The changing of the seasons always catches me by surprise. This year the change has been more apparent, due to having recently moved house. After living in the town for more than twenty years, I’ve got used to living in a place where it never really gets fully dark. There are streetlights everywhere. Since moving to Cockshutt, I’ve realised just how dark it can be. Last week when taking the recycle bin up the drive to the gate, I found myself suddenly in complete darkness. It was quite unexpected and for a moment I paused, not quite sure where I was heading.
I know it doesn’t make any difference but to me it always feels darker when the weather is colder. It just makes me want to join the squirrels and hedgehogs and go into hibernation. The dark can become a challenge. I’m sure many of us wish we could ignore the alarm clock in the morning and stay in bed a little longer. Advent can feel like a time of hunkering down and waiting for the seasons to change, the light to appear, and the world to warm up again.
The absence of light can be unnerving, not being able to see around us in the long winter evenings can be scary. It can make us feel alone and vulnerable. It is a custom of the Church that we often light candles during prayer and worship. I often light a candle when praying at home and say the following:
Lord you are my light and my salvation, my God shall make my darkness to be bright. Amen
For me this is a Christmas prayer of hope.
This is a prayer that reminds me that at Christmas, in the darkest and coldest time of the year, we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, of Immanuel, which literally means ‘God with us.’ At the feast of Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the light and salvation of the world. The one who came to make our darkness to be bright.
Jesus, the Son of God, didn’t come like a raging storm causing damage and devastation. He came in lowliness and gentleness; he came as a helpless baby born of his mother Mary. He came to meet us as we are, where we are, to heal us and to forgive us; to bring his light and peace to a world where so much can feel cold and dark.
So, this Christmas, wherever you find yourself, I invite you to take a moment to stop. And perhaps getting a candle ready, take a moment to remember the birth of Jesus the light who came into the world. And as you light the candle pray these words, a small Christmas prayer of hope:
Lord you are my light and my salvation, my God shall make my darkness to be bright. Amen
May God, who has called us all out of darkness into His marvellous light, bless you and fill you with peace this Christmas.
Fr Gareth Ingham
Amen🙏🥰