We Who Have Walked in Darkness Have Seen a Great Light!

But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined. You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire. For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. (Isaiah 9: 1-7)

My brother is a photographer. He used to use real film, the kind when you put it into his camera, he had to be in a room completely devoid of light. Once he visited us when we lived in Edinburg, and the only room I knew like that was Room 102 in the Campus Ministry Building owned by the Diocese of Brownsville, which in those days, the UMC rented space for my office and our group's activities. By putting towels on the bottom of the door he had complete darkness to load new film into his camera. This is a positive use of darkness, and I can think of very few other positive uses of it. Usually darkness is not conducive for walking. Spiritual darkness is even worse for our walk through life. It was for that reason that this week builds us up for Christmas; There is no longer any gloom for us to be in anguish, no longer any need to walk in darkness or live in darkness, on us a great light has shined! God has increased our joy and we are to rejoice in what God has done for us: "For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon His shoulders; and He is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom." This is Christmas. This is the act of God on our behalf.

Rejoice. I will say it again, rejoice.

Rejoice, indeed!

PRAYER: LORD, thank You! In Jesus we have all we need, and we are in the Light, Your light! Thank You. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

P.S. I slept yesterday until 6 a.m. And today until 7. Hmm. This is a bit late for some of you. I pray it's the right message, right on time.