Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Christmas, Cycle A - December 25, 2019

Christmas
Cycle A
December 25, 2019 

Saint Mary Parish, Pylesville   4pm, 6pm, 10am

 

O Little Town of Bethlehem 


Back in the nineteenth century, in the 1870’s, there was an American preacher named Phillips Brooks.

One December, shortly before Christmas, Phillips Brooks visited the Holy Land. On that Christmas Eve, he made the trip from Jerusalem to Bethlehem on horseback – a two-hour trip.

From a distance, Brooks saw the little town of Bethlehem lit up against the darkness of the night. That sight made a great impression on him and a year later it inspired Brooks to write some verses.

His church organist then composed a tune to go with the verses. That hymn has become one of our popular Christmas carols and, as you probably know, it goes like this:

“O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by;
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting light;
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.”

Light in Darkness Then


“In thy dark streets shineth The everlasting light.” These words really get my attention.

For me, they express the contrast between darkness and light that Christmas is about. In tonight’s first reading, the Prophet Isaiah says: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom, a light has shone.”

Isaiah looks ahead to a moment when God will penetrate the darkness that can make our lives gloomy. He foresees a moment when God will break through and be a light in that darkness.

We see Isaiah’s prophecy fulfilled in the birth of Jesus. And yet, even the story of Jesus’ birth tells us that the star which guides the Wise Men does not drive all the darkness away.

Instead, the light of that star shines in the darkness and is a help and guide through it. I suggest that for us, the light of Bethlehem operates in much the same way.

Light in Darkness Today

Each one of us, probably at a number of points in our lives, each one of us experiences some kind of darkness.  And in that darkness, we are invited to look to the light of Bethlehem.

Maybe we find ourselves in the darkness of loneliness after the death of a spouse or close friend. In this darkness, the light of Bethlehem gives us the presence of Emmanuel, God-with-us as we seek consolation.

Or maybe we find ourselves in the darkness of searching, wondering why we are living and what we really believe. In this darkness, the light of Bethlehem gives us a vision for where we are going and how to get there.

Maybe we find ourselves in the darkness of cold, a relationship with a son or daughter that has grown cold. In this darkness, the light of Bethlehem gives us the warmth of God’s love and moves us to extend and accept glimmers of that love.

Or maybe we find ourselves in the darkness of feeling trapped in some destructive habit or addiction. In this darkness, the light of Bethlehem gives us the hope of human growth and invites us to look for persons or programs that can help us with that growing. 

Conclusion

So, “In thy dark streets shineth The everlasting light.”

Yes, experiences of darkness will be there at times for each of us. These can be difficult.

But, the birth of Jesus, the Light of the world can make a difference. He gives us at least a glimpse of God’s presence, vision, love, and hope in the darkness that we can experience on our human journey. 

They are my reflections on this Christmas of 2019. Merry Christmas!