The people who sit in darkness have seen a great light,
on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death
light has arisen. (Mt 4:16)
We are a people who tend to live in the darkness even though we say that we abhor the darkness. The darkness of which I speak, of course, is the darkness of sin. Even though we are “people of the light”, we do not always allow that light to reach into all the inner parts of our soul. When that happens, we usually embrace the dark.
As we come to the close of our Christmas season, we remember, once again, that the light which was to come into the world was Jesus. He did come into our world. He brought the truth of His Father’s Kingdom. He brought grace and holiness and a way to defeat sin and death.
Now, he leaves it up to each and every one of us to choose what we are going to embrace: the darkness of sin and death or His light of redemption and eternal life.
If we choose darkness, our lives will be lived accordingly. We will not care about others. We will not care about ourselves. We will reject the Lord.
If we choose His light, we must be people who seek to root out sin in all of its forms and permutations. We must allow the light to cleanse us and to lead us.
Choose the light this day. Choose the Lord.
FAITH ACTION: Reflect upon the words of “O Holy Night”
O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O holy night, O night divine!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
O’er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friends.
He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!