Christmas Day – Come Into The Light
Blessed Christmas! Today is a day of light and love and we rejoice and celebrate. This Advent, the word light has resonated with me. Many of the Mass readings describe Christ as the Light. This continues at Christmas in the scripture passage from Isaiah 9:1 (which is the Mass reading during the night,)
“the people who walked in darkness – have seen a light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom – a light has shown.”
In the gospel reading for the Mass during the day we have the mystical and lyrical passage that begins John’s gospel.
1:1‑5 “In the beginning was the Word… all things come to be through Him and without Him nothing came to be – what came to be through Him was life – and the life was the light of the human race; – the light shines in the darkness – and the darkness has not overcome it.”
In December the days are shorter and there are more hours of darkness. In some ways I treasure the darkness – I see the stars more brightly and the different phases of the moon. The Christmas lights brighten homes and places that may seem ordinary and a little bleak in the bareness of winter. I sleep better in the dark. I draw my shades to the very bottom of the window sill because the littlest stream of light in my room awakens me. I sleep with blindfolds on as well to keep the light out. I am in “a dead” sleep. Every morning upon awakening I remove the blindfolds and can see. That light makes all the difference. In our spiritual life if we are not connected to the light of Christ, we remain dead.
As we begin the Christmas season (and we have 20 days of celebration) I ask myself, have I prepared myself during Advent to truly let the light in? The littlest ray of light can eradicate the darkness. There is an interplay between light and darkness and knowing what is dark and what is light can help us discern what choices we make. Is something bringing me closer to the light like a moth to a flame or is it bringing further away and further into the darkness.
Close your eyes and envision the star of Bethlehem illuminating the sky and pointing to Christ in the manger. Are we being a light for others and pointing the way to Christ and to life itself? “Have you cleared away anything that is not of Christ? “This is the question Thomas Merton asked in describing the Advent mystery.
When we open our souls to the light, we see the shadows. Our faults, habitual sinful behavior, compulsive thoughts, grief, depression, spiritual desolation and addiction. We cannot keep them hidden pretending they are not there nor be ashamed of them. Affliction and brokenness is part of the human condition. Christ came to show us how His grace can heal our brokenness and our humanness. As you look at the Nativity, pray with St. Augustine, “Look, Oh Jesus, and let all the darkness of our souls disappear before the beams of your brightness.”
This Christmas embrace the healing light, and remember a ray of light can lead you out of the shadows. As you get closer to the light the shadows and darkness disappear. This is the gift Christmas.
Remember a ray of light can lead you out of the shadows. As you get closer to the light the shadows and darkness disappear. This is the gift of Christmas and Christ.