Dr. Fr. Davis George
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) Prophecy made
700 years before the birth of Jesus came true on the Christmas night.
These
words were spoken long ago to people living in anxiety, fear, and despair,
people feeling bereft of security, safety, and any sense of God’s presence. We
hear them early on Christmas, forgetting that they were first spoken hundreds
of years before the birth we celebrate. Human beings across this planet still
yearn to know that a more gracious and divine reality is active and evident in
our lives.
The
birth of Jesus we celebrate is meant for this world mired in darkness and fear,
hunger and cold, the rubble of hurricane and earthquake, in the demeaning of
chronic poverty, behind prison bars. Those who search in dark and despair, in
dank dungeon and deep devastation, will find divine light given for the world.
Light that will not be put out, so long as any creature remains to receive it,
until and beyond the end of time. The darkness will never put it out. The light
shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.( Jn 1:5)
“In the beginning was the Word, and
the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” He was in the beginning with God;
all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that
was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines
in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it…. He true light that
enlightens every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the
world was made through him, yet the world knew him not. He came to his own home
and his own people received him not. But to all who received him, who believed
in his name, he gave power to become children of God.” (Jn 1:1-5; 9-12) Jesus
said. “I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in
darkness, but will have the light of life.” (Jn 8:12) How true the words of ― C.S.
Lewis
“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only
because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” Jesus said “I am the way, and the truth, and
the life.” (Jn 14:6) Asatoma
Sadgamaya; Tamasoma Jyotirgamaya; Mritoma Amrutham Gamaya. May Jesus who came to lead human kind to walk in the path
of truth may lead you from untruth to truth; May Jesus the light of the world
lead you from darkness to light; May
Jesus who came to give his life for the salvation of human kind, lead you from
death to life.
Go and look – and discover the love of God poured into our world in human form. And rejoice, for light of the world is born in our midst! The prophecy was fulfilled "Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means "God is with us." We need not grope in darkness of ignorance, hatred, pride, anger, revenge, retaliation and indifference. We need only to surrender to him and follow his teachings. His words are spirit and life. (Jn 6:63) May Jesus, the Light of the World be your guiding light amidst the encircling gloom and enlighten each day of 2013 so that you may spread his light and sunshine to everyone you meet.
Happy Christmas.
