Lk.2:8---20

Christmas, 2003

Die Gemeinde Christi in Tajima, Rev. R. Ishida

According to Mt.4:16, we have such phrases as follows: " The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And upon those who sat in a region and : shadow of death Light has dawned."

We are sure that the Hope promised by God is told in the phrases above.

What is darkness? What is shadow of death? We can see and hear the hard history of Israel, especially of Galilee where Jesus Mainly worked.

Each nation and each person has had his or her history in trouble, I think. In Advent season that of light is shining around us. But Isaiah might have seen men and women and their children sitting in a shadow of death even in the shining world today.

There is no hope in darkness. If someone is oppressed and afflicted in a misery state, in a war, in poverty and in excommunicated, these beings of theirs are darkness and a shadow of death. In this meaning, we could say that the shepherds in the field had been sitting in darkness till they met a baby in a manger. Everyone has his or her darkness in him or in her. And also every nation has a shadow of death in itself.

No one wants to worry about tomorrow, to worry about bread and a roof. Almost all shepherds will be shepherds all through their lives. Their routine work is heeding sheep, even in darkness. Now we call these people “daichi-no tami” which means “people on and of the land”, namely “am ha-arez” which is well known as the Hebrew word; people living in the lowest class in a society. Shepherds at that time are thought to be the same as those in the lowest class.

Let's listen to Luke. He said, “the glory of the Lord had shone around the shepherds”(Lk.2:9). We can say this. According to John, the glory of the Lord is now overwhelming and is about to overflow in Jesus in the manger. God's grace is now coming into shepherds, into their heart.

God with us has realized in Jesus, in this moment. From now on, they and every person who have been forgotten by ordinary people, by religious leaders and by the rich in their community at that time.

But today, on very this day they have found the everlasting light in the manger. It did not shine brightly. It was not shining as that of a ballpark today. But it was not the matter in never failing love of God. What is important for us all is "God is with us in Jesus'.

The darkness in our deepest has gone, Only His light is shining in our darkest. Joyful, hopeful light is still shining in Jesus who is always with us. You and we are loved even in a shadow of death.

Let’s enjoy Jesus born in the manger who has dwelt in the darkness of our heart.