Light in a world of darkness
TODAY IS the shortest day of the year. You know what I mean: All days are 24 hours long, but some have longer or shorter minutes of daylight. Today is the darkest day of the year. Astronomers call it the ‘winter solstice’, when the Sun appears to ‘stand still’ at its furthest distance from the Earth, after which it appears to reverse direction.
Since at least Neolithic times (about 12,000 years ago), the timing of this natural phenomenon has been used to guide human activities such as the mating of farm animals, the sowing of crops, and the monitoring of winter reserves of food. Many cultural mythologies and traditions are derived from this event. The primary alignment of the archaeological sites at Stonehenge in England and Newgrange in Ireland seem to have been carefully aligned on a sight line pointing to the winter solstice sunrise (Newgrange) and the winter solstice sunset (Stonehenge).
Ancient peoples (like the pagan Scandinavian and Germanic people and the Roman Empire under Emperor Aurelian) had special festivities around this time as they worshipped their various gods. On December 25, 275 AD, Aurelian decreed that the sun god be worshipped alongside the traditional Roman cults like Jupiter, Mars, Hercules, and Apollo.
THE TRUE LIGHT
As early Christians developed their understanding of the meaning of Jesus for the universe, the words of John were full of meaning. John the Evangelist speaks of John the Baptist: “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.” (John 1: 6-9).
Much earlier, the prophet Isaiah had characterised the sinful world (after The Fall) as a world in darkness as it waited for the liberating Messiah who would bring the light:
“The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness, a light has dawned.” (Isaiah 9: 2)
Isaiah foretold that this coming “light of the world” will be of the House of Israel’s greatest king – David – and will usher in a new reign of God and establish a kingdom of justice and peace.
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.” (Isaiah 9: 6-7)
No one knows the actual date on which Jesus, the light of the world, was born; but what better day – symbolically and theologically – to celebrate it than just after the winter solstice when the sun begins to conquer the deep darkness? And the bountiful display of light in homes and places of business is appropriate recognition of Christmas as the religious season of light.
But even though at Christmas the light begins to conquer the darkness – begins to get the upper hand – the night is still longer than the day. The Calvary event – which, for Christians, represents the ultimate defeat of darkness and sin and death – falls just after the vernal equinox, when the hours of daylight become longer than the hours of darkness. The timing of events in the church year to coincide with natural astronomical phenomena unites Christian worship with the workings of God’s creation.The theological symbolism is powerful!
May I wish all my readers a holy season of light as we look forward to better days ahead. Together, we must work hard to bring the kingdom of justice and peace into full flower.