The Christmas spirit gives us hope. We can find hope especially in the message of the angels to the shepherds.
In Luke’s account of the Christmas story, angels appear to shepherds, lighting up the sky. Within their message is peace, and their first words are, “Do not be afraid.”
This is just what the world needs today: light, peace and fearlessness.
In many ways it seems that darkness covers the earth today, including the darkness of evil and despair. When we hear of school children being shot in nearly every state and war destroying thousands of innocent people’s lives in many countries, it seems like darkness is everywhere.
With so many people worrying about paying their mortgage or rent, and others going hungry, and still others being homeless, it seems dark. When we hear of so many countries around the world in turmoil and see climate change triggering fires and floods, it’s easy to feel the darkness of despair.
At this point, any light is welcome, like the light the shepherds saw when the angels appeared. And fortunately, the Christmas season is a time of lights — outdoor lights on homes in our neighborhoods and indoor lights on our Christmas trees. Seeing so many clear and multicolored lights, especially on foggy or dreary nights, brings us cheer and maybe a little hope.
The angels’ message of peace on earth is also welcome. How we all yearn for peace, not only in the world and our country, but in our community and within our families. When we hear our friends or extended family members talk about the dysfunction and trauma they’ve experienced, present and past, how much we wish them peace.
How good it would be if peace descended on our families, then extended to our communities and on to our country and the world. The angels’ message tells us that in spite of all the troubles around us, peace is possible, especially within our hearts.
Fear, too, surrounds us. There is the fear of countries who consider America their enemy and seem bent on destroying us. There is the fear of violence, which seems to be happening in many places we used to think safe, like churches, schools and neighborhoods.
Couple this with the fear of rising grocery prices, the rising cost of living, rising temperatures and rising oceans and it seems fear is all around us, ready to engulf us.
To be fearless at a time like this seems difficult. But that’s what the angels tell the shepherds, “Don’t be afraid.”
And when we continue to read the gospels, the message of Jesus of Nazareth we hear so often is “Peace be with you” and “Do not be afraid.” When he appears to his disciples after the resurrection, those are the first two things he says, followed by “Do not let your hearts be troubled.”
He also had told his disciples that they are the light of the world, which they shouldn’t keep under wraps but should allow to shine brightly.
For Christians, these are consoling messages. Even for people who are not Christians, people of other faiths or with no faith, these Christmas messages, this spirit of Christmas, can give them hope. All people appreciate hearing, “You are the light. Peace be with you. Do not be afraid.”
After the presents are unwrapped and the Christmas dinner is finished and there is some quiet time, it might be a good time to reflect on the Christmas spirit of light, peace and fearlessness. It would be a good time to feel not only the faith and love of the season, but also the hope.
John Spevak’s email is john.spevak@gmail.com.
