My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, it’s the time of short days and long nights. We who live in the northern hemisphere are used to winter. As the earth’s axis tilts slightly away from the sun, it brings us those shorter days, longer nights and colder temperatures, while the southern hemisphere enjoys summer.

Most of us prefer light to darkness. Some people suffer from seasonal “down moods” or even depression in winter. We cope with the lack of natural light by filling our homes, schools and businesses with artificial light. Candles and oil lamps were once widely used. Now we use electricity. We put up brightly-lit Christmas trees in our homes and often string up lights on the exterior of our houses. Many towns and cities celebrate festivals of light at this time of year. We try to dispel the darkness.

Our sacred Scriptures use night as a metaphor for another kind of darkness, that of sin, ignorance and despair. The Bible speaks of light as God’s coming with salvation for His people. Here is how Isaiah the prophet puts it: the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwell in the land of gloom a light has shone [9:1].

St. John calls Jesus Christ, the Son of God, that life-giving light: this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it [1:4-5]. Jesus says of himself, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life [John 8:12].

Although our Savior came in humility, born in a manger and raised in an undistinguished town, the story about him and his Gospel burst forth into the world after his death and resurrection with the power of the Holy Spirit. The early Christians claimed that Christ illuminated their minds with a new way of relating to God and one another. As St. Paul would tell them: You were once darkness but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of the light, for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth . . . Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness [Ephesians 5:8:11].

If there is a great challenge in seeking to live in and by Christ’s light, there is also great joy in doing so. Christ’s light helps us see our goal and the path toward it: our destiny is to be with God forever and He shows us the way to get there, the way of love. Just as the sun’s light, combined with water and good soil, allows green plants to grow, so the light of Christ’s grace, falling on the soil of our good will, which is watered by faith, enables us to grow into the mature human beings we have always been meant to be. We become more and more “the glory of God, the human person fully alive” (St. Irenaeus, 2nd century AD).

We rejoice, then, as we remember the coming of God’s Son into the world, because he brought us a light we did not have before. That light allows us to advance without stumbling and, even if we sometimes stumble, Christ’s light helps us get up again with the goal clearly in view. We are blessed in knowing where we are going and how to get there. That is the basis for a deep joy, which the troubles and adversities of this life cannot take away.

As we recall the first Christmas and await the Lord’s return in glory (which we should not fear but eagerly yearn for), we also have the promise of the Lord’s active presence in our lives. Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves, for my yoke is easy and my burden light [Matthew 11:28-30].

How is the Lord active in our lives? He strengthens us through his Word, which encourages, consoles and challenges us. He builds us up through the sacraments, giving us a spiritual birth in Baptism, anointing us with the Holy Spirit in Confirmation and then giving himself personally to us in the Holy Eucharist, as he transforms bread and wine into his Body and Blood. He seeks us out in prayer: Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will enter his house and dine with him and he with me [Revelation 3:20]. We also experience the Lord’s loving care through one another, for whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me [Matthew 25:40]. Jesus enters our lives in all these ways as long as we do not bar the door.

One of the most popular Christmas carols begins, “Joy to the world, the Lord is come.” I hope you will let the joy of this holy season seep into your minds and hearts. While Christmas music on the radio and TV movies will disappear on December 26, the Church refuses to let Christmas go and prolongs it until the Solemnity of the Epiphany (the Three Kings), which will be January 8, 2023. Don’t take down your Christmas decorations too soon. Why not gather the family around the Christmas creche on the evenings after December 25 and read the Scriptures assigned for those days, adding some petitions and other prayers? Maybe you could even sing some Christmas carols, some of the most beautiful music ever composed! This is a spiritual way to dispel the darkness, as we learn to live as children of the light.

The Lord Jesus Christ has come as the world’s light, freeing us from sin and ignorance, for in him we find forgiveness of sins and the truth about God, ourselves and the world. If we keep our word of faith to him, we can also trust that he will keep his word to us and overcome our last enemy: death. Then Paul’s words will come true: Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead and Christ will give you light [Ephesians 5:14]. So, rejoice in the Lord always, I shall say it again: rejoice! [Philippians 4:4].

Sincerely in Christ,

+Mark E. Brennan Bishop of Wheeling-Charleston