God of Dark and Light

Introduction

Christmas season is always a time of year that brings the best and worst out of people. In some ways it brings the best because gifts are abounding and goodwill is given towards people. Yet it is also the worst because it turns into a season of consumerism where we spend to buy the perfect gift we think will somehow let people know how much we care and think of them. This perfect gift will communicate how much we love them. Yet do you recall the experience of searching and trying to find that perfect gift, and the number of perfect gifts you had to find this year? I don’t know about you but you may have had to brave the crowds, the traffic, the less than nice people busy in their own world and their own problems, and you were in the way or you were an innocent bystander on their war path. As I said, Christmas and the season of buying and giving gifts seems to bring out the best of worst in everyone. This season for some can highlight much darkness surrounding us and we need a light to shine forth.

Promise of old

Isaiah’s prophecy was probably not well known to the shepherds we hear of in Luke. This promise was made of a perfect gift to the people. While people had been stuck in the darkness or stumbled around in a land full of darkness, a great light shone forth. A light that would shine a way for them to get out of of through the darkness. For years, centuries at this point, the Israelites were subjected to nation after nation conquering and ruling over them. One darkness after another was all they knew. Yet hope was still given through Isaiah that light will come forth to shine upon them. A child born of a virgin, a special sign indeed, shall come forth from God becoming a light to them. This light would be their wonderful counselor, the Prince of Peace, Mighty God, Everlasting Father. This light shall have all authority to rule and bring in endless peace.

Shepherds

This is a wonderful promise indeed. The shocking part of Luke’s story is who God chose to announce this special event to. Shepherds. While we have all heard how rough these people were and how they were outcasts who because of their occupation were smelly and dirty and not welcome in people’s homes or synagogues. They lived in darkness. They worked in darkness. Their livelihood was defending their flock from what lurked in the darkness.

One scholar pointed out that their proximity to Jerusalem and the temple may have meant this group also may have raised animals, without flaw or blemish for the ritual sacrifices of people. This meant that the animals they raised must be kept perfect so they could be accepted as sacrifices. They may have been outcasts but people depended on them. They worked in the places others didn’t want to. They, the unlikeliest of all people were chosen to be the heralds of great news. A light shone forth in their darkness bring great news!

Today

How amazing must that have been for those shepherds working that dark night to witness and bear witness to others? We too work in a world that is still full of darkness. We sometimes find ourselves looking around and seeing the darkness and wondering when God will shine forth that bright light and usher in the eternal peace promised. Look around you and remember loved ones. Look around you and seek out God’s grace at work in you and around you in others. Jesus Christ ushered in that new era where we experience God with us, Emmanuel. The shepherds witnessed this baby in a manger that ushered in this new era. Despite the darkness that may surround us, God is great than that darkness. God is with us in that darkness. God is not limited to only be in the light with the angels singing. God is also present with us when people are being awful towards others. God is with us when we get consumed with over spending on gifts that we think will make people know how much we love them. God is with us when we fall prey to the season of consumerism. God is with us when we wake up and realize this trap we fell into.

We celebrate this new light that not only is within us but also rules over all. We celebrate God with us. We celebrate that the great light has come to be with us. We celebrate that despite all the sin, conflict, and corruption we see surrounding us, we know this is temporary and that God’s promise is still at work to usher in peace and freedom from sin.

Today we keep that expectation in our hearts that God is with us in the light and dark.