Christmas Eve: A Healing Light

 PROPERS:          CHRISTMAS EVE, YEAR C

TEXT:                ISAIAH 9:2-7; LUKE 2:1-20

PREACHED AT ST. PAUL’S CHAPEL, MAGNOLIA SPRINGS, ON CHRISTMAS EVE, DECEMBER 24, 2021.

 

ONE SENTENCE:        The light born on this night redeems, heals, and reconciles us.   

 

The prophecy of Isaiah – and our first lesson – included 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.

 

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            There are two primary images of light which come to mind tonight.

 

            The first is from some 60 years ago when my cousins and I, as grandchildren, would sneak down the winding stairways to the dark kitchen in my grandmother’s house in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

 

            As mischievous pre-teens, we had an ulterior motive.  We would creep quietly down the darkened staircase toward the lightless kitchen.

 

            When we reached the bottom, one of us would reach around the corner toward the light switch… and turn it on suddenly. The floor would move!  Roaches, bugs, vermin and other creepy-crawly things would scurry toward their dark hiding places.  We were delighted and would cackle with laughter!

 

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            The other concept of light I want to share is much more recent.  It is on the cutting edge of science.

 

            Researchers have learned in recent years the many healing dimensions to light. It has been proved that certain frequencies of light waves can facilitate healing in wounds that are festering. Likewise, it has been shown that certain light waves can slow the progress of multiple sclerosis.

 

            Living here near the beach, probably all of us here have been aware of how sunlight can clear skin – eliminating blemishes or reducing scars.

 

            All of these healing properties are facilitated by purposely brief exposures to the light source.  Otherwise, damage may be done. A brief x-ray. The radiologist’s carefully guided gamma knife. The dermatologist’s focused scope. A reasonable amount of the sun’s rays. All can be healing.

 

            One other brief image of light. Think of this.  Tomorrow, Christmas Day, the largest space telescope ever will be launched into orbit. The James Webb telescope will be able to discern light waves nearly as old as creation – 13 billion years ago.

 

            But what about light that emanates from around the world… from a remote village in a small country… and shines through 2,000 years?

 

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            As Christians, we mark this day as the birth of a new light – a light which shines through the darkness of all times and radiates healing, redemptive power to all peoples and nations.

 

            This night marks the night of nights… the day of days… from which each of us draws deep and profound meaning.  It is there for each of us, not some of us.

 

            The light of the Bethlehem star illumined that night, but the brilliance which was born in that stable has shined in hearts for two millennia. It has bonded us to God, overcoming what the Law could never do.  That light has healed broken relationships and renewed lives that were lost in despair.  It has given hope where there was none and has inspired some of the greatest thinkers, theologians, musicians, poets, and humanitarians. 

 

            It shines through the darkness in the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of the child born that night.  We gather here because of blessings resting in that manger. The child… the boy… the man, Jesus lives and shines in our lives.

 

            If we allow him to. We have to embrace the light.  We must claim it as our own.

 

            Otherwise, another aspect of light will come into play. Light illumines – and it also casts shadows.  In each of us, we have known those shadows. The aspects of ourselves we refuse to admit scurry like those vermin in my grandmother’s house – hiding from the light.  The psychologist Carl Jung called it our shadow.

 

            There is no shame in it.  All of us have one. It can only control us if we deny its existence – and we ignore the light.

 

            So, the task for us on this Christmas Eve is to commit to embrace the light.  We are to bring that healing, renewing, cleansing light into the dark corners of our souls, where it will make our shadows shrink smaller and smaller.

 

            Then, truly, our lights can shine.