In the name + of Jesus.
Every year, critics of the Bible take
shots at our Christmas celebration, accusing Christians of adopting pagan
customs. Perhaps the most popular claim
is that Jesus was not born on December 25 and that the Christian Church commandeered
the pagan festival of Saturnalia for their celebration. It is meant to deceive Christians into
thinking that we really observe pagan festival and slap Jesus on top of it. Now, if we worshiped the date, maybe they’d
have a point. But we don’t. The Gospels never record the date of Jesus’
birth. It does not matter to us if Jesus
was born in March, August, or on December 25.
We celebrate that the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among
us.
Still, there is something meaningful that Christians
in the northern hemisphere celebrate Jesus’ birth in the dead of winter. In the darkest time of the year, we celebrate
the birth of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ
is the light of the world, and that light shines in the darkness.
St. John wrote, “God is light, and in
him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). The darkness, therefore, is sin. It is rebellion against God and opposition to
God. The devil enticed the holy people
in the Garden of Eden to rebel against God, convincing them that their
happiness would increase by ignoring God’s command and taking what God had
forbidden. Instead of bringing them
happiness, it produced frustration. Adam’s
frustration caused him to blame Eve for making him a sinner. Eve must have felt betrayed when Adam threw the
blame on her. Neither of them was
happy. Instead of feeling empowered,
they felt ashamed. Instead of becoming wise,
they felt stupid. Instead of enhancing
their lives, their sin produced death.
Everything the devil promised was a lie.
Sin brought darkness upon the whole world. Every heart is darkened by sin. St. John explains how the sin darkened heart both
fears and despises God’s light. “The light has come into the world,
and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works
were evil. For
everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the
light, lest his works should be exposed” (John 3:19-20). Fear comes because consciences are afflicted
with guilt. Your conscience bears witness
against you for every thought or act against God’s word. It testifies that you are accountable to God
for your sins. The sinful heart is also
angry with God. Although our very being
is dependent upon God—from our birthday to our hometown to the very breath we
breathe—we despise the idea that we should have to answer to God for anything.
More than that, we also get angry with God because we have to suffer
consequences for being sinners in a sinful world. We become angry at God when people die, when tornadoes
destroy homes, or when nations go to war.
We charge God with sinning against us because we believe we deserve
better—even though we are the ones who have sinned against him. The sinful heart both fears and despises God.
This is why Adam and Eve ran for cover
when the Lord appeared to them in the Garden.
It is also why they evaded giving God a straight answer when he asked
them what they had done. They thought that
avoiding God also meant escaping him. It
did not. It never does.
What makes you afraid of God? I
suppose you may be bold and insist that you are not afraid. But remember, some of the great saints of the
past came face to face with God. Every one
of them was petrified. Moses trembled at
the burning bush. Isaiah was convinced
he was damned on the spot. The miraculous
catch of fish did not make Peter rejoice; it made him beg Jesus to go away from
him. The shepherds in the fields did not
see God, but his holy angels. That was
enough to make them sore afraid. It is the
light of God’s holiness that reveals just how dark our thoughts and deeds have
been. You may be able to hide your
darker thoughts from others, but God sees them all. Even what we do under the cover of darkness
is exposed before the Lord. This is why
even believers feel the terrors of death and the fear of hell.
The devil had blinded Adam and Eve to the goodness of God. He still deceives people into thinking that
God is cheap with his gifts and fickle with his love. St. Paul wrote, “The god of this
world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from
seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is
the image of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:4). But
now, the light shines in the darkness. “The true light, which gives light to
everyone, was coming into the world” (John 1:9). Jesus comes to
reveal the goodness and mercy of God—not merely proclaimed, but demonstrated.
At Christmas, God comes to earth and the
light shines in the darkness. Although
the devil has blinded the minds of people, “God, who said, ‘Let light shine out
of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the
knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6). The light of Christ shines on us not to expose our
wickedness, but to enlighten us. Jesus
comes to show us that the Father is a merciful God who longs to be reconciled
to the people he has created. The Father
is a gracious God who wants to restore to mankind the Paradise they had lost. The Father is a loving God who spares no
expense to redeem us from our sin, to pull us out of the darkness, and to bring
us back into his wonderful light. This
is what God the Father always has been, but fearful hearts do not want to look
at it. Stubborn hearts insist that it cannot
be true. So, Jesus has come to reveal his
divine compassion. For God loves the world,
and he loves it in this way: He gave his only begotten Son so that whoever believes
in him will not perish but have eternal life.
The light shines in the darkness to show us
how lavish God is with his grace, and how faithful he is with his love. If God were cheap with his grace, would he really
send his Son into the world to pay for the sins of all people—many of whom
still do not care? If God were stingy with
his love, would he really call to sinners again and again, year after year, to
come to him for rest for their souls? And
if God were fickle instead of faithful, would he continue to forgive us when we
repeat our sins? Would he remain patient
with us in our weaknesses? Behold! The light shines in the darkness. Jesus proves that God is lavish with his gifts,
extravagant with his grace, limitless with his mercy, and faithful with his
love.
“The light shines in the darkness, and the
darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5).
This verse reveals that battle that continues to go on around us. Since the forces of darkness cannot overcome Jesus,
they turn their attention on you. Satan tempts
you to think that God is not loving because he does not give you everything you
want. He suggests God is not trustworthy
because your life is not perfect. He sells
you on the idea that you are wiser, stronger, and better off when you are not
walking in the light of God’s word.
These are the same temptations the devil made to Adam and Eve. They are not new, but they are still effective. And they are still lies.
But the light shines in that darkness. Jesus Christ is the light no darkness can
overcome; so if you are in Christ, you are safe. And Jesus instructs you so that you remain
safely in his care. Through St. Paul,
Christ says, “At one time you were darkness, but now you
are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the
fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try
to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.
Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose
them” (Ephesians 5:8-11). The light of God’s word shows you what is
good so that you do not slip into what is evil, no matter how much benefit or pleasure
it seems to promise.
The light of
Christ exposes all the unfruitful works of darkness. But the devil always makes the darkness look
attractive. He even gives us
mottos. “My body, my choice!” as if God
does not have a say. “Love is love.” Now, if the devil perverts all of God’s good
gifts, don’t you think he would pervert love, too? He tells you that there is no real harm in
promiscuous behavior, especially if both people agree to it. The devil tells you that you have a right to
be angry with others or jealous over blessings you have not gotten. The devil tells you that you don’t need to be
in church to be a good person. To darkened
minds, these are not only attractive, they are sensible. But consider: Who is telling you that sinful
things are good things? Is it God or the
devil? Is it light or darkness?
The light and the
darkness continue to do battle, and you are the spoils of war. But consider: What does each one want you for? The devil presents himself as your friend,
but he seeks to destroy you. God is your
divine Father. Yes, he sets expectations
and he disciplines you, but he seeks your eternal good. The light of Christ reveals that everything
the Father says to you is good and everything he does for you is good.
The light shines in the darkness. It shows you the goodness of God, and it makes you children of the Most High God. St. John wrote, “The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. …To all who [received] him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:9,12-13). God shines his light on you through Jesus. Through faith in Jesus, God has given you new birth into a living hope. He has cleansed you of all sin, made you his own, and blesses you with his gracious care. He provides all that you need for this life and the next. He proves that he is trustworthy, merciful, gracious, and faithful. Therefore, you do not need to be petrified of him or despise his word. Rather, you get to rejoice in his presence and even flee to him for protection and preservation. Jesus shows you that God is your loving Father who delights in you enough to save you.
In the dead of winter, life comes into the world. In the dark world, light shines forth. You have been enlightened to see that Jesus Christ is the only source of peace, hope, and comfort. The light shines in the darkness. The darkness has not overcome it and never will. If you are in Christ Jesus, you have light and life; the darkness cannot harm you.
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