Hope On A Dark Night
By Matt Yamamoto, Director of Youth Ministry
'When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. (Luke 2:15-18)
I can’t believe that it is already December, and Christmas is right around the corner. This is a very special Christmas though. I know that the temptation is going to be to try to keep it as normal and traditional as possible in a year that has been full of turmoil and grief, but even though that might be true, I think that the Lord is challenging us to look beyond what we have all faced this year to what others have faced.
On the surface, the media presents Christmas as a beautiful, perfect experienced awash in warm light and bathed in the aroma of gingerbread cookies. But the original Christmas was far from it. Jesus was born into this world in a cave, among domesticated and work animals, laid in their water trough, miles and miles away from home with no family to celebrate with, a far cry from the ideal start for the King of Kings. I can imagine how confusing and painful this experience must have been for Mary and Joseph. This is not how the Messiah was supposed to enter into the world. I can imagine that all of their hopes and expectations must have been dashed to the ground.
In this moment, Jesus’s story isn’t all that different from what many of our neighbors are experiencing. This is not what this year was supposed to look like, especially not Christmas. Some find themselves out on the streets, like Mary and Joseph did on that night, just looking for a safe place to stay. The only light they are awash in is the warm light of the street lamp.
Amidst all those doubts and fears, out of nowhere, come a group of excited shepherds, looking for the Messiah, sent by angels. Can you imagine the beacon of hope they represented to Mary and Joseph? This really was the Messiah, the one sent by God to save His people, these shepherds confirmed it. And once they encountered Jesus, they could not hold it in but spread the good news to all.
We can be those shepherds to those around us. Entering into people’s dark times and confirming for them that God loves them and has sent messengers of hope! This year I challenge you to go beyond your normal Christmas traditions and start a new one by finding someone who is in need and being a blessing to them because God has blessed us.
Prayer: Dear loving and generous Father, please help us to be a reflection of Your love and generosity this Christmas. Please bring to our minds and hearts someone who needs to know that You are there and love them, and help us to offer them something meaningful to make their Christmas just a little brighter. Amen.
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