Darkness and Light

     The controversies that arise at this time of the year regarding the celebration of Christmas as a secular or religious holiday, or of Hanukkah or of Kwanzaa or of the Winter Solstice are frightening and tiring.  We live in a pluralistic society built upon respect of others as well as pride in our traditions.  All of this squabbling negates the reason for the season.

     In our world, in our "neck of the woods", the winter solstice which occurs tomorrow morning, brings us the shortest day of the year.  The time of daylight, of productivity, of warmth have been diminishing.  But at this time the reality in nature changes.  The days begin to get longer (too slowly for me) and we begin to leave the darkness behind.  It is a time of rejoicing, especially for all agricultural societies.  This has been happening since the beginning of creation.  We believe that God has set this in motion.

     It so happens for those of us who believe in Jesus as the Christ, the dispeller of darkness and the source of all light and life, celebrate his birth at this time of the year.  I hope no one is shocked to find out that we do not know the precise date of his birth in Bethlehem, and that the Church chose the 25th day of December for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is its place at the beginning of the spread of light in the world.  The Light brings us light, and with it, growth and life.  That celebration of his birth is called Christmas [Christ Mass] and for a long time was a secondary feast to the Epiphany when he was revealed to the nations.  Traditions were established that brought us Santa Claus [Saint Nicholas, the bishop] as well as other traditions of food and decorations and music and gift giving.  It is a celebration of life.

     Among our Jewish brothers and sisters, this time of the year sees the celebration of Hanukkah (which began yesterday), an eight day celebration of light provided by God for those in darkness.  Representing the reestablishment of the Temple and the restoration of God's people, it is a time filled with traditions and is a celebration of life.

     Other traditions and celebrations also occur around this time.

     So we celebrate the holidays [short for "holy days"] and we celebrate the light that guides our ways and warms our hearts.  How sad when these days are caught up in controversies and law suits and disrespect of one another.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     Yesterday I mentioned the Sabbatical newsletter from my time at SAT in Berkeley.  We've had another addition, a note from Sister Helen Carroll from England ... and I mentioned Romy but forgot to mention his full name - Bishop Jose Romeo Lazo, the bishop of San Jose de Antigue in the Philippines.  Good friends, all.