We have gone through the four weeks of the Advent season, a season of preparation and waiting, and have gone through Christmas and New Year’s Day. Our world has basically moved on from the Christmas season, but we in the Church are in the middle of celebrating the season of Christmas, a season that our secular world really does not recognize during this first part of January. In the days leading up to Epiphany, we hear from the first letter of John in the first readings during the daily masses. One statement stood out for me from the first letter of John today: “See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God.” It is often difficult seeing the love God has bestowed upon us if we are struggling or going through challenges in life. On New Year’s day, I visited four different parishioners in the hospital, each going through their own health challenges. We may be experiencing difficulty with a family member or struggles with additions or disappointments in our work or personal life. Through all of that, it may be difficult to feel like we are children of God, that God loves us and cares for us. In his homily on Christmas day, Pope Francis all mentioned places in the world that are going through different kinds of struggles and difficulties:
Many countries of Latin of America are experiencing political, societal, or economic turmoil - the catastrophe that is unfolding in Venezuela is the worst example of that.
Many places in the Middle East and the Holy Land are lacking stability, peace, security and prosperity.
Many places are still recovering after natural disasters such as tornados, hurricanes, or droughts.
Ukraine has civil conflict with Russia that is still on-going.
Many countries in the world do not allow the freedom to practice religion.
Yet, through all of this, we have Christ the light leading us and guiding us, no matter how dark it may seem, no matter how difficult life seems to be either on a personal or national level. That is the message we have to comfort us this Christmas season. Christ arrived as a light in the world as a baby in the manger in Bethlehem. Christ will continue to be a light in our world, only if we allow that light to shine. Christ the light is with us through all the challenges, sufferings, and disappointments. Christ be our light.
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