating both literal and metaphorical darkness with the grace and truth of Christ.
Lucia’s relationship with God remained strong until the very end of her life. After being betrayed as a Christian by the angry suitor she rejected, she faced many trials—even a literal one. The suitor griped to the governor, and the governor sentenced her to be defiled in a brothel—although when the governor’s guards tried to carry her off, she couldn’t be moved, even when tied to oxen. They then tried to burn her, but the fire wouldn’t start. As if that wasn’t enough, the next thing they did to her was gouge her eyes out, but her sight was miraculously restored. According to her story, Lucia’s final words were, “I give thanks to God for letting me see the glory of his salvation,” before she was finally killed by the sword. These words belie her deep, abiding trust in God, even in the face of death. Lucia’s story and her brave last words have inspired many people to hold on to their relationship with God, even when times are tough—again, a shining light of grace and truth in times of oppression, suffering, difficulty, and disquietude.
Grace and truth…light that shines in the darkness…When we say that grace and truth are at the heart of the incarnation, what we’re saying is that grace and truth are at the heart of what it means to say that for us and for our salvation Jesus came down from heaven. Grace and truth are at the heart of saying God is with us, one of us, living life with us, and dying like one of us. Grace and truth are the at heart—no, let’s say grace and truth are the heart of our relationship with God…Yet what are grace and truth, and what does it mean to say they are the light that the darkness does not overcome?
Grace without truth can be sentimental and permissive. When we emphasize grace alone, we may unintentionally create an environment where accountability is overlooked and moral standards are diluted. This kind of grace becomes a mere sentimentality, lacking the necessary balance of truth that guides us toward righteousness. It encourages a superficial understanding of God that fails to challenge us to live according to the fuller teachings of Jesus. Grace isn’t a license for self-indulgence; instead, grace is much more a gift from God that is so costly that it cost God his life, cost Jesus his life. Jesus didn’t die so we could flippantly ask, “shall we then continue in sin in order that grace abound?” St. Paul’s answer to that, despite all the softer translations out there for nice sensibilities, is as forceful as can be—“hell no!” God’s grace isn’t be mocked by continuing in sin.
Truth without grace can be harsh and unforgiving. When truth is upheld without the accompanying grace, it becomes rigid and punitive. It fails to offer the true compassion essential to real reconciliation. This way leads to judgment and exclusion, rather than fostering support leading to redemption. It risks alienating those who struggle, who need the very grace that Jesus offers. “The measure you give,” St. Luke tells us “will be the measure you get back.” Instead, when we tell the truth with true grace from God, we become more like Jesus in every way. He is the one who leads us, like the brain inside our heads, which controls our whole body. Truth with grace transforms, renews of our minds, so that we can discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect…what is Godly and Christlike.
Together, grace and truth reflect the full character of Christ. When both are present, they create a balance to living out our relationship with God, where compassion is matched with integrity, and forgiveness is matched with accountability. Together, grace and truth blend within us and we embody Jesus’ love both spiritually and practically. When grace and truth fill our lives, we shine Christ’s light in a way that guides others with both hope and direction, offering a true reflection of his character to the world.
But what does that practically look like? We can understand that grace and truth are spiritual beatitudes, but what do they look like as everyday, lived-out discipleship? Living out true grace in our lives means showing kindness and mercy even when it’s not deserved. When someone wrongs us, instead of seeking revenge or holding grudges, we offer forgiveness and attempt to reconcile. This might look like giving a friend who’s let us down a second chance, or it might look like breaking down, despite our own prideful self-understanding, and reaching out to an estranged family member despite past conflicts. Grace involves seeing beyond mistakes, failure, and even insults, and extending love that reflects God’s boundless compassion—compassion that is shown to us in more ways than we’re even aware of and would likely be unwilling to truly admit we needed if we knew.
Gracious truth means upholding honesty and integrity while still being considerate of the feelings of others. Situations where we need to provide constructive feedback or address uncomfortable truths are times when gracious truth becomes absolutely paramount. Giving honest advice to a friend about a harmful habit, while also showing empathy and support, reflects a balance of truth and grace. It means confronting difficult issues with sensitivity and ensuring that our words build up rather than tear down. Truth always strengthens relationships.
When we embody both grace and truth, we become lights in the darkness. Our lives illuminate the path for others and offer hope and guidance. Just as Jesus is the Light of the World, we too shine his light by demonstrating, in our own lives, how grace and truth work together in harmony. By being examples of both, we help others face their own challenges and discover the hope and direction that Christ provides.
As we stand in the light of Christ, we remember Lucia of Syracuse, who exemplified the happy marriage of grace and truth. Lucia’s unwavering faith and steadfast commitment to Christ Jesus serve as a shining inspiration in the darkest of times. Living with the compassion of grace and the integrity of truth in our lives transforms us and our world. Grace and truth are not merely ideals but powerful forces that together, by the power of the Holy Spirit burning within us, transform not only our lives, but enlighten the whole world. Grace and truth are the heart of our faith, the very manifestation, the very incarnation, the very enfleshment of God among us, a true light guiding us through adversity and leading us along our path through life.
And the grace and truth within us is not for our own benefit alone; no—we shine as lights in the darkness, illuminating the way for others with the Light of Christ burns within us. As disciples of Jesus, like Lucia, we are called to live out grace with kindness and mercy, called to uphold truth with compassion and integrity, and called to become the light that dispels the darkness. We are called to offer hope and guidance to all who seek it. In every act of grace, in every truth spoken, we reflect the glory of Jesus, the true light of the world.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Rev'd Daniel W. Spigelmyer, Jr. 