There’s a common phrase in our discourse: “There’s a light at the end of the tunnel”. This phrase is obviously a hopeful one. Once we get through a time that is dark, difficult to see our way during, difficult to see our way THROUGH—there is a light ahead that doesn’t really illuminate the current situation as much as it gives hope that the darkness will end at some barely visible point up ahead. We need to keep moving forward, in faith and hope, to reach that light. Then we will see, and will have come through the current time of uncertainty to emerge into a time with more clarity. This phrase has been used in countless circumstances of difficulty and challenge, looking ahead (literally and metaphorically) to a change in situation, hopefully soon.
Of course, there is also a corollary to that phrase that suggests a bit of caution about being overly optimistic in assuming that the light ahead is the end of the tunnel and can only mean the challenging time is soon to be over. “What if the light at the end of the tunnel is a train coming at you?”
A bit of humor, to be sure, but a bit of realism and caution too. Don’t make assumptions without really being aware. Even if the dark time you’re in is a completely new reality for you, be as attentive as you possibly can to what is really going on—and what that light you see far in the distance might be.
Two Scripture passages for the first Sunday of the year remind us of that. The obvious one is the “wise men from the East” following the star to where Jesus is—stopping on the way to get clarification as to where they are going, having never been in that part of the world before. And not only do they consider the directions they get, they also consider other insights: “having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road” (Matthew 2:12). Their vision was not only focused on the star; their vision also involved awareness beyond a narrow focus, a wider, more informed view of the situation, from multiple sources.
The passage from Isaiah 60 also encourages going beyond a narrow focus, Isaiah begins with “Arise, shine, for you light has come” and goes immediately to “darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples”. So the light is such a contrast to the darkness that it could be hard to look at anything but it. But Isaiah reminds them to “Lift up your eyes and look around” (Isaiah 60:1-4). Knowing how to understand this light, knowing how to make use of this light, knowing how and what to see by this light, knowing how to follow the light in the darkness while still caring about those mired in the darkness (that they may not even see as darkness)—definitely takes lifting up your eyes and looking around.
And that is part of the message of Christmas. We celebrate the true light coming into the world, the light that is life, and yet as we respond in our own lives to that light we need to “lift up your eyes and look around” at what that light makes it possible to see and do in the lives of those still living in darkness.
OLD TESTAMENT Isaiah 60: 1-6
1 Arise, shine; for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
2 For darkness shall cover the earth,
and thick darkness the peoples;
but the Lord will arise upon you,
and his glory will appear over you.
3 Nations shall come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
4 Lift up your eyes and look around;
they all gather together, they come to you;
your sons shall come from far away,
and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses’ arms.
5 Then you shall see and be radiant;
your heart shall thrill and rejoice,
because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you,
the wealth of the nations shall come to you.
6 A multitude of camels shall cover you,
the young camels of Midian and Ephah;
all those from Sheba shall come.
They shall bring gold and frankincense,
and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord.
GOSPEL Matthew 2:1-12
1 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 asking, ‘Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.’ 3 When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:
6 “And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd my people Israel.” ’
7 Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.’ 9 When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.