In one of my favourite Christmas carols O Little Town Of Bethlehem we sing ‘in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light’ and I am always inspired to look up into the darkness of the winter sky and on a clear night gaze at the multitude of stars shining down from the heavens. Today many of cities and towns are devoid of total darkness and so miss this wonderful sight of starlight – it is overtaken by the powerful street lighting and the ever glaring lights of shops, offices, cars and lorries.
This week we celebrate Epiphany – the story of one star that led the way for the Magi – they looked up and saw this new star rising in the darkness of the sky, it inspired them to make their journey to Bethlehem. It was here in this small town that the Light of the World was born in the midst of the darkness, light came into the world. This is the everlasting light of our Christmas Carol – the light of Christ born among us. I am sure many of you placed a lighted candle in your window this Christmas to light the way for the Holy Family and to welcome the stranger in your midst – to welcome Jesus, the Light of the World to your home.
So as winter darkness continues for us in this part of the world this year let us look up once again and see the stars shining for us – wonder again at the Light of the World, Emmanuel, born for us anew.
In the words of the prophet Daniel “Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever.”
Karen OSU