“It was a dark and stormy night...” Such is the common opening line to a scary story. Interesting how we associate fear and darkness! The connection between them is common, in part, because we’re accustomed to the sad reality that bad things happen at night. Under the cover of darkness predators lurk, steal, and hurt others, hiding their misdeeds under a blanket of anonymity. And so nocturnal fears, even imagined ones, have become part of our humanity.
But wonder of wonders: in the Christmas story God breaks through the darkness. It was at night, while Joseph dreamt, that an angel appeared and removed his fears and announced the coming Savior. It was at night, while shepherds tended their flocks that heaven pierced through the darkness with news of great joy for all humanity. At nightfall the angelic choir sang. It was at night that the wise men followed the guiding star that led them to the infant. When Jesus was born, God broke through the darkness of human fear and despair with resplendent light.
God not only breaks into human history, however, He also pierces through the darkness of the human heart. Jesus declared "I am the light of the world” (John 8:12) and “I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness" (John 12:46). It is because of that night that we are free from darkness and bondage. It is because of that night we have the light of Christ in our hearts. For it was on that night that Christ came to earth to save us from darkness and death.
Thanks be to God for that Holy night!