WATCHWORD:
Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory.
2 The people who walk in darkness
will see a great light.
For those who live in a land of deep darkness,
a light will shine.
And the people of Israel and Samaria,
who spoke with such pride and arrogance,
will soon know it.
10 They said, “We will replace the broken bricks of our ruins with finished stone,
and replant the felled sycamore-fig trees with cedars.”
Isaiah 9:1-2, 8-10
Meditation:
Walking in Darkness
Do you recall, three years ago, 2018, when 12 boys from Thailand, along with their soccer coach, descended into a cavern intending to have an afternoon of exploring and adventure? There was an unexpected rising of water that forced them deeper and deeper into the cavern and it would be 2 ½ weeks later before rescuers could lead them out. It took dive teams to reach the boys as they sat on a narrow rock shelf, with flashlights that were failing. To preserve battery power, they spent hour after hour in darkness hoping that the lights of their rescuers would break through.
I cannot imagine what was going through the minds of those young boys as they sat in darkness and waited. They comforted one another, encouraged one another, and supported one another in the darkness. They did not know all that was going on, on the surface, beyond their sight or hearing.
I don’t know what got them through this nightmarish experience. We don’t know how they were able to support one another, lift one another in the darkness. I would like to believe that the Holy Spirit within each one of those young boys was carrying them through that experience. We don’t know how this experience will equip them to deal with adversity, in the future. But I would be very surprised if it hasn’t strengthened them.
The prophet Isaiah described a world of darkness, one overrun by violence and greed, shattered by rebellion. Hope was fading, and yet Isaiah insisted that this growing despair was not the end of it. His belief rested on God’s mercy and there would be no more gloom for those who are in distress. He was convinced that God would never abandon his people in the face of this darkness. The prophet announced hope for his people and pointed at the time when Jesus, the light of the world, would come to dispel the darkness that sin caused.
When we look at the reading from Isaiah, we see encouragement, support and we hear those words with renewed meaning. The people walking in darkness have seen a great light on those living in the land of deep darkness. This is a deep abiding love that provides encouragement as we go through difficult times. No matter how dark the night may be, no matter how lost we may feel, we are never forsaken for Jesus is here and His great light shines.
Some day, each of those boys will consider their rescue from darkness. Each one will come to a conclusion about whose hand had brought them from darkness to the Light. Regardless of their decision, we know, hearing their story, that it was the Hand of God. Amen.
Consider This:
Think of a time when you were rescued from a darkness. There may have been multiple days of darkness in your life, but, select one. How did you get through that time, that darkness? Was it an event, a special person that lifted you up? Were you calling on the Lord? What moved you from darkness to light? That doesn’t happen magically, most likely it was the Spirit that moved you. When we look back on the loss of loved ones, we revisit that empty feeling for a moment, until we realize where they are, and whose they are. Peaceful thoughts follow at that awareness.
Praying Psalm 51:
Heavenly Father,
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit. Amen.
