Dickens, darkness, and light . . .

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness . . ."
-Charles Dickens, Tale of Two Cities

Contrast. Paradox. Charles Dickens' novels were set in England during the Industrial Revolution. A great economy was being built. Fortunes were amassed. But the increase in wealth was matched by an even greater growth in the number of the poor. Good and bad, light and dark, co-existing, often symbiotic. It has always been that way. The Light came into this dark world, and the darkness could not overcome it. But in this in-between time in which we live, the darkness has not yet been overcome either.

We focus on the Baby Jesus in the manger, or in Mary's arms, as Joseph looked on. But what of the world outside the stable?

Joseph and Mary had just completed a journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Everyone was on the road at that time. The Roman government had ordered that everyone should go to their home city to be registered. Jesus' home country was occupied by the Roman Empire. For the Jews, it was not the best of times. They were oppressed. It could not be escaped. Jesus was not the first human to be crucified.

It was into that darkness that Jesus was born. In a tiny stable, some say more like a cave, in the town of Bethlehem. One tiny brilliant pinpoint of light in this gigantic, dark world.

Jesus said a strange thing once. Actually he said lots of things that seem strange. But the one I'm talking about now is when he told the disciples, and us, that we would do greater things than He did. Seems a bit daunting doesn't it? But then He gave us His light.

Darkness is not a thing. It has no energy. Darkness is merely the absence of light. My light may never be more than a pinpoint, or it may be as great as a light shining on a hill. But the light I have been given will never be enough. But my light and your light will be more. And the more of us who let the love of Christ shine through us, the less darkness there will be. For the darkness to be overcome we must step out into the darkness sometimes . . . with our light. If we stay where we are the darkness will never be overcome.

Many of us will attend Christmas Eve services tomorrow. In many of those services we will stand in pews or in a big circle. The light from the Christ candle will be burning. Candles will be lit from the Christ candle. That flame will be passed to others that will be passed to others until all of us will hold the light of the Christ candle in our hand.

One of the great things about playing guitar is that sometimes you get to stand in front of a crowd at Christmas Eve and lead "Silent Night" while the light of Christ is being passed from person to person. The room goes from grey to golden as faces are illuminated by the glow.

It is a beautiful thing. But it is also a sacrament. And a sermon.

"Go light My world . . ."

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