Christmas Life-Light
John 1:1-14 (The Message)
The Word was first, the Word present to God, God present to the Word. The Word was God, in readiness for God from day one. Everything was created through him; nothing—not one thing! —came into being without him. What came into existence was Life, and the Life was Light to live by. The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness; the darkness couldn’t put it out. There once was a man, his name John, sent by God to point out the way to the Life-Light. He came to show everyone where to look, who to believe in. John was not himself the Light; he was there to show the way to the Light. The Life-Light was the real thing: Every person entering Life he brings into Light. He was in the world, the world was there through him, and yet the world didn’t even notice. He came to his own people, but they didn’t want him. But whoever did want him, who believed he was who he claimed and would do what he said, He made to be their true selves, their child-of-God selves. These are the God-begotten, not blood-begotten, not flesh-begotten, not human decision-begotten. The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, Generous inside and out, true from start to finish.
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This evening we have heard the unfolding story of the promise of life we uphold this Christmas. We hear the words of the Prophet Isaiah who proclaims that a new way, a way of peace will come into the world. We hear the words of the angel who spoke to Mary, who certainly knew what significant role she would play in the narrative of God’s unfolding salvation. And we hear the tale of Mary and Joseph, who traveled to Bethlehem and the angels who appeared to the poor shepherds in the fields with their songs of praise. And lastly, we hear the words of John’s Gospel, who reminds us that we gather this evening to celebrate the light, the holy, the life-giving light that entered into our world this Christmas Eve.
The Christmas story is one that ever so relevant to our world today. There are King Herods and Pontius Pilates who try to seize every ounce of power at the cost of human dignity and human lives. There are those on the margins of society like the shepherds who were the first to hear of the good news, not rich or powerful, or the learned, but the poor. And there are those who are like Mary, there are many women like Mary who have truths to tell, who have stories to tell but are looked at with leary eyes that are filled with distrust. Overcoming all these hurdles and trials, we find that hope forcefully made its way into the world so that the old ways of doing things would be turned upside down. No longer are the old ways viable; if hope, love, peace, and joy are to prevail, then things have to change! And that is why God had sent and continues to send people to proclaim the Life-Light that came in the form of a little child who from birth was counter-cultural.
We could certainly use a little more light in the world around us. There are families who are being forcefully separated, there are homeless who are vulnerable and unprotected, and a countless number of others (including ourselves) who wrestle with a myriad of ailments that range from big to small. We could certainly use a little light in our world. But that is when we should remember that the light has already come into our world. The Word, the infant Christ-child, moved into our neighborhood, bringing a Life-Light that was imbued inside each and every one of us. So how will you be the light, the Life-Light that we celebrate this Christmas season? How will you go out and be the light that helps others when they are feeling down and the light that keeps on giving hope, hope that tomorrow will be better than the last?
May we carry that light with us this evening and every day as we head into a new year. As the darkness seems to spread all around us, may we channel the light that is within us. Because the light that Christ brought into the world this Christmas Eve relies on each and every one of us and our willingness to be co-laborers in this holy work. Because that is where the good news of the Christmas story is found. The good news of the Christmas story is that Christ didn’t come for the well to do. Christ came for the have nots and those who had been and continue to be, neglected and ignored. In our work together, in our efforts to build communities that are founded on love, the Life-Light that we celebrate this Christmas season is forever then ingrained in our hearts.
Isn’t that good news? Isn’t that something that should give us hope? Because in the moments when we feel like there is no light, all we have to do is look and be reminded of the Life-Light that has already entered into the world. It could be in a smile, a picturesque scene, or witnessing random acts of kindness that inspire us to continue carrying the Christmas hope, peace, love, and joy with us throughout the year. Amen.