24 December, Thursday – There is no darkness for God.

Thursday of 4th Week of Advent

2 Sam 7:1-5, 8-12, 14, 16
Luke 1:67-79 

…to give light to those who sit in darkness…

Christmas Eve.  The most joyful and joy-filled day of anticipation for us, is it not? Tonight is the night that the Star of Bethlehem shines brightly, more brilliantly than any star ever has, or ever will again, lighting the sky as Christ, in His divinity, descends from His heavenly throne to save us from eternal darkness by his humanity.

…to give light to those who sit in darkness… Those words about John the Baptist are true of all saints, really.  Those walking and those in heaven who walked on this earth lighting the way for others so that they are/were able to step out of the dark and into the light of  THE LIGHT. This past spring, I heard Bishop Baron say, “Christ is the light of the world. Without this light, we live in darkness. We stumble, we fall in darkness. Even in our own home with familiar surroundings, we stumble. CHIRST IS THE LIGHT. We see everything because of THE LIGHT.” And there is only one Light.  

Powerful vision for me. I’ve heard and known for decades that Christ is the Light, but to hear it in this analogy was an ‘ah-ha’ moment for me. Light. Dark. It makes all the difference in our lives. The LIGHT keeps us from getting lost, from stepping off a cliff, from hurting ourselves and others, etc. Yet, even in the light we sometimes step into the dark. Sometimes it is a misstep, but sometimes we choose the dark by intentionally taking one – or more – steps away from the light. We need this Light, without it we are doomed; yet for God, there is no ‘dark’. He sees all in the dark as easily as He sees all in the light.  

Brothers and sisters, we have a choice every day to be like John the Baptist, to be a small light pointing others (by our deeds and our words) to The Light, and in doing so we no longer sit in darkness.

(Today’s Oxygen by Gina Ulicny)

Prayer: Father God, how glorious and brilliant is your very name. We send up shouts and songs of praise at the light that radiates from speaking your name.  

Thanksgiving: Thank you Father, for being Light. We are dumbstruck with joy as we wait tonight for the coming of your Son. Praise be Your Name.