Dear Parish Family,
 
Both the ancient Jews of the East and the pagan Romans of the West celebrated light at this time of year.  The Jews celebrated the restoration of the Temple from the Syrians by lighting a candle on the Menorah for each day of the celebration now called Hanukkah. The pagan Romans celebrated the sun-god Apollo’s conquest of night on the Winter solstice.  Christians outdid these feasts by celebrating the Nativity of the Lord. We are people of light, but we are also people who find light in a world of darkness.
 
Jesus Christ, the Light of the World has come, but the world is still in darkness.  Those who are attune to the Light of the Lord, though, those who are capable of being guided by His light, we, are people of Starlight.  We need to adjust our eyes to the Lord’s starlight. This is all poetic, but how do we attain the focus we need in a world of chaos, confusion, in a world of darkness? The answer is Jesus.  For a Christian, the answer to all questions about life is Jesus. Christ came into the world at a time of great darkness especially for his nation. His life is typical of living under ‘powerful dark forces’ that will culminate in his death. Yet Christ’s life and message was full of light. How can become ‘children of Light’ during this time of the year?
 
Many people will be visiting each of us during the Christmas celebrations.  Let’s be frank, we really do not want to see some of these people.  They will conveniently forget their nastiness over the years and walk into our homes saying “Merry Christmas.” They will act as though nothing negative has transpired. We are upset, not just because we were hurt, but because they have hurt someone we love. We have a golden opportunity here, though. We can turn the typical Christmas phoniness into an experience of the Lord if we make the determination right now to love them, to be kind to them and not to be concerned with whether or not we will be hurt once more.  If we are sincere, they just might catch a glimpse of starlight in the muddle of Christmas sentimentality. That is how the Tremendous Lover would act. That is how we act as people of Divine Starlight. In fact, the greatest compliment that anyone could ever say to any of us is “When I am with you, I know what Jesus must be like.”
 
For some, Christmas is a time of sadness, a time of more intense darkness.  Some of us have lost loved ones and miss them intensely during these Holydays. Imagine what Christ would do visiting our home!  He would cry, and hug, and love and not be concerned with the words he said, just with being present supporting and loving those whose grief is intensified at Christmas.  If we can be loving in this way, if we can be like the Lord in this way, then we will be Divine starlight in the middle of a dark world.
 
For some Christmas is a time of deep sadness because their lives have not followed the plan they set out for themselves and their children.  Marriages have failed, careers have been disrupted by sickness or sudden loss of a job, families have been wounded by addictions, and good people facing uncertain future.  What would Jesus be like if he were to spend time with these people, in their families?  Would he be prying, “What really happened?” accusatory, “Couldn’t you have done more?”  or would he be supportive of the new direction taken, marveling at the sacrifices made, happy for the strength of love that has withstood unforeseen changes in life.  When we are loving instead of judgmental, we are being like the Lord. We will be Divine starlight in the middle of a dark world. He became a baby for us to hold and rock and love and gaze at and wonder at and realize that, perhaps, after all, all is well in this dark old world of ours. When we hold Him, when we treasure the Presence of God as one of us, the Gift of Christmas, we begin to see clearly. And the Divine Starlight shines through the darkness.        Merry Christmas everyone and be bright lights!
 

Fr. Tom Kunnel C.O.