the people living in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned (Matthew 4:16)
A world of darkness? The world into which Jesus was born was very dark. Society languished in the grip of a cruel and corrupt government. Racial and religious prejudice abounded. Ignorance was rampant. What’s more is that the faithful began to doubt God. It had been four centuries since the Word of the Lord had last been heard from the prophet Malachi – nothing from the Lord of Hosts but deafening silence. If there really is a God, why would he abandon us like this?
Into this world of hopeless despair Jesus was born. In this time and place of sin and deep darkness the living Word who moved across the waters on the day of Creation and hung the most distant star in the night sky chose to enter our world.
And when He did, the silence was shattered and the Light chased away the darkness. Beginning with the humble and most likely frightened assent of a young girl from a dirt water town, the Good News of Light and Love and Life reclaimed turned the world upside down:
Mary said:
"My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
to Abraham and his descendants forever,
even as he said to our fathers." (Luke 1:46-55)
I hear it said that we live in a time of darkness: Economic woes, unemployment, environmental worries, and daily violence in much of the world all lead us to believe that we are living in a place of shadows. Even on a congregational level, we are confronting what in many ways are unprecedented issues. As a church we are struggling through a maze of uncertainties that seem mostly to be leading us into an inevitable dark night.
It is probably small consolation that the same thing has perhaps been said in every era. Five centuries ago Martin Luther felt that the world had reached such a height of evil that it could not go on for another 50 years. But then again, the Millerites and Shakers of the 19th century knew the end of the world was imminent at the turn of the century and in 1965, Bobby McGuire was convinced we were all standing on the eve of destruction.
Perhaps every era in our world is one of darkness. Perhaps much as Jesus spoke of the poor, the darkness will always be with us. (Matthew 26:11). Perhaps St. Paul was right when he said that the Devil is the power of this present world (Ephesians 2:2) Do we wonder, as the people of Jesus’ day, “Where is God?”
A Light in the Darkness. It’s been said that a light shines most brightly in the darkness. Jesus day, for many reasons, was very dark. Our day, for many reasons – some the same – some different also may be very dark. But Jesus is coming into our midst to dispel our darkness – Jesus is looking for us to, like Mary, give our assent – meekly; boldly; with certainty or uncertainty, but just to say ‘Yes’ to His birth in the stable of our hearts.
The Good News is no less capable today of turning the world – our world; our towns and cities; even our church upside down. The Light can still lift up the lowly and put down the despots. The Lord can still do wondrous things in us!
As we enter this Holy Season, I pray that we may all be mindful of the Child of Bethlehem, Who still comes to be born that all may live in the Light: Let us worship together, pray together and move forward together in the ways that our God has prepared.
Wishing you all light, life, love and the peace that goes beyond all understanding,