Longing for Light
Longing for Light (Christ Be Our Light)
by Bernadette Farrell
Refrain:
Christ, be our light!
Shine in our hearts.
Shine through the darkness.
Christ, be our light!
Shine in your church gathered today
“Longing for Light” (“Christ Be Our Light”) by Bernadette Farrell (b.1957) was first published in 1993. Farrell was educated at King’s College of London and then entered the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, UK, for further study. A prolific composer of worship music since the 1980s, she has published more than 75 songs and one Catholic Mass. She has worked as a diocesan music advisor for Southwark and Westminster and as a workshop presenter both in the UK and the USA.
Her ministry reflects her strong commitment to justice and peace. As one of the lead organizers of Citizens UK, her passion for social justice is evident in many of her songs, including “Longing for Light.”
This hymn recalls the message of scripture as found in Isaiah 60:1–3.
Arise, shine; for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
For darkness shall cover the earth,
and thick darkness the peoples;
but the Lord will arise upon you,
and his glory will appear over you.
Nations shall come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn
We live in a world revolving around destitution, distrust, hostility, abuse, violence, war, and the like. Our world and church still long for signs of God’s kingdom through Jesus Christ, the light of the world. His light shines upon us amid the world’s darkness.
The author incorporates itemization in the incipit (opening line) of each stanza:
Stanza 1: “Longing for light”
Stanza 2: “Longing for peace”
Stanza 3: “Longing for food”
Stanza 4: “Longing for shelter”
Farrell summons us to serve in God’s kingdom through prayers and actions. This recalls Christ’s mission to rescue people from the darkness and restore us to the light—giving sight to the blind, healing the lame, cleansing the lepers, raising the dead—proclaiming the gospel to the poor (Matt 11: 4–5).
While Christ’s great concern is illustrated in each intercessory stanza, the format of stanzas 1–4 can be divided into two halves in which the first two lines acknowledge the reality of the world and the need for change, and the last two lines respond with our commitment to God.
Stanza 1 focuses on longing for Christ as our light and truth. (Jn 8:12, 14:6), praying that we could be God’s “holy people” “for the world to see” (1 Pet 2:9).
The second stanza highlights longing for Christ as our peace and hope (1 Tim 1:1, 3), releases us from our “troubled world,” and saves us with his powerful words (Lk 24:19).
Stanza 3 prays for those who have no food or water, imploring us to serve and feed the people in need (Matt 25:35).
Stanza 4 continues the themes established in previous stanzas, praying for the homeless and inviting us to protect and care for others (Ps 18:2, Eph 2:20–22). The last stanza encapsulates people’s yearning to belong to God and exhorts us to be servants to one another, making God’s kingdom on earth.
This vision of hope gives energy to the refrain as our corporate prayer for the church in the world. “Christ, be our light! Shine in your church gathered today” (Eph 5:8).
CHRIST BE OUR LIGHT - Bernette Farrell
Blessings,
Dorene
Source: https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/articles/history-of-hymns-longing-for-light-christ-be-our-light