Christmas Day, Year C,
December 25, 2000

By
The Rev. Ann M. Smith

Based on the Gospel: John 1:1-14

People are not often changed by arguments. That is why, I suspect, God gave us not an argument but a Saviour. We see his glory, not in arguments, but in God's light shining in the darkness of our lives and the lives of others. God is made flesh. Christ is born. The Holy Spirit penetrates this dark world with light. We are part of that light, for we know Christ, the light of the world.

In a story by J. B. Phillips a very young angel was being shown around the splendours and glories of the universe by an experienced angel. He was shown the vast expanse of interstellar space, huge galaxies, blazing suns, and whirling planets. As the two of them drew near to the star that we call our sun and to its circling planets, the angel pointed to a small and rather insignificant sphere turning slowly on its axis. The young angel, filled with the wonders of what he had seen was unimpressed. But the senior angel told him to watch the planet very carefully. "It is a special place," he explained. "It has been visited by the Prince of Peace."

"But why?" the young angel asked. "It looks so dirty and ordinary! Why would Christ go there?"

"He went as one of them," the angel continued. "How else could he visit them? Strange as it may seem to us, he loves them. He wanted them to become like him."

Then the senior angel told the young one to watch. They went back in time and watched the little planet, as it was some thousands of years ago. Sometimes they would see flashes of light brightening its surface, but the flashes were few and far between. Then suddenly there appeared a light, so bright in its intensity that both the angels hid their eyes.

"That was the visit. The light went down and lived among them. But in a moment that light will go out," explained the angel. "They failed to recognize him. They preferred their darkness to his light. In the end," his voice grew softer, "they killed him."

"How stupid! Why didn't God simply destroy them."

"I don't understand it either, but I do know that he conquered death. The thing they most fear during their lives. He rose again and a few of them saw him and became his followers."

By this time the brilliant light had gone and in its place was a soft glow. As the planet turned, little points of light spread out. A few flickered and died, but for the most part the lights burned steadily. "You see what has happened," don't you. "His followers have spread the glow and now lights begin to shine all over the world. That is the visited planet. God loved it so much God sent the Prince of Peace to bring light to its darkness. And the word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.

The core of the Christian faith is in this Gospel. Without its truth the lights, the trees, the carols, the gift giving, all become something else. Something very fine, well-intentioned, desirable, but empty.

This Christmas day may we know Christ the light of the world! May he brighten the darkness of our world and enlighten our hearts and minds.

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