When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” – John 8:12

Today’s Scripture Reading (October 22, 2017): John 8

The next installment of the “Star Trek” saga arrived this fall (2017), and it has proven to be a beacon around which Star Trek fans can once again rally. And if you have been following “Star Trek: Discovery” you might note that “beacon” is a word that is now heavy with Star Trek meaning. Specifically, early in the first season of “Discovery,” we are introduced to the “Beacon of Kahless.” Kahless is a Klingon messianic figure who has played an important spiritual role for the Klingons throughout all of the incarnations of “Star Trek.” But the “Beacon of Kahless” has been put in place to quickly spread the news to the twenty-four warring “Klingon Houses” that their Messiah has returned. And when the Messiah comes, he will bring with him Klingon Unity.

The person with the responsibility of lighting the “Beacon of Kahless” is whoever the Klingon is who wears the suit of the “Torchbearer.” In Star Trek Mythology, when Kahless returns the “Beacon of Kahless” is to be lit and then Kahless the Messiah will unite the Klingon Tribes. And on the dagger that is wielded by the torchbearer are engraved the words, “There is honor in death.”

All of this should sound a little familiar. Kahless is based on the Christian belief regarding Jesus, although admittedly a more violent version. But watching Christians squabble with each other it is entirely possible that the community of Kahless is based on the Christian community who often seems at odds with the peace taught to us by the one that we profess to follow. If Kahless ever returns to the Klingons, he may tell them that they had missed the point. I am pretty sure that when Jesus returns, it is likely that the first words he speaks to his followers will be something like, “I taught you to love your enemies, who deceived you?”

And the Beacon of Jesus is, well, Jesus. His church serves the purpose of being his “torchbearers,” but instead of lighting the Beacon upon his return, our only job is to point toward him. He promised that his followers would never walk in darkness, unlike the disciples of Kahless, because Jesus is the beacon – he is the light.

In the biblical Book “The Acts of the Apostles,” the opening scene tells the story of the disciples standing around watching as Jesus ascends into heaven. I can just imagine them watching that spot where they last saw Jesus in the clouds. I do the same thing every time I drop my wife off at the airport. I watch that spot where I last saw her until well after the moment when she has disappeared from my sight. But in the case of the disciples, two men appear and speak to them.  “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). Don’t worry about missing the time of his return. He is indeed the light of the world, and any beacon that we could light would be pale in his presence. When the light returns, the universe will know. Hiding the brightness of his beacon is impossible. But until that time, we have work that we need to do – together.

 Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: John 9