The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light” (Is 9:1).
This prophecy of Isaiah never
ceases to touch us, especially when we hear it proclaimed in the liturgy of
Christmas night. This is not simply an emotional or sentimental matter. It
moves us because it states the deep reality of what we are: a people who walk,
and all around us – and within us as well – there is darkness and light. In
this night, as the spirit of darkness enfolds the world, there takes place anew
the event which always amazes and surprises us: the people who walk see a great
light. A light which makes us reflect on this mystery: the mystery of walking
and seeing.
Walking: this verb makes us
reflect on the course of history, that long journey which is the history of
salvation, starting with Abraham, our father in faith, whom the Lord called one
day to set out, to go forth from his country toward the land which he would
show him. From that time on, our identity as believers has been that of a
people making its pilgrim way toward the promised land. This history has always
been accompanied by the Lord! He is ever faithful to his covenant and to his
promises. “God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all” (1 Jn 1:5).
Yet on the part of the people there are times of both light and darkness,
fidelity and infidelity, obedience, and rebellion; times of being a pilgrim
people and times of being a people adrift.
In our personal history too,
there are both bright and dark moments, lights and shadows. If we love God and
our brothers and sisters, we walk in the light; but if our heart is closed, if
we are dominated by pride, deceit, self-seeking, then darkness falls within us
and around us. “Whoever hates his brother – writes the Apostle John – is in the
darkness; he walks in the darkness, and does not know the way to go, because
the darkness has blinded his eyes” (1 Jn 2:11).
On this night, like a burst of
brilliant light, there rings out the proclamation of the Apostle: “God’s grace
has been revealed, and it has made salvation possible for the whole human race”
(Tit 2:11).
The grace which was revealed in
our world is Jesus, born of the Virgin Mary, true man and true God. He has
entered our history; he has shared our journey. He came to free us from
darkness and to grant us light. In him was revealed the grace, the mercy, and
the tender love of the Father: Jesus is Love incarnate. He is not simply a
teacher of wisdom, he is not an ideal for which we strive while knowing that we
are hopelessly distant from it. He is the meaning of life and history, who has
pitched his tent in our midst.
The shepherds were the first to
see this “tent”, to receive the news of Jesus’s birth. They were the first
because they were among the last, the outcast. And they were the first because
they were awake, keeping watch in the night, guarding their flocks.
Together with them, let us pause
before the Child, let us pause in silence. Together with them, let us thank the
Lord for having given Jesus to us, and with them let us raise from the depths
of our hearts the praises of his fidelity: We bless you, Lord God most high,
who lowered yourself for our sake. You are immense, and you made yourself
small; you are rich and you made yourself poor; you are all-powerful and you
made yourself vulnerable.
On this night let us share the joy of the Gospel: God
loves us, he so loves us that he gave us his Son to be our brother, to be light
in our darkness.
To us the Lord repeats: “Do not
be afraid!” (Lk 2:10). And I too repeat: Do not be afraid! Our Father is
patient, he loves us, he gives us Jesus to guide us on the way which leads to
the promised land. Jesus is the light who brightens the darkness. He is our
peace. Amen.
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