Hope Shines
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We have just experience Christmas over the past several weeks...
Christmas as we know it is full of myths and legends - some scriptural, some anecdotal, some from Victorian Christmas traditions, and some from modern day entertainment. The story of the Little Drummer Boy comes to us from the most recent influence: modern day entertainment.
But the story presents a realistic parallel about how our gifts might seem to pale in comparison to the might gifts that kings and sages brought to the Christ child.
This legend, along with many hymns of similar focus, invites us to bring whatever gifts we have, and to offer these gifts freely and lovingly, just as the wise men did for Jesus, and as God does for us. In doing so, we honor the Christ child.
In doing so, we also:
Help people to find that star shining over Bethlehem, to find light in their darkness to follow the light of God’s love.
We are surrounded by a hurting world in need of Christs, healing. For many, our church is an island in the world’s sea of despair. We are called to offer healing and hope, light and life. And we have been given the gifts to make such healing ad hope, light and life, possible.
Our gifts, and our giving of self , can be like starlight and guiding lights for a world in need of hope - a world yearning to see the light of love shining and calling us forward to a world brighter with light and love.
And when we share our gifts we help shine God’s light, and God’s light continues to shine long after our festive holiday lights have been taken down for the season.
We all need hope to carry us thru the days when despair is lurking and shadows seem to dim the light.
We may not see Christ’s star in the sky, but signs of the light surround us every day - signs showing us the path of love and light, signs inviting us to shine with hope by offering our gifts to God and God’s world.
Our reading form Isaiah to “Arise and Shine!” is a God’s wake-u call for us here at Lebanon Church, because a new day is dawning for us. This light is not form the sun, but from the glory of God of shining on this church.
This glory that I speak about comes as a result of Jesus Christ entering into our lives, John 1:14, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. The New International Version. (2011). (Jn 1:14). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
You see there are those who have not encounter the light of Christ, and they still live in darkness without hope. They have nos seen the glory of Jesus and despair is a common occurrence in their lives.
There is Hope!
As the light of Christ is shared hope reigns forth. Listen again to Isaiah 60:4, “
“Lift up your eyes and look about you:
All assemble and come to you;
your sons come from afar,
and your daughters are carried on the hip.The New International Version. (2011). (Is 60:4). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
When we embrace the light of Christ it will be the dawning of a new day bringing hope and encouragement. Hope will shine in the ones who embrace Jesus Christ.
The light of Christ invites us to bring whatever gifts we have, and to offer these gifts freely and lovingly, just as the wise men did for Jesus, and as God does for us. In doing so, we honor the Christ child. This my hope for this church, that we will go forth in 2019, a new day, a new year and share with others what we have found