Written by: Ps Jenni Ho-Huan (Photo by: Reuel Chua)

A personal meditation on why it matters

Even in this cheery and glitzy season, we cannot ignore the darkness that lurks nearby.

The news reminds us of it.

A few months ago, we all recoiled in horror when the city of love — that stood tall with its iconic tower — was the site of multiple terror attacks. At the same time, thousands were trudging across land or drifting across seas, desperate for a home. Across the Atlantic, in the land of the free, children did not return home with their school reports or homework because someone, possessed with grief and guns, had extinguished their lives.

Our private thoughts remind us of it.

They say that pointing a finger outwards leaves us pointing three more back at ourselves.

As a human race, we have a long history to prove it. Just pick any race, culture, era, or geography. Darkness? You got it: greed, violence, injustice, oppression, neglect, pride, envy, murder, covetousness…

Sure, there are triumphs. Climate deal sealed! But progress and regress entwine when we are in charge. We may be excited for certain humanitarian breakthroughs, yet we are also holding our breaths.

The Bible uses one particular people to highlight this painful, jarring reality: a rough-and-tumble band of nomads who eventually become a nation, Israel.

Through their story, God reveals His heart, intentions, and plans for mankind:

Be mine.

Be a blessing.

Live under my rule.

Obey my ways.

Enjoy what I provide.

Trust me.

Come home to me.

Again and again, we witness how darkness tugs at the heartstrings.

When God came near, they responded with fear and stayed the distance. “Go on our behalf, Moses,” they said. We do the same today as we expect leaders, prophets, and holy folks to negotiate terms for us with the Almighty. Better still, let God prove himself to us!

Even when one too many coincidences in our lives suggest that Providence exists, we still think highly of ourselves. Our gratitude rises a tad but fades quickly.

Israel persisted in their willy-nilly ways — their devotion to God changing according to the flavour of the month. They traded gods like fashion and danced to the most current music instead of straining to hear the eternal rhythms of life and love.

One day, they decide in some quasi-democratic style that crowning a king would help their case. They forget that a king is as effective as his followers. After all, it takes two hands to clap. In fact, they already had a King: God. The kings failed dismally. Most of the times, their hearts were not shades better than those they led.

Darkness prevailed until…Christmas.

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not suppressed it.” (John 1:5 CJB)

“The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” (John 1:5 NIV)

Darkness is the absence of light.

Darkness doesn’t get light; it cannot understand it and cannot beat it.

“I am the Light of the world,” Jesus boldly declares.

I guess there’s only one way to find out. We can ask Him to shine into the caverns of our hearts and see what happens to the darkness lying in there.

The people watching Jesus murmur:

“How can he forgive sins?”

“Why is he hanging out with the lunatic fringes of society?”

“Surely he knows that guy’s reputation?”

“Oh no, did he just touch that infectious leper?”

At times he corrected them. But he mostly loved them and helped them; he taught them patiently with stories laced with humour. When the mess they find themselves in is rooted in self-indulgence, he tells them not to repeat the cycle.

Jesus did the very thing God did: he chose a bunch of men (and welcomed the women) to come close, grow, and be changed.

Jesus is confident. We, on the other hand, are not quite. We look at the ragamuffin group of twelve and their inept responses, squabbling — not exactly an A-team. We look at the churches, and then at ourselves — not exactly confidence-inducing.

If it were all up to us, darkness might have the final say. But Christmas says that God the Faithful refuses to let go of this world. Christmas says that God relentlessly comes at us and invites us to flee the darkness within and around us.

Christmas says it can be done:

“To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” (John 1:12–13 NIV)

This is the reason why we celebrate Christmas deep. We sing, be merry, give gifts, eat, and drink. We express confidence even if things appear dark and broken.

Christmas is the will of God working beyond the laws of nature as a virgin gives birth.

Christmas is when a humble innkeeper gets to host the Almighty.

Christmas is when angels are so bowled over that they break into song to a bunch of lowly shepherds.

Christmas is the story of a baby who eventually subverts an empire.

Each Christmas, as we celebrate deep, we are allowing the message, meaning, and momentum of it to shake us up, and the light advances. This is why we celebrate Christmas. It reminds us of the hope we need.

“The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness; the darkness couldn’t put it out.” (John 1:5 MSG)