Christmas is a season of lights. I wonder how many strings of colored lights have been purchased this year. We are doing all in our power to plant new lights in the darkness of winter. Do you notice, however, that during the day we turn off our Christmas lights. Why? Because at the start of day, God turns on his created light—our beautiful, powerful sun. When the sun rises in the sky we can’t even tell if our outdoor lights are on or off—they are so overpowered by the sun.
The rising sun and the miracle of dawn is used to help describe the significance of God’s coming on the earth through his son. In the gospel reading (Luke 1:67-79) the speechless Zechariah breaks into prophecy. He is so filled with the Holy Spirit that he can’t stop praising God. It was revealed to him that his baby son, John, was going to be a great prophet whom God would use to herald the greatest age in history.
“In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
Zechariah saw the new beginning initiated by God. He compared it to the dawning of the sun. For centuries the chosen people had struggled in spiritual darkness, relying only on the promise of a new dawn revealed by God through the prophets.
Jesus is the new dawn. His coming was foretold even as far back as the time of King David (2 Samuel 7:1-16). Speaking through the prophet Nathan God said,
“I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from you loins, and I will make his Kingdom firm…Your house and your Kingdom shall endure forever before me; your throne shall stand firm forever.”
This “firm” Kingdom may have been realized partially in David’s son Solomon, but its eternal endurance came about in David’s ultimate heir, Jesus Christ. The dawning of Jesus heralded the start of the establishment of God’s Kingdom on this earth. His appearance would mark the end of the reign of darkness on the earth. Until the end of time, the light of Jesus Christ will shine upon this earth and reign in the hearts of those who choose to follow him.
Listen to today’s Alleluia antiphon:
“O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death.”
The Church floods us with images of light—Radiant Dawn, eternal light, sun of justice—to awaken our minds and hearts to the significance of the dawning of Jesus Christ in the world. He is the light whom the darkness can never overpower.
Even as we look back into history to see the fulfillment of Zechariah’s prophesy, we remind ourselves that this prophecy is also for now. This Christmas, the Radiant Dawn comes in a new way—one that has not yet been experienced. Jesus is a brand new dawn, and in his light all of our man-made attempts at light fail in comparison.
Who can deny that we live in an age of darkness and the “shadow of death.” When has the world ever been hungrier for a new dawn? Jesus is still God’s new dawn who comes upon us and lights up the hearts of those who seek him.
“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; for he has come to his people and set them free” (Luke 1:68).
