Midnight, Christmas Eve
Light shines in the darkness
And the darkness cannot overcome it
For the shepherds, given the lowliest job. Marginalised, under appreciated, poorly paid, the butt of every joke, light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it
For the wise men, those who seek genuine spiritual truth, the new agers, the tarot readers, the searchers, those who look at the world and see the hand of a creator, those who look at the dark skies for signs, light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it
For Mary, unsure of her future, like every mother wondering what world her child is born into, what her baby will grow up to become, for every father who fears for his daughter's future, for every parent who has to trust their children, with all their successes and failures, into the hands of an unseen God, light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it
For Anna and Simeon, those of old age, who had longed to see something later in their lifetime that would once again gladden their hearts, for those who look back and wonder what their long life has resulted in, or who are aware their days draw towards a final closing of eyes, light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it
For the young couple, just starting on married life, and discovering they don't have enough, and are fearful of the shame, and worried about their place in wider society, light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it
For those who are ill in body or mind, who have no one to help them, or who are vulnerable and dependent on the whim of others, light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it
To the blind people, both spiritually and physically, who need a revelation of God's power so they can see things as they truly are, light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it
To those who are on the margins, like the Samaritan woman, or the tax collecting collaborator, who need a way out of their destructive life, and into the life of promise and hope, light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it
To a world that is waiting, for something pure, holy, powerful, that gives meaning, hope, purpose and joy, light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it
And to those on the brink of despair, who like the disciples have watched their beloved die, perhaps even in a place as dark as Newtown, Connecticut, and need assurance that death is not the end, light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it
For you and I this night, whatever our need whatever our situation, however long or short a time that we've been fascinated by or have had faith in Jesus, light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it
For a whole world, with all it's moments of joy as well as pain, for every sign of hope as well as despair, for every effort towards peace in places where war has become a painful normality, light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it
And the darkness cannot overcome it
For the shepherds, given the lowliest job. Marginalised, under appreciated, poorly paid, the butt of every joke, light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it
For the wise men, those who seek genuine spiritual truth, the new agers, the tarot readers, the searchers, those who look at the world and see the hand of a creator, those who look at the dark skies for signs, light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it
For Mary, unsure of her future, like every mother wondering what world her child is born into, what her baby will grow up to become, for every father who fears for his daughter's future, for every parent who has to trust their children, with all their successes and failures, into the hands of an unseen God, light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it
For Anna and Simeon, those of old age, who had longed to see something later in their lifetime that would once again gladden their hearts, for those who look back and wonder what their long life has resulted in, or who are aware their days draw towards a final closing of eyes, light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it
For the young couple, just starting on married life, and discovering they don't have enough, and are fearful of the shame, and worried about their place in wider society, light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it
For those who are ill in body or mind, who have no one to help them, or who are vulnerable and dependent on the whim of others, light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it
To the blind people, both spiritually and physically, who need a revelation of God's power so they can see things as they truly are, light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it
To those who are on the margins, like the Samaritan woman, or the tax collecting collaborator, who need a way out of their destructive life, and into the life of promise and hope, light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it
To a world that is waiting, for something pure, holy, powerful, that gives meaning, hope, purpose and joy, light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it
And to those on the brink of despair, who like the disciples have watched their beloved die, perhaps even in a place as dark as Newtown, Connecticut, and need assurance that death is not the end, light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it
For you and I this night, whatever our need whatever our situation, however long or short a time that we've been fascinated by or have had faith in Jesus, light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it
For a whole world, with all it's moments of joy as well as pain, for every sign of hope as well as despair, for every effort towards peace in places where war has become a painful normality, light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it
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