Pointing to the light

Intermittent lights are on and off lights. They are seasonal light. Christmas lights are intended for decorations, it is good for the eyes to entertain. But you can’t light a highway by being on and off, Christmas light are only for a season. Highway light intended to guide were made for all seasons. Rain or shine, even in storm they must continue to light the highway or you will see chaos.Seasonal on off Christians can stand the rain but not the storm. 

We perhaps all know the words of the Christmas song, “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack frost nipping at your nose, Yuletide songs being sung by a choir, and folks dressed up like Eskimos. Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe, help to make the season bright. Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow will find it hard to sleep tonight.” Hearing those lyrics at this time of the year, perhaps paints the picture of a “perfect Christmas” in the mind’s eye. 

There’s something about that song with which I can identify, not in the details but in the imagery. It’s the striking depictions of the various images of light that always flood my mind with thoughts of Christmas. Light and Christmas are a powerful combination.  

Have you ever stopped to think what Christmas would be like without light? Would the season be the same if there weren’t any light displays in our neighbourhoods, at the stores, and around the city streets? What if we didn’t fill the branches of our Christmas trees with tiny, twinkling lights; would the tradition of bringing a dead evergreen into our living rooms be nearly as inviting and attractive? Would the light on our faces and the glow in our hearts be just as bright if there were no gifts waiting for us at home? Would the mood of this worship service be different if it were a service of darkness instead of a service by candlelight?

What if we tried to celebrate Christmas without the one true light of the world, the light of Jesus? Perhaps we need to concentrate upon the one phrase in the prologue to John’s gospel, “The real light that shines on everyone was coming into the world.” John 1:9

God of hope,
we cling to you,
for your renew the face of the earth. 

Through the gift of your Son,
our Lord Jesus,
we follow you on the path of dawn.

Enlightened by your love and wisdom,
help us to lead each other
and all creatures
back to your open arms.
Amen.