Light Breaks Through

It's fitting that we commemorate the birth of Christ, in the northern hemisphere, during the darkest time of the year. We don't know the actual date, but it was a very dark time on earth. Cruelty, oppression, and wickedness seemed to have won the war. The faithful were tempted to believe God would never keep his promise. Then God acted.

The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned. (Isaiah 9:2)

God did not leave his people in the darkness. Welcomed by a chorus of angels, the light broke through.

How did Mary interpret this?

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. ...
He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors. (Luke 1:46-55)

How did Zechariah see this?

Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
because he has come to his people and redeemed them.
He has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David ...
to show mercy to our ancestors
and to remember his holy covenant,
the oath he swore to our father Abraham.... (Luke 1:67-73)

God remembers his covenant. He keeps his promises. No matter how dark things have gotten, no matter how bad things seem to be, "God is not dead, nor does he sleep".¹ He will remember. He will act.

Angels came to share the good news that God had acted: "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:11). Christ came because we needed a savior. The "true meaning of Christmas", then, is not presents or family or even love. The meaning of Christmas is hope. It's a light shining in the darkness: A Savior has come.

As we live in our own dark times, we still have that hope. Let this Christmas and every Christmas remind us that God will save. He has promised, and he keeps his promises. The day will come when he keeps them. He will put everything right. He will punish the wicked. He will rescue us from our fallen nature. He will wipe away every tear.

I've encouraged you to take up the largely forgotten tradition of Advent. There's another old tradition we could use to remember. The "Twelve Days of Christmas" begin on Christmas. I doubt any of us want to deal with twelve days of gift giving, but take time during the twelve days of Christmas to remember the gift, messages, and meaning of Christmas. Thank God that he remembers his promises, for his Son, and for the hope we have in him.

Thanks be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for the light that pierced the darkness and continues to give light to this world and to bring salvation to the hearts of men.


1 "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (Casting Crowns version)

Music for reflection:
The Night Before Christmas
O Little Town of Bethlehem

Image via Pixabay