I was always thrilled when this time of year came around. All sorts of activity, hustle, and bustle, and let’s not forget the extra activities. Baking, shopping, wrapping… it brings back a certain amount of nostalgia. However, my favorite part, without fail, was always decorating the outside of the house- it took lots of creativity, and so whether I was planning for the next year, or in the throws of decorating, it was always enjoyable.
However, in the work of decorating, it wasn’t always very straightforward. I could usually find a majority of the lights right up front, but there were usually problems. Some lights worked flawlessly- they did year after year. However, there were also some strands that, even if they were working last year, they weren’t having it this year. Either a section, or even the whole strand was out. Then, there were the strings that were completely missing. I was sure I put them away in this very certain box, and they very certainly weren’t there. So, it just added to the challenge- troubleshooting and designing, to make that ultimate Christmas display.
My brothers and sisters, we celebrate today one of the most central mysteries of our faith. God the Son chooses to become man. We have heard about this coming repeatedly. It is something that undergirds the Old Testament- there is someone coming, and as time went on, and we moved into the time of John the Baptist, it became more and more apparent that He was coming very, very soon. In reality, in the time of John the Baptist, Jesus Christ is already there, but isn’t in public ministry, just yet. Nonetheless, all of creation waits for this moment, when Christ shall arrive.
The readings this evening actually start very early in this prophecy- in fact, they start with Isaiah. He is typically thought of as the one who is the stereotypical prophet of Jesus’s coming. He’s always speaking to a people who desperately need to hear his message of good news. They’ve been on the down and out, and have been suffering disaster after disaster, oppression after oppression. Yet, today, something is different. Isaiah isn’t speaking anything to further their feeling of discouragement, but he counters with this passage: “The people in darkness have seen a great light. Upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone.”
This is remarkable- it’s something new. There is a beckoning for them to rejoice- and as we get further into the prophecy we start to see why: “A child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.” What does this mean? It means that Isaiah isn’t vaguely prophesying about a figure coming at some point. It is rather clear who he is saying- that there is someone coming from David’s throne, and over his kingdom… God is sending his son- but as a small child. Though his appearance is so meek, there is something truly astounding happening.
The second reading is taken from the letter of Saint Paul to Titus- this also goes on a very similar theme- telling us about the arrival of the Son. Paul says “The grace of God has appeared, saving all and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires. To live devoutly and justly in this age. Why? For one very simple and powerful reason- Jesus Christ has come in glory. What does this mean exactly? It means that He is coming to raise all up out of these things. His appearance was to lift all of humanity out of those things that it could readily descend into. To save humanity from those things. That is the reminder that Saint Paul is giving to the people.
Finally, we arrive at the heart of what we expect to hear about at Christmas, year after year. A short synopsis on what Christmas is all about. The Gospel of Luke tells us about the census- the whole world being enrolled. How Joseph and Mary had to go to be enrolled in Bethlehem, because they were of the house of David. Then, that astounding moment happens- when all of creation stops and pays attention to this humble dwelling: there was no room in the inn, so we hear of our Savior being so humble as to be born in a manger.
Up until this time in the Bible, the appearance of God, or even of angels, was something to be feared- something that should frighten everyone! However, in this instance, it is a little bit different… angels appear to shepherds and announce the great news: even as they are telling that great news, however, the shepherds are understandably terrified of what is taking place! Yet, the angels speak words of comfort and reassurance to them: “Do not be afraid for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” They go even further- there is a savior who has been born who is Christ the Lord- and this is a sign: there is an infant, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger.”
So, the heart of our celebration today: Jesus Christ is born. Do you realize what a profound thing this is, though? The fact that God Himself- someone so far above us- someone who is all powerful and all knowing; someone who is the creator of all things- He takes up human nature so as to save our fallen world? Is that not an awesome and beautiful thing? God so loves you and I that He sends His Son to be born in the most humble of all ways! Further, this is a moment of light in the darkness. The fallen world struggles and stumbles in it’s own abyss of darkness, and the light that Christ offers seeks to demolish and banish that darkness forever! This is truly great and profound news!
However… that leaves us with a question, does it not? It should have us asking: “What are we to do, then?” If God becomes man, how does that change our lives and challenge us? If you remember back to the beginning of the homily, I do love the image of light, but sometimes those lights are broken, they are dim, or they don’t seem to be there at all. The Incarnation isn’t something for us to hear about, and then simply go home and start eating ham. It doesn’t even simply want to make life more demanding. What it does is that it wants us to live in freedom- the freedom of knowing that this world is not the end. We could’ve been trapped by the snares of death, by this valley of tears, by all of the struggles, the aggravation, and the sorrows of this world. But the mystery of Christ coming into our midst- it means we aren’t trapped anymore!
Often we might feel like that bulb that is fading and burning out. The one that can’t get anything right. The one that has so much on their plate, that they can’t hold on. So, it feels like being that string of lights that is dimming and fading away. Or, at times, perhaps we feel like we are that string of lights that isn’t showing up. We just don’t really feel this whole faith thing, or maybe we feel like it just doesn’t make a difference, so we fail to light at all. My brothers and sisters, no matter who we are, no matter where we’ve gone, or what we’ve done, Christ comes for you and I- personally. He doesn’t do all of this for show- He does this to show us that He loves us and cares for us deeply.
In addition, Jesus isn’t just entering into a moment of darkness so long ago. He is desiring to enter into your darkness that is real and tangible in your life. The hurts. The frustrations. The places where you feel like you just don’t see God well. The places you feel burned out. Or even the places you might feel ashamed of, and so you never really feel safe admitting to them- or even showing up. Christ wants to light up your darkness- not simply in opening up the gates of heaven for you some day, but also in lighting up your life today- and wherever you need His light and His presence. Yes, it does require us to make some small sacrifices, and to live life differently. It asks us to take a risk with God- to be vulnerable, and to give Him that room that no inn had so long ago. Yet, it is a present reality: Christ comes to enter into your darkness- and where you need Him most. Are you willing to let Him in- and are you willing to let that light shine through you?
My brothers and sisters, this sacred time of year gives us a moment to reflect on the light that Christ offers each of us- it is so much more intense than any Christmas display we could ever concoct or create- but that is not the point. The point is- we, as the people in darkness, have seen a great light. Are we willing to respond- to become lights ourselves to welcome and cast light upon our dark world that needs Jesus Christ so much?
Let us be bearers of that intense and beautiful light Christ provides… for truly, the people in darkness have seen a great light.
