The Light Shines

In the Gospels, the Christmas story begins in darkness. When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, he was born into a country occupied by the Roman Empire. His people faced persecution and oppression. The darkness of despair and resignation was heavy on people’s hearts.

The truth is, we all know about the darkness, don’t we? In one way or another, at one time or another, it has touched all of our lives.

It is interesting—nowhere in Scripture is there an argument that things aren’t as bad as they seem. Rather, our Scriptures affirm that the darkness is real and it is present. But these same Scriptures also affirm that even amid the darkness, there is another reality.

The prophet Isaiah wrote, “people who walk in darkness have seen a great light.” John’s Gospel records: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” And so this season we sing again the words: “Yet, in thy dark street shineth the everlasting light. The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.”

While there is a lot of darkness, if we look closely, there is also great light.

These days I’m always on the lookout for reminders. Even a weed growing up through a crack in the pavement is a reminder to me of the persistence of life. When I see a young family join our congregation, a mother and her two children baptized, I am reminded that even in a very secular world, God is still stirring hearts. When I see the bags and bags of food that our church donated over the last several weeks for people in our community who are in need, I am infused with hope. When I visited a woman recently who was under hospice care, I saw it in her faith. As we held hands to pray, I felt her inner strength and peace. She was confident that death would not have the last word.

These are all reminders that this light still shines in the darkness. And the promise is that this light is not just a temporary glimmer, but an eternal flame. The good news of Christmas is that amid deep darkness there came a light, and the darkness is not able to overcome it. Thanks be to God!

Let us pray: God of Grace, on this Christmas Eve, we remember that you so love the world that you gave your only Son, who came as a light to the nations. On this holy day, break into our lives anew. Help us to notice your unconditional love still at work in our lives and in the world around us. And then, Lord, empower us to be instruments of that same love, light, and grace all year long; through Christ our Lord. Amen.