Christmas 2020 Christ is born! Let us approach him, who is light, and discover he burns within us Readings (from Mass during the night): Isaiah 9: 1-6 / Psalm 96 / Titus 2: 11-14 / Luke 2: 1-14
“In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth ...darkness covered the abyss… Then God said, ‘let there be light,’ and there was light…” The ancient account at the beginning of Sacred Scripture from the book of Genesis tells us of the light of creation shining forth and the love of God bringing life into being.
The prophet Isaiah speaks the message of hope to God’s people: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone. You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing.”
As the shepherds kept watch over their flock, “The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them, do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” On that holy night of Christ’s birth, the light of salvation pierced the veil of darkness and despair and fear.
Creation began eons ago, light shines naturally and newly at the beginning of each day. Throughout our world and within us, gloom persists. The rays of the sun blaze across the sky and warm the earth, but an elusive darkness persists. As the veil of sin is pierced, it becomes possible to recognize and understand that Sacred Scripture also speaks of another darkness, another light.
In his first encyclical, Lumen Fidei, Pope Francis points out how the belief of pagan religions in a sun god was not sufficient to overcome the reality of fear and hopelessness and human suffering. He writes, "Yet though the sun was born anew each morning, it was clearly incapable of casting its light on all of human existence. The sun does not illumine all reality; its rays cannot penetrate to the shadow of death, the place where men’s eyes are closed to its light."¹ The light of Christ was and is needed to pierce such depths.
Humanity continued to long for the true light, people longed for peace and mercy. The longing endures because suffering continues. While humanity searches, God in Christ is born and has come among us. The true light begins to glow and shine upon us. Our longings encounter true fulfillment.
For many people, this year has been marked by despair. In our own lives, especially as we recognize our own sins and weaknesses, it can be tempting to think, “What sort of light are we talking about? Where is this light?” Perhaps a better question is, “Who is this light?” The darkness of sin can only be dispelled by the light of God’s mercy, brought to us by the Incarnation of his Son.
We speak of another darkness and another light, but the same Jesus Christ; the same Emmanuel, God with us. It is not that God keeps repeating a process or that we are mired in an interminable cycle of despair, but that God in Christ keeps coming back with mercy.
The gift, the medicine of mercy, continues to be given. Still, the infirmity persists because the remedy remains untried. In the darkness, light burns brightly, light draws near in Christ. Hope dispels the shadows. Healing occurs in the measure that a heart opens to receive Christ, who is the remedy.
The darkness in life can bear heavily upon us, but if we walk by faith, we will approach Christ, who is light, and discover he burns within us. May our celebration of the birth of Christ convince us more and more of the warming glow of his mercy and brightness of his hope.