From a Word from Becky, my monthly newsletter to my readers
Merry Christmas, friends!
As I write today, I am reminded that Christmas is a season and not just a day. This year the Christmas season in the Catholic church is celebrated from the Feast of the Nativity of the Lord on December 25th through the Epiphany of the Lord on January 8th.
As a child, one of my favorite Christmas memories was the Christmas Eve candlelight service at my paternal grandparent’s church. My dad is one of five brothers. Within these five families, we spread multiple Christian denominations. One uncle is a Presbyterian minister. Another uncle is an Episcopalian priest. Another of my dad’s brother’s family is Baptist. One family is non-denominational. My family is Catholic. As you can imagine, we had some rather fun conversations around spirituality and religion. These five families coming from different Christian denominations would gather with my dad’s parents at their Methodist church. Six different expressions of Christianity all coming together to celebrate the same thing – the Light coming into our lives.
I understood the holiness of that night even when I was so young that my feet could not touch the ground. I knew I was surrounded by love as I sat swinging my feet on the dark brown wooden pew surrounded by my aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers, parents and grandparents. I felt the anticipation of hope coming as I held the unlit candle in my little hands as the lights turned off enveloping the church in darkness. When the first piano notes of the song “Night of Silence/Silent Night” began, my heart would flutter with excitement. I knew what was coming, and I could hardly wait. I knew Light was on its way soon. The darkness we sat in would be shattered by Light.
As the angelic voice continued to pierce the darkness with hope with lines from “Night of Silence/Silent Night”, two of the church leaders would make their way to the front of the sanctuary and light their candle from the altar candles. They would make their way to the first row and share the Light of hope with others. I would stretch my head every way in order to catch the first glimpse of the spread of Light. Steadily, the Light would make its way to through the church. My anticipation built as the Light would come closer to me. Then finally, the row in front of me would turn towards us eager to share what they received with others.
Even now, I can close my eyes and bring the faces of hope to mind. Faces that held joy, excitement, eagerness. They desired to share the Light with me and my family. Our candles would touch. The spark ignited. Then suddenly I held the flame of Light in my hands. Before turning to the row behind me, I always paused and watched the dance of Light that was in my hands. The symbol of hope and birth right there for me to savor. The Light given to me by those in front of me. Knowing it was now my turn to share what I received with others, I excitedly turned to spread the Light to the people behind me. I know my childish eyes of hope glistened as I lit the next people’s candles. My heart stirred, nudging me ever closer to acknowledging God with me in my inner chapel.
The Light spread until all held the sign of hope in their hands. Our voices joining in on “Silent Night” proclaiming the hope that birthed in the silence of night. Darkness was no more. Jesus was here.
This holy Christmas Eve memory of my childhood always reminds me of John 1: 1-5, 14:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth.
I knew in a felt way that darkness does not overcome the Light. The hope those Christmas Eve nights birthed in me was the Incarnation happening in my life. Jesus came to me in a real way. I knew his presence through the love and safety of my family. I knew he was in me. I was reminded I was not alone. I knew I held his Light in my hands. I knew that I was called to not only receive it but share it with others.
As we enter this Christmas season, I invite us to reflect on these questions:
- Where were the places of darkness this past year in our lives? Where were the places we encountered our poverty of spirit, the places we acknowledge our utter dependence on God?
- How might we have experienced the Incarnation happening in the darkness of our lives? Where did the birth of Christ come into our lives? How did we receive the Light of Christ in our darkness?
- How are we being invited to share the Light we received with others?
The Incarnation happens again and again in our lives. Jesus draws near to us and seeks to offer us the Light and hope of his presence both within and through the comfort his people provide to others. I pray that each of us can have our eyes opened to how Jesus is seeking to offer us Light and also desiring for us to share what we received with others.
May we have the courage to be open to both receive and share the Light offered to us this Christmas season!
Peace,
Becky
Photo by Andrej Lisavkov on Unsplash
Becky Eldredge
December 26, 2022