For, behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. (Isaiah 60:2-3)

His glory shall be seen upon thee. The light of God shall ra'ah - be seen, perceived, observed - coming from you.

The English suggests a reflected light and I do not pretend my Hebrew is good enough to be sure this is not the intent of the original.

But the Lord shall arise upon - zarach - may also be rendered as "The Lord shall break out of you."

Surely the light of God can brighten every dark corner beyond us. Might the light arise from within us? I believe it can.

I understand it is with this light that we were created in the image of God. This is the physical manifestation of our common identity with God.

Isaiah goes on to proclaim, "Then you will see and be radiant, and your heart will thrill and rejoice." Radiant is nahar: to shine, burn, and flow.

In finding and releasing this inner light we experience fulfillment and become whole.

You may listen to the Peabody Institute Symphony and Chorus perform this recitative from Handel's Messiah.