It's 4:30 in the afternoon, and it is becoming dark. Part of that is the building across the street. It blocks whatever sunshine might still be there, but it is getting darker. I think about our ancestors who couldn't just go flip a light switch to brighten their environment. And even though candles and oil lamps do give light, it isn't really enough to do much beyond the basic requirements of life. And that doesn't even begin to touch TV, radio, computers, etc. Darkness requires us to slow down. We can't see as well where we're going, and could get lost, or trip over something. Darkness changes the way things look. Shadows are deeper, familiar things look strange, and many people are lulled into sleep. We tend to draw into ourselves, and to be quieter.
Into this nighttime darkness, to shepherds tending their flocks, came angels. Now, they might have just appeared as men, and walked quietly up to the shepherds. But most of the time we envision a very bright angel appearing in the sky, then being joined by many, many more. Scripture tells us they were terrified. Well, yes! The night is dark and calm, the sheep are sleeping, the shepherds may be talking quietly as they listen for the sound of predators. Into this calm quiet comes...BAM!! light, sound, speaking, singing, angels for goodness' sake! No wonder they were terrified. And the angel tells them to be calm. Be still. To not be afraid, in fact, to rejoice. It's no wonder they decided o go into town to see what the angels were talking about. In their shoes, wouldn't you?
Loving God, into the darkness of the night came the light of angelic messengers. Into the darkness of our world came the light of Messiah. Into the darkness of our lives you continue to come, often in the form of love from friends and neighbors. Some of us are struggling with doubt, fear, and grief, but we know that no matter what we face your light of love will go with us and before us. No matter how dark the night may be, Joy comes with the morning. May your love and mercy surround us, and beckon us out of our darkness into the light, to see what new thing you are doing today. Amen.
Into this nighttime darkness, to shepherds tending their flocks, came angels. Now, they might have just appeared as men, and walked quietly up to the shepherds. But most of the time we envision a very bright angel appearing in the sky, then being joined by many, many more. Scripture tells us they were terrified. Well, yes! The night is dark and calm, the sheep are sleeping, the shepherds may be talking quietly as they listen for the sound of predators. Into this calm quiet comes...BAM!! light, sound, speaking, singing, angels for goodness' sake! No wonder they were terrified. And the angel tells them to be calm. Be still. To not be afraid, in fact, to rejoice. It's no wonder they decided o go into town to see what the angels were talking about. In their shoes, wouldn't you?
Loving God, into the darkness of the night came the light of angelic messengers. Into the darkness of our world came the light of Messiah. Into the darkness of our lives you continue to come, often in the form of love from friends and neighbors. Some of us are struggling with doubt, fear, and grief, but we know that no matter what we face your light of love will go with us and before us. No matter how dark the night may be, Joy comes with the morning. May your love and mercy surround us, and beckon us out of our darkness into the light, to see what new thing you are doing today. Amen.
RSS Feed
