Village Shepherd

One thing about live theatre which you don't get with television, is the hush of expectancy when the lights are dimmed. As the theatre moves from light into darkness, the audience settles back and prepares for entertainment and enjoyment. But the entertainment only starts when the curtain rises on a lit stage. Because the audience remains in darkness, it is able to see the stage perfectly no matter how gloomy the lighting, so the atmosphere can be suggested right from the beginning of the show by the relative brightness of the lighting. For a murder mystery the lighting is likely to be dark and subdued, but for a lively musical the lighting will usually be very bright and cheerful. And the mood of the audience varies accordingly. Tension is heightened by dimmed lighting; jollity is imbued by bright lighting.

Scientists have become increasingly aware of how sensitive we humans are to light, so that now the most sensitive may suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder in the winter and require special lighting to cope with the darkness of winter.

It was during a dark time in their history, in the 6th century BC when they were exiled in Babylon, that the ancient Israelites began to hope for a Messiah, some special person who would lead them out of their darkness into glorious light.

They did indeed return from exile, but four centuries later were suffering again, this time under the Seleucid and Roman enemies. Many people were expecting a military leader who would defeat the enemy in victorious battle, but others were looking for ethical revival and still others for someone who would cleanse the temple and reform worship.

Some of the prophets referred to the awaited coming of the Messiah as "the Day of the Lord", so people assumed that the Day of the Lord would be a bright and victorious occasion, accompanied by much feasting and rejoicing. But for the first time in Jewish history, Amos was at pains to challenge this assumption. He said, "Alas for you who desire the day of the Lord! Why do you want the day of the Lord? It is darkness, not light; as if someone fled from a lion, and was met by a bear; or went into the house and rested a hand against the wall, and was bitten by a snake. Is not the day of the Lord darkness, not light, and gloom with no brightness in it?"

Amos uses the imagery of fleeing from great danger to a place of safety only to discover that the safe place isn't safe at all, for it hosts hidden terrors. This, he says, will be like the Day of the Lord, fleeing from obvious danger but finding terror and darkness because the things of God have been so neglected.

Amos goes on to point out exactly what the problem is. He has God say, "I hate, I despise your festivals, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals I will not look upon. Take away from me the noise of your songs; I will not listen to the melody of your harps."

It sounds as though the people had been observing worship just as they were required to do. But their worship is unacceptable to God because it is only skin deep. God goes on to explain, "Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream."

Worship which is unaccompanied by social justice is an affront to God, says Amos. Worship which comes from the heart cannot fail to be supported by justice and right living. But the prevailing culture of deceit and greed, injustice and failure to care for the weakest in society, will incur God's wrath. And in his wrath, God will reject the worship that grows from this kind of life-style.

When the Messiah finally arrived at that first Christmas, for some people - those who recognised this birth as something special - it was a time of great rejoicing and happiness. Other people were unaware of it. And as the Messiah grew up and began his ministry, this pattern continued. For those who were aware, it was an amazing and fantastic time. Some simply ignored it, dismissing Jesus as just another itinerant preacher. Yet others were strongly and actively opposed to Jesus.

So the entry of Jesus into the world brought light and hope to those who were able to accept him, but darkness and gloom for those who were unable to accept him.

Perhaps it always thus in life. When we have eyes to see and ears to hear, then God's message and God's presence bring light and hope and joy. But when we refuse to see or hear God's message, then we're doomed to darkness and gloom.

If our own individual "day of the Lord" comes with our death, then Christians have huge hope and delight and joy for they know they are going on to a new kind of life, life everlasting lived in the very presence of God. But for unbelievers, it is a time of fear and misery and unrelieved gloom, for the world as they know it is coming to an end.

Although we will soon be entering the darkness of Advent and we need to acknowledge that darkness before God, let us remember that light and love came to us at Christmas and let us look forward to the Day of the Lord.