Look For The Light
6 For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. (Isaiah 9:6-7)
Isaiah's prophecies about the Messiah that God would send to save God's people came hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus and were well known by the Jewish faithful yet, after generations of waiting, hope had grown dim. Everyone who knew the prophecies didn't believe or couldn't imagine the potential fulfillment, and of those who did believe, most couldn't fathom what that fulfillment would look like. So, when Mary - a young, not yet married, woman - became pregnant, few took notice. When she proclaimed that it was God's doing, most scoffed. When she was forced to give birth in a smelly stable, even Mary must have wondered what God was doing. Yet, all along God illuminated glimpses of God's assurance and confirmation: Mary's previously barren aunt, Elizabeth, pregnant herself and proclaiming the holiness of the child Mary hadn't yet told her she was carrying; Joseph keeping his engagement to her after receiving divine direction; and then, shepherds showing up to that dirty stable rejoicing over the savior to whom angels had directed them.
No doubt, Mary had many sleepless nights and cried many tears. She had probably never been more afraid than she was after receiving God's promise. But at every difficult turn God built trust by lighting a pathway to peace. Like the star over the stable, God is always guiding us to our salvation. Throughout the fear, challenge, and doubt in our lives God weaves strands of hope, provision, and assurance. May we always keep our eyes and hearts open to the ways God is making - to the places God is shining the Light of Peace.
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." 16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured all these words and
pondered them in her heart. (Luke 2:15-19)
