Advent Daily Reflections Header
Christmas Day
Readings of the Day
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One of my favorite things in the buildup to Christmas is distributing
presents from my parish's Angelic Gift drive. This year, we had double
the number of parishioners in need, but I still got to wear a Santa
hat and help them carry their presents to the car, seeing
everybody's faces light up. The light shines in the darkness and the
darkness has not overcome it.
My family couldn't get together and bake Christmas cookies, which is
normally a tradition that ends up with 300 dozen of several
traditional Italian cookies spread around my parents' kitchen and
dining room. Instead, we had a zoom call in which five different
households made gingerbread houses with the participants ranging from
15 months to 65 years old. The light shines in the darkness and the
darkness has not overcome it.
The other day I got a call from a parishioner who had just tested
positive for Covid-19. He didn't know how he was going to
pay his rent, and since he is undocumented, he doesn't have as many
employment or eviction protections. The parish was able to help
with rent, and refer him to Legal Aid for other support. The
light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome
it.
A dear friend of mine celebrated her wedding last weekend. Instead of
being the big festivity she had planned last spring, it was 40 people
spaced out in a giant church (reception rescheduled to next year). But
the joy on the bride and groom's faces when they proclaimed their vows
was all that it would have been in any circumstance. The light shines
in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.
In a land occupied by a foreign power, a 9-month pregnant girl and her
working-class husband had to make a grueling trek to get registered in
a census. When they got to their destination, they were
turned away from the hotel, and instead had to make due with a
barn. Still, God was with them, and Emmanuel was made flesh, and
angels proclaimed his birth. The light shines in the
darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.
I love John's poetic style in today's gospel. In this long season of
darkness and broken hopes and changed plans, when both we and our
clients are experiencing loss and sickness and financial hardship, it
is absolutely essential to remember that light always wins over
darkness. The Light of the World was born today, and we must
celebrate! As partners in ministry, we get to be the ones from
the first reading who bring glad tidings, announce peace, and bear
good news. Merry Christmas, and may you find light and love
today and always!
Sheila Herlihy is Coordinator of Justice and Charity at Church of the
Incarnation in Charlottesville, Virginia.
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