A Light Has Dawned

In Matthew 4:16 we read: "...the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned."

There is a piece of war history that stirs me deeply whenever I hear the story. The year was 1914. World War I was under way. There on the western front, the darkness of war was deep. Young British and German soldiers were being slaughtered by each other in Belgium.

But then, in the very cold December air of this first winter of the war, something wonderful happened. On Christmas Eve, December 24, 1914, silence replaced the sound of artillery and gunfire. Peering out across the battle zone, the British observed the Germans decorating their trenches with candles. Then came music as the German soldiers began to sing “Stille Nacht” (Silent Night). The British answered with Christmas carols of their own. Christmas greetings where then shouted across the field.

Eventually two German soldiers came up from the trenches, laid down their weapons, and walked out into the “No Man’s Land” between the battle lines. Soon they were met by unarmed British soldiers. And there, where only hours before bullets had been flying, and men had been killed, gifts and smiles were being exchanged! This went on through the night and into Christmas Day. There was even a report of a Christmas Day soccer game between British and German forces!

What happened? Simply this... “To those who were sitting in the land and shadow of death, upon them a light dawned.” It was the Light of Christmas that brought this sudden cease-fire and good will; the celebration of the birth of Jesus, the Prince of Peace temporarily trumped the war.

One Advent Hymn my wife and I have loved though the years is “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence.” The third stanza speaks beautifully of Eternal Light coming to earth, and how darkness ultimately cannot stand against Light.

Rank on rank the host of heaven
spreads its vanguard on the way,
As the Light of light descendeth
from the realms of endless day,
That the powers of hell may vanish
As the darkness clears away.

Brothers and sisters, a Son has been given to us, and the Light has long since dawned upon the world. Yet many continue to sit in darkness. Let us faithfully proclaim the Light to this dark and dying world which has mostly chosen not to behold the Light.

Let our celebration of Christmas this year be robust. Let us boldly proclaim that the Eternal Light has dawned! There is no day like Christmas Day!

Peter Cardillo