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Good morning.Ìý As the dark nights of winter draw in, I always watch to see who will be first to put up Christmas lights on the road where we live. Sometimes it’s a big house with large elaborate white lights glittering around all the windows. Other years the first light appears in a window of the small flat at the end of the road.Ìý
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However grand or subtle the display, light is an important symbol in many faith traditions.Ìý At this time of year Christians around the world light candles to proclaim their belief that ‘Christ is our light’.Ìý That doesn’t mean, of course, that life is ever without trouble or difficulty. Yet, through it all Christian faith teaches that the light of God’s love shines even in the darkest hour and the darkness can never overcome it.
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This is sometimes difficult to believe.Ìý Some years ago, I had heart surgery and for many months while I was at home recuperating, I felt as if someone had simply turned out all the lights. At the time I wondered if God had abandoned me or even existed at all.Ìý Most of us have had moments when we felt we were groping in darkness. Yet Christian faith teaches that the light of God’s love is revealed in Jesus. This of course is the message of the carol, Hark the Herald Angels Sing:
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Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace
Hail the sun, of righteousness!
‘Light and life to all he brings’
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Sometimes it takes a while to discover the light shining in the darkness, but in my experience it has always been there…even though at times it may seem like only a flickering flame.Ìý
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Prayer: Lord, May we all know the light and peace of your presence in this Christmas season.Ìý Amen