Terry’s Take… The Light Has Come Into the World
Blessed Christmas to You All
The book of Genesis begins: “In the beginning…darkness was upon the face of the deep…. And God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good…” (Gen. 1:1-4). From the very beginning, God’s purpose has been to overcome darkness by his own divine light.
The prophet Isaiah employs the image of light overcoming darkness with great effect. Early in the prophet’s text, he writes about the way that God’s chosen people have allowed their hearts to be turned away from the Lord and have been “thrust into thick darkness.” Still, God intends to provide the solution: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness on them has light shined” (Is. 8:5-9:2). And, near the end of the prophetic text: “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. …the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you” (Is. 60:1-2, 20).
It is that Light, incarnate in the Babe of Bethlehem that we celebrate!
Another prophet connects the themes of light and justice. Zephaniah declares, “The Lord within [the once-prosperous city] is righteous, he does no wrong; every morning he shows forth his justice, each dawn he does not fail…” (Zeph. 3:5). The Lord’s righteousness will shine on His people, dispelling darkness by His radiance. This is exactly the message of today’s antiphon.
These images of light, of course, are fulfilled by the Person of Jesus Christ. Light occupies a prominent place in the canticles sung by Zechariah and Simeon, Temple priests who laud the infant Messiah (see Lk. 1:67-79; 2:25-32). In addition to these, St. John makes light the single most important motif in the brilliant theological prologue to his Gospel account. The evangelist tells us that the Incarnate Word is the “true light that enlightens every man”; that it “shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (Jn. 1:1-14). Later in John’s Gospel, we read Jesus’ words: “I have come as light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness” (Jn. 12:46). And, finally, Jesus declared his divinity, his unity with the Heavenly Father, on the great Jewish feast of Hanukkah, the commemoration of God’s light returning to the Temple. Bask in the Light of Christ this Christmas as a beloved child of God!
