No
historian, no theologian, or philosopher can deny that the course of human
history has unfolded beneath this veil of darkness. And every human being born
into the world his been born into this darkness. Each and every human life has
been affected by this darkness. Even the great patriarchs, matriarchs, kings
and heroes of the Old Testament have been affected by it, and have died under
it.
Many
today look out into the world with a sense of hopelessness, a sense of
resignation, and even despair, at the plight of humanity. Many view their own
lives through this dark lens, and turn inward, and become cynical, and dismiss
the idea that there can be any real good on the world. Many must have felt that way two
thousand years ago. To the Jewish
people living under Roman occupation, the world must have seemed to be a very
dark place indeed. Oppression, corruption, and hunger, were realities for many.
Just like today, many would have despaired at their own sinfulness, and
inability to overcome it. Just like today these people had to contend with the
reality of death, and the dark pail it casts on life.
But
then something happened, something extraordinary occurred. Just like creation
itself, just like the emergence of reality itself, something happened which is
almost impossible to imagine. The very ground and source of reality, the source
of being who brought all other beings into existence entered into this world,
this world over which hung the dark viel. The creator of the universe entered
into the universe. Suddenly, light broke through where there was once only
darkness. Jesus Christ was born. God himself entered the world. God became flesh. God entered into the
human situation. He did so with one main purpose, to reconcile humanity to him, to bring back his
alienated and self-willed people.
God came into the world to reconcile you to himself—yes, you. By
entering the world, God, the ground and source of all being, defeated the
powers of darkness forever. Through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus
Christ, eternal life has been given, and reconciliation has been effected. This
is not a myth; this is not a fair tale; or a made up story. God entered human history.
But
the story didn’t end two thousand years ago. Jesus Christ was resurrected, and
ascended to heaven, to return to where he came from. Again, the workings of
this are almost impossible to imagine. But Jesus Christ was resurrected to new
life, and his light continues to shine in the darkness. The light of Jesus
Christ shines on, and shines today, and is shining on our lives. The darkness
will resist it, the darkness will deny it. But the light of God is an
irresistible force. The Word of God is an undeniable reality. The Word of God
brought reality into being, and is doing something astounding. Take a moment to
contemplate the stained glass window above the altar. What is depicted here is
the Christ breaking through into
this reality, reaching out to draw all people unto him, reaching out drawing
you unto him. , drawing you into his heart. Jesus Christ is the one and only
true light of the world, which no darkness can overcome. The light He shines
enlightens us—it’s the only light which can.
A
few year ago, when I was doing a round of chaplaincy I visited a man diagnosed
with cancer. He was a bachelor. At times I think he was pretty lonely. He went
through a lot of pain. He had every reason to be hopeless. He had every reason
to dismiss the idea of a loving God. But instead of dismissing and denying God
with the argument that no loving God would ever subject him to what he was now
going through, he witnessed to the reality of God. He proclaimed God for Him
and for you. He was a farmer. He hadn’t been to university, much less had he
studied philosophy, but he had keen insight into the intellectual climate of
his day. He said, “ You know, back in the 50’s and the 60’s the scientists were
saying that God is Dead. Can you imagine that? They were saying God is dead?
Have you ever heard anything so crazy as that? How could you possibly say that
God is dead? I look outside and I see the grass growing, the trees blossoming,
the birds flying. I feel the warmth of the son. I see children playing. I saw
pictures of flowers growing in cities that had been bombed into the stone age.
I see life coming out of death. I see new life all around me, and I know that
God is for me”. Through the viel
of darkness which hung over this man’s life, he was able to see God for us. He
was able to see the working’s of Christ in the world.
Today
we continue to celebrate Christmas, celebrate the divine light coming into this
world. This is the heart of the message, what we have to grasp hold of and cling
to as we move through this season and beyond this season.
God
continues to be involved, intimately involved in the human situation, because a
great divine plan is unfolding—a plan in place before the word of creation was
even spoken. Jesus continues to reveal the heart of God. And if you believe
that Jesus Christ is Lord, he has called you to the mission of revealing God’s
heart to the world. Each and every
Christian has been called to share this most precious gift in one way or
another. All Christians have been
called to share God’s great and glorious vision of the future. Each and every
one of us transformed by faith is called to share the ministry of light which
dispels darkness. “I will,” says the Lord, “turn their morning into joy, I will
comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow.” The same God who made you, is the same God who took on flesh
to reconcile you to Him, to reveal his heart to you. This is truly the greatest gift ever given. Now may the
peace which surpasses all understanding guard your hearts and minds in Christ
Jesus. Amen.
