The Light That Shines in the Darkness

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"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who lived in a land of gloom a light has shone.” Isaiah 9:2

Every December, as our homes and neighborhoods begin to sparkle with lights, our hearts are drawn again to this ancient prophecy from Isaiah. The glow that fills our streets and sanctuaries is more than seasonal cheer; it reflects a far greater truth. That great, true light has indeed shone among us: the light of Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh.

The Incarnation, God taking on our humanity, is the most magnificent mystery of all history, after the mystery of the Holy Trinity itself. Through Mary’s humble “yes,” the eternal Son of God entered our world, not as a distant ruler but as a child. The angel’s message to Mary reveals the wonder of that moment: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High ... and of his kingdom there will be no end” (Luke 1:30–33).

In that instant, Heaven and earth met. The infinite became an infant. The light Isaiah foretold broke into human history, not as a blaze of fire or thunder from above, but as the gentle radiance of a newborn’s face. The light of a star brought the Magi to worship Jesus. And Jesus, the Light of the World, continues to shine in our hearts, in our families, in our Church, in the world and even in the joyful traditions that accompany this sacred season.

Our Christmas decorations, lights and celebrations can be true acts of faith when they are done with hearts turned toward Christ. The lights that shimmer on trees and homes recall the light that pierces all darkness. The songs we sing echo the angels’ joy. The beauty of our churches adorned for the Nativity, the warm glow of candles and the joy of family gatherings — all these things express the grandeur of the gift we have received.

There is something profoundly right about celebrating Christmas beautifully. If God himself entered our world, if the Creator, the one who created beauty itself, chose to dwell among his creatures, then surely the only fitting response is one of wonder and joy! To celebrate fully, to decorate with care, to give generously and to rejoice together are all ways of proclaiming the truth that God is with us.

The Incarnation reveals the heart of God’s love. He did not remain far off but came close, sharing in our humanity so that we might share in his divinity. This is why Christmas is not merely a season of nostalgia or tradition, but the feast of divine love made visible. Every light we hang, every song we sing, every prayer we whisper before the manger is a small echo of that cosmic joy.

Mary’s faith shows us how to receive this mystery. Her “yes” opened the way for God’s light to enter the world. As we prepare our homes and hearts for Christmas, we are invited to echo her response and to make room for Christ amid our celebrations. When we gather around the table or kneel before the Nativity scene, we participate in the same wonder that filled the stable at Bethlehem.

The Incarnation is not an event locked in history; it is a living reality. In every Eucharist, the same Jesus who was born in Bethlehem becomes truly present among us: Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. The joy of Christmas, then, continues all year long in the life of the Church, where Christ still dwells with his people.

This year, let us allow the beauty of Christmas to draw us deeper into the mystery it proclaims. Let our decorations be expressions of love for the Savior. Let our carols be prayers of thanksgiving. Let the light that fills our homes remind us of the eternal Light that no darkness can overcome.

For “the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.” That light has a name, Jesus Christ. He is our joy, our peace, our hope and our salvation. May the radiance of his love fill your homes and hearts this Christmas, and may your celebration shine brightly with the glory of the Word made flesh.

May your light, Jesus living in you, bring Jesus to every encounter you have, whether it is with family, the homeless, the elderly, the sick, the immigrant, the imprisoned, the rich, the poor or the stranger. May your love for your neighbor bring each person to an encounter with Jesus.