The Coming of Light

The occurrence of the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere (December 21 this year) may have had, centuries ago, something to do with the choice of December 25 for the celebration of Christmas. We are pretty sure that date is not actually Jesus' birthday, and some people object to the secular—and even pagan—origins of this special holiday. Sun worshippers rejoiced on" the birthday of the unconquered sun," as on this shortest day of the year, the sun reaches its southernmost point in relation to the earth and begins what we see as its reverse journey. Thereafter, the days become longer and nights shorter, leading to the recognition that the sun is "reborn."


But early Christian writers took back the festival from the pagan worshippers! Cyprian, a 3rd century African bishop wrote, "O, how wonderfully acted Providence that on that day on which that Sun was born...Christ should be born." John Chrysostom, Bishop of Constantinople in the 4th century said, "They call it the 'Birthday of the Unconquered'. Who indeed is so unconquered as Our Lord . . .?"


“Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see. For the glory of the Lord rises to shine on you. Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of the earth, but the glory of the Lord rises and appears over you. All nations will come to your light; mighty kings will come to see your radiance." (Isaiah 60:1-3) "The Word [Christ] gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. (John 1:4, 5, 9)


I am not a sun-worshipper, but I am always glad for the sun's "returning." I am a Son-worshipper and forever grateful for the True Light whose coming I celebrate at Christmas!


MaryMartha


Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. United States of America. All rights reserved.

Art from http://www.sxc.hu/