Merry Christmas! In our first reading from the Prophet
Isaiah we hear these ancient and well known words: “The people who walked in darkness have
seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has
shone.”
“The people who walked in
darkness…” Who are these people? What have they experienced? Well, think of a time that you walked in
darkness. Maybe you were walking to your
car in a dicey part of town late one night, all alone, an area you didn’t know,
and it was dark. How did you feel? Or maybe you were out in the country, when
it was quickly getting dark, getting dark far faster than you realized and you
still had a way to hike your way back to camp.
We don’t have a lot of experiences walking in the dark these days with
electric lights everywhere. But we know
that walking in the dark can be threatening, spooky, full of concern, jumping
at every movement and sound in the dark.
What is it like to dwell in the land
of gloom? Anyone who has ever been
depressed knows that one. The land of
gloom. Maybe you have looked at your
life, your relationships, your job, and instead of rejoicing you feel a sense
of defeat, of disappointment, of frustration, of gloom. Maybe you look around you at all the
terrorism, the senseless hate, the never ending violence, the lies, the
venality, the sheer stupidity and you feel like you dwell in the land of gloom. Maybe you look at all the presidential
candidates, and realize you will be subjected to nearly of full year more of shouting
and accusations and counter-charges, and you dwell in the land of gloom.
Guess what folks? The people who walked in darkness and those
who dwelt in the land of gloom are right here with us this evening. We are those people!
But, and this is the important point
so listen up, we are also those who “have seen a great light” and those upon
whom “a light has shown.” Isaiah,
writing centuries and even millennia ago, is writing about us!
Isaiah sings: “You have brought them abundant joy
and great rejoicing, as they rejoice before you as at the harvest,
as people make merry when dividing spoils.”
and great rejoicing, as they rejoice before you as at the harvest,
as people make merry when dividing spoils.”
Why are we so happy? Isaiah tells us. “For a child is born to us, a son is given
us;” Who can repress a smile when they
see a new baby? Who cannot rejoice when
they see a little child? Regardless of
the circumstances our hearts leap up at the sight of any new baby, to see all
that freshness, that newness of life, all that potential, all that promise, all
that wonderful expectation!
And for this particular child we have
all that and much, much more! “For a
child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests.
They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.
His dominion is vast and forever peaceful,
from David’s throne, and over his kingdom,
which he confirms and sustains by judgment and justice, both now and forever.”
They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.
His dominion is vast and forever peaceful,
from David’s throne, and over his kingdom,
which he confirms and sustains by judgment and justice, both now and forever.”
“For a child is born to us” All of us right here. “A son is given to us”. And no ordinary
child, but the Prince of Peace, our Savior.
Given to us to save us from all our worst inclinations and habits and
desires. To save us to live fully and
completely in harmony and love with God.
To fulfill our destiny, to achieve the whole reason we were created and
why we exist, to be perfectly in love with God, with all others, and with
ourselves.
That is a really good reason to
celebrate and to rejoice.
have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in
the land of gloom
a light has shone.”
a light has shone.”
Merry Christmas!!!
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