John 1:1-14
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” vs. 5
We’re not sure how it is that Christmas came to be celebrated right at the darkest time of the year (at least in the Northern Hemisphere) but the symbolism could not be better. There are times when darkness closes in on our lives in deep and profound ways. It could be a divorce, the ugly end of a once beautiful relationship…or maybe it’s the newly discovered presence of a dread disease that threatens to ro25b us of life…and then there’s always death, our oldest enemy, periodically coming close and snatching away a loved one. Those are just some of the dark times that intrude on our lives…and they’re always an occasion for sadness and even despair. Accordingly, because Christmas is supposed to be the most festive holiday of all, the December darknesses can seem even more intense. The good thing is that Christmas brings with it a message that can bring darkness to its knees. John is very clear…the Christ whose coming we remember at Christmas is the light of the world…and even though he was attacked by sin and death, darkness could not overcome him. That’s the Christmas story in a nutshell and it is our greatest comfort in those times when we feel pain and suffering the most intensely. Light is more than the visible radiance of our sun. John calls it the essence of life, the creative Word from God that gives birth to our souls. And nothing can overcome it!
Thought for the Day: What lights up your life?
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