Throughout our Advent Series: Light in Unexpected Places, we have lingered in the shadows, trusted midnight, waited with the light, and rested in silence. Each paradox prepared us for this moment: the spark has ignited, the dawn has broken, the fragile flame now becomes the Light of the World. On Christmas morning we discover that every shadow was shaping us, every midnight was nourishing hope, every waiting was ripening joy, and every silence was cradling the Word made flash. And now the true Light has come!
“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth, and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you, and his glory appears over you.”
One thing that stands out to me this Advent season as I wait in my own darkness of suffering and grief for God’s Light to shine, is that Advent’s paradoxes teach us light is not simplistic. Rather, it is layered, fragile, and unexpected.
While Christ’s birth fulfills our waiting, transforming shadow into glory and silence into song, the Light of the World came not to erase darkness, but to redeem it.
Though Advent waiting ends, it is but the beginning of living in the radiance of God’s presence. If life has you in a season of shadow or outright darkness, remember, God’s Light shines brightest in the darkest nights.
I share with you now my poem, “The Light of Men” and my villanelle, “Born This Holy Night”, originally featured at “Vessels of Light”. May the words guide you in worship as you re-enter the greatest story ever told this Christmas.
The Light of Men
Light opening matrix of mortal womb,
breeched the threshold of mankind.
The ethereal enfolded within infant flesh
suckled at the teenage breast of Mary.
All the fullness of the Godhead swaddled in a manger,
the ultimate love of the Father come to walk in earthly realm.
Love lifting the head shrouded in sorrow,
cloaked with unrelenting darkness.
He came to His own, though they knew Him not.
The express image of the Father, embodiment of Light and Love,
come bearing the Hope and healing of the nations
encased within frail human flesh.
Light which no darkness comprehended nor extinguished,
love unbounded—emptied of its glory, incarnate deity.
Born bearing the of Hope for all,
the promise of redemption cradled in mortal arms.
Rejoice! The King comes, and though a babe, still Emmanuel.
Eternal Son given as man, with men to dwell.
Prince of Peace—God and man to reconcile,
while all hell quails Almighty God in this holy child.
Born This Holy Night-A Villanelle
In darkness shines the everlasting Light,
the long-anticipated salvation
Messiah born as flesh this holy night.
Come to rescue men mired in sin’s plight,
hope shackled in ruthless condemnation.
In darkness shines the everlasting Light.
Angelic host proclaims from lofty height,
to quaking shepherds: peace, good will to men!
Messiah born as flesh this holy night.
Thy benignant rays, holy star, beamed bright,
leading wanderers to illumination.
In darkness shines the everlasting Light.
Behold Emmanuel robed in starlight!
Hail King, Redeemer, and consolation,
Messiah born as flesh this holy night.
Long awaited Jesus, now become sight,
sin’s captives cry out in jubilation—
In darkness shines the everlasting Light,
Messiah born as flesh this holy night.
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
May the shadows remind you of God’s shelter, may the midnight hours awaken your hope, may the waiting teach you patience with the dawn, and may the silence cradle joy in the return of Christ. As you embrace the true Light this Christmas season, may the Light shining in your heart guide your steps, and transform your life into a lantern of joy for all who walk in darkness.
“Radiant Christ, Light of the World, You have come into our shadows, our midnights, our waiting and our silence. Shine now in us and through us, that Your Light may reach every corner of creation. May our lives become candles of Your joy, bearing witness that the true Light has come, and the darkness will never overcome it. Amen.”
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