“Darkness to Light”

(Isaiah 9:2, 6,7)

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.

For a child has been born to us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders, and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Great will be his authority, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. 

He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore.  The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

            There is a phenomenon that has become popular over the last few years.  You may have heard of it.  It’s called a “reveal party.”  Since ultrasounds have been able to show new parents that their little potential babies are well and healthy, they also can tell Mom and Dad and family the gender of their child.  Some parents prefer not to know, but they are definitely in the minority.  Parents and friends and family have come up with ways to make this so fun. 

A Reveal Party has become a thing.  There are many different ways it can happen.  A friend can look at the results without telling the parents and order a cake of a color that will let them satisfy their curiosity.  I don’t know all the ways.  Sometimes there is confetti involved.  It’s all fun and games, and the surprise is usually fun. 

            Christmas Eve, in a way, is a little like a reveal party.  …Oh sure.  We know the story about the baby born in Bethlehem.  You just heard it again.  It’s so familiar and yet, still so wonderful.  We get ready for the big reveal on Christmas Eve, and that’s the joy of this season.  It all should seem brand new as we look into the eyes of the children when they presented the Christmas Pageant or when we light the Advent candles.  It’s an age-old story as we light each other’s little candles and sing Silent Night, Holy Night. 

In our heart’s imagination, it’s as though we can see, in our mind’s eye, the scene in the stable: the simple, ordinary people gathered around the baby in the manger.  We can call it the original reveal party.

            This evening’s reading from Isaiah highlights this revelation: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.”  Now, you know as well as I, that many of us have been on the frontlines of what Isaiah means when he talks about darkness.  You can fill in the blanks about the impact that the darkness has made in your life. 

            …And yet, in that very same verse, Isaiah says to us, “The people who walked in darkness YES, they have seen a great light.  This contrast between light and darkness gives us hope for both the future and for this very moment.  Light symbolizes hope and joy.  Light also brings hope and joy to us. 

            This season shows us that exactly.  Four days ago on the winter solstice, the deepening darkness of winter turned the corner, and, little by little, we will begin to experience more daylight, believe it or not. 

Here’s a quote I took from someone else who is familiar with the British series, Dr. Who.  This is from one of the 2010 episodes entitled “The Christmas Carol.”  I have never watched Dr. Who, but I did watch the highlights of this particular show.  I didn’t see enough to bring me on board with the characters and the popular show, but this quote is a good one.  “On every world, wherever people are, in the deepest part of the winter, at the exact midpoint, everybody stops, and turns, and hugs, as if to say, ‘Well done. Well done, everyone! We’re halfway out of the dark.’”

And so we are.  We have been walking into the darkness, and now, the light is beginning to break into that darkness.  Life and joy will be evoked as we receive more light.  Well done, Everyone!

            And our baby Jesus is at the center of this Cosmic play.  “For a child has been born to us.  He will be called Wonderful Counselor, the Prince of Peace.”  We have been shown the hope for the future.  What we can barely imagine right now, God is calling into being.  God’s will is that we live in peace, that we live in a just and righteous world. 

All this huge hope for the future tonight is made flesh, made real, in the weakest and dearest of human creatures: a little baby.  The people who walked in darkness have seen the light of hope.  Tonight, let us celebrate the birth of hope, the Big Reveal.  Amen.