The light in the darkness
By The Rev. Charles M. Girardeau
Rector
The Episcopal Church of St. Mary and St. Martha of Bethany
Special to GwinnettForum.com

BUFORD, DEC. 21, 2001 -- The terrorists' attacks of September 11th will remain a significant part of our nation's consciousness for time to come. Ultimately, when all is said and done, the events of that day can only be set in the context of the ongoing battle between good and evil, between light and darkness, between the God who created the heavens and the earth and the evil one.

This will certainly be a defining event of the 21st Century for our nation and the world. Yet there is another event which is THE defining event for ALL time. It occurred some 2000 years ago in a small village in the backwaters of a small nation. It was not broadcast around the world as it was happening, nor did word reach large numbers of people in just minutes. But for those who were nearby, for some who were watching the sky, and for others, who understood the ancient scriptures, the importance of this event was clear - God was about a mighty work.

Isaiah, the great Hebrew prophet, foretold the coming of the Messiah some 800 years earlier with these words:

"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness- on them light has shined." (Isaiah 9:2)

Our God does not leave us in the darkness of the evil of this world. Our God comes to live among us to lead us out of the deep darkness into the light, the light which shines in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. Our God comes to us even now when the darkness is upon us and says, "I am the way and the truth, and the life." (John 14:6)

At Christmas we celebrate the light of Christ coming into the world, the love of God coming to us in human form to lead us from the darkness of sin and brokenness into the life filled with light and wholeness.

After Jesus' birth, death, and resurrection another author of scripture, John, begins his Gospel with these words:

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God...What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it." (John 1:1, 3-5)

In this holy season may we reject the darkness that can lead us to a place where we become like those who wish to do us harm. Instead, may we embrace the love of God in the newborn Christ Child, Jesus, and allow the light of Christ to shine through us into the world. By doing so we work to drive back the not only the darkness that is in our own hearts, but also the darkness which can surround us on every side as we live in the world.

God's Blessings be with you.

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