Too Much Light: When Christmas
Doesn't Mean Much
by El Jefe'
based on John1:1-14
The light of Christ shines in the darkness of the world. Often the light is not seen
because too much Christmas or over abundance has blinded us to the needs of the world. I
have heard it again this Christmas
"I'll be glad when this is all over. There
are just too many parties, too many gifts to purchase." You can think of your own. I
believe that this is why there are so few of us here today. The season of Christmas has
burned us out once again. Psychologists tell us that life's meaning is the first to go
with burn-out, and I wonder if we haven't lost the meaning of Christmas in our lives? I
want to talk to those of you for whom Christmas doesn't mean much today, the first Sunday
after Christmas. According to our church calendar, we are still in the Season of
Christmas, but for many, Christmas if over. And that is OK, for we certainly cannot live
the pace we have been living, nor can we continue to eat the rich food we have been
eating, nor spend the money we have been spending. We are ready to return to normalcy. But
there must be something we can take from this holiday season
this holy season where
we have heard the proclamation that God is with us in Jesus Christ as the hope of the
world. I think there is, and that is why I am here today, and I would venture to guess
that is why you are here as well. I have chosen to use the scripture from Christmas day on
this day three days later. It is John's account of the birth of Jesus, and it is unique in
its presentation. John has put away the symbols of Christmas in his telling of the story.
There is no manger in Bethlehem, no shepherds, innkeeper, nor animals. In fact, there is
no mention of Mary and Joseph, nor even mention of the Christ child. John uses the symbols
of light and dark to tell his story.
Read John 1:1-14
With these words, the Apostle John begins his telling of the birth of Jesus Christ. It
is unlike the other Gospel stories of Jesus' birth, for it does not so much tell a story
as it paints a picture with light and dark contrasting images. Reading John is much like
standing before a masterpiece, perhaps one created by Michelangelo, and reacting with the
heart and the emotions rather than the head. This portrait of Jesus comes from a time when
all things came into being with a Word. A primeval time when light and dark contrasted in
a void of nothingness, and life was created. And the Word was the light and from this
light, life came into being. John's portrait takes us to stellar heights and we have a
vantage point much like the astronauts who view the earth from space. Looking at the earth
we see the reflected light of the sun shining in the dark void of space. The light of the
sun gives life where there was none before. John takes us to this lofty vantage to tell us
that what has happened is no mere common occurrence, but the greatest and most wondrous
event in all of history. John's telling of the birth of Jesus begins at the beginning,
before there was life, before there was a nation called Israel, before there was a garden
called Eden. As a boy my dad would take me outside on a cold winter evening to view the
stars. We would take with us our Boy Scouts of America star chart so that we would be able
to recognize the constellations. I grew up outside of New York City and we could see the
lights of that great city in the distance. We had to look west to be able to view Orion
and Gemini because the lights of the city would obscure our vision. When I return to the
place of my childhood there is no view of the stars because the City has grown into the
suburbs and the light has overcome the darkness. Sometimes, we forget how wonderful is the
coming of Jesus because we are blessed in so many ways or overcome with the rush of the
season. The Light of Christ has indeed overcome the darkness of life. I hope we do not
take the blessings for granted in such a way as to dull our senses to God's wondrous love.
In our Christmas rush, have we ignored the darkness around us; the suffering, the
prisoner, the hospitalized, the homeless, the hungry, the oppressed? For if we are blinded
by the light, how will we see God's light when he comes. This is a call for us all to
acknowledge and give thanks to God for his creation, incarnation, and salvation
6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify
to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8He himself was not the light, but he
came to testify to the light. 9The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into
the world.
We don't stay in this surreal place for too long. John is quick to place the birth of
Jesus in its proper context, which is in the world with humanity. With the coming of John
the Baptist, the story becomes a reality. As the light of the sun is reflected by the
earth, so the light of the Son of God is reflected in John. He came as a witness to
testify to the light for the purpose of all who saw the light to come to a belief in
Jesus. The true light was coming into the world. With the introduction of John-the-Baptist
we are placed within the context of the People of Israel. God who was in the beginning is
also with His people today. In Robert Fulgham's book, "It Was On Fire When I Lay Down
On It" he tells the story of a philosophy professor asked to answer the question:
What is the meaning of life? In response, the professor relates a story of his own growing
up during the war -- of finding a broken piece of mirror from a German motorcycle. As a
boy, he would often make a game of reflecting light into dark places with the mirror As an
adult, he recognized his childish game as a metaphor for what he might do with his life.
"I am not the light, nor the source of the light, but light is there and it will only
shine in many dark places if I reflect it there. That," he concluded, "is the
meaning of my life."
10He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not
know him. 11He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12But to
all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God,
13who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of
God.
Indeed, the Word was in the world. The Word, which created the world, shone the light
of truth throughout history. The Word was with Adam and Eve in the Garden. Yet our first
parents chose not to stay in the Garden with him. The Word came to Noah who obeyed and
built an ark because the rest of the world choose not to recognize him. Despite their
doubt, Abraham and Sarah were selected to be the parents of the Chosen People of God who
were chosen to provide the context for the birth of Jesus into the world. Moses was given
the Law when God wanted to more precisely define his relationship with the Children of
Israel, but the people worshiped idols instead. Then the people wanted to be like other
nations, and so they appointed a king to rule over them. This led to great suffering,
warfare and oppression, so the prophets were sent to speak the Word to the people of a
corrupt and unbelieving generation. The light of God finally shone in the world through
the birth of Christ Jesus. This light still shines and is available to all. The light
given at Christmas is a powerful light enabling all to become children of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory
as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.
And so, God sent his Son. John says the Word became flesh and lived among us in glory.
We who have seen the light are called to belief, and to receive the power to become his
children. We are also to be reflectors of the light into the dark places of the world. In
our world of contrasting light and dark we often seek to we strike a balance? Don't know
if we should, or even if we can, for life has its seasons of light and dark, winter and
summer. The season of Christmas comes, and it goes. It would serve us and the kingdom of
God to remember that in times when blessings abound, others have needs. And when we find
ourselves in places of darkness, it is important to remember that Jesus Christ the Light
of the World has come! We can put away the symbols of Christmas without putting away the
meaning of Christmas. "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen
his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth." I believe
this is a call to tell the story of salvation year round to a world needing to hear the
truth that Jesus brings. As reflectors of God's light we are called to shine light into
the darkness. We have been so blessed, and can indeed be a blessing to our world. Where is
the need in your world, community, and family? If there is anything we could take from
this Christmas is that God is with us and so we are to be with those who in darkness need
to experience this wonderful light. In your times of light and in your times of darkness
this coming year, remember this. We who bear the name of Christ can bring his light into
the world. Wherever people are languishing in the darkness, we can reflect the light of
hope.