Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be pregnant from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to divorce her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
“Look, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,”
which means, “God is with us.” ~ Matthew 1:18-23
The light came into the world when it was needed most, it seemed.
The dark pall cast by the Roman empire spread over nearly two million square miles. Almost 20% of the world's inhabitants lived under its weight.
We can see light anywhere, but nowhere is it clearer or more apparent than when it shines in the darkness.
Maybe that's been true for you. It has been for me.
It has often been in those darkest times of my life - sorrows, illnesses, tragedies - that the light of God shone most brightly.
It wasn't that the light wasn't always there. Just that I sometimes took the light for granted until the palette of darkness opened my eyes to see it.
Question for thought: When have you sensed God's presence during the dark times of your life?
Come, O Holy One, for we wait upon you. And light the darkness of our hearts and lives so that we may know your love fully. Amen
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