Devotion for Dec. 7, 2011

December 7, 2011

Psalm  27; Luke 1: 5-17

“The Lord is our light and our salvation; whom shall we fear?” Psalm 27: 1

            Darkness is a universal human fear.  Imagine what comfort a fire must have been to our early ancestors.  Whether they were on the plains, in the jungle, or in the desert, some light in the darkness would have helped keep away the fear of unknown predators, as well as the predators themselves.

            It’s not a coincidence that Advent and Christmas come at the darkest time of the year.  We are waiting and watching through the darkness of the longest nights of the year.  Even though electric light is now overabundant and we need never be in literal darkness, we are still full of fear, doubt, and loneliness.  There is much to be fearful of in the modern world: financial trouble, relationship trouble, political trouble.  In spite of all the modern ways in which we can connect with one another, in many ways we are more disconnected and lonely than ever.  Even the Advent/Christmas season has been turned into a situation of stress and pressure to buy the right gifts at the lowest prices.

            Into this mess of loneliness, fear, and frenetic shopping comes a tiny baby, a little spark of light in the dark night.  Just as Zechariah and Elizabeth’s son, John, was born to prepare the way for his younger cousin Jesus, it is now our responsibility in 2011 to help prepare the world to hear the good news of Jesus.  The world still needs Jesus.  People that we know and see every day are waiting to have Jesus brought into their lives.  They are lonely, they are scared, and they are searching for meaning and acceptance.  It is our responsibility to reach out to them and show them the light shining in the darkness.