"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great
light,
This, the morning of our wartime Christmas, brings the dawning of the light we so desperately need. For many, Advent has been difficult, dark and cold and marked by battle, tragedy, mourning. In this Advent especially, we have had our deepest yearning for light and warmth. We might still wonder if ever there will be a time of abundant joy and great rejoicing. In New York, Washington, D.C., Kabul, Kandahar and dozens of other places, there are widows and children without parents because of this fall's tragedies. The world's pain seems nearly unbearable. And that is why we have today. God's promise is for a great healing. The promise is fulfilled in Jesus sent among us, "the light of the human race." Yes, so many of us hurt. We are touched by danger and death. We have come to the chilling realization that our homeland is not the safe place we thought it to be. We have dwelt in the land of gloom. But a child is born for us, and we have every reason to rejoice, every reason to hold deep faith in God's love for us. Nine years ago today, my wife and I spent Christmas Day bringing home our second daughter, who was born on December 23. What profound joy this child brought! God gives us a sign of Jesus' love in every beautiful new life that is birthed. Even in a time of war, we have other signs that Jesus, the Light that we celebrate today, is with us. He is birthed in the rescue workers at the scenes of terror attacks. He is birthed in the worldwide condemnation of wanton violence. Wherever someone reaches out to help those who suffer, Jesus is birthed. Look around this morning at the people you love, your wives and husbands,
sons and daughters, friends and colleagues. Rejoice! He is
with us to the end of time. As long as even one of us loves another,
Jesus is alive, and terror can't touch that.
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