Monday Reflections: Love Came Down at Christmas

 “Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.”

— Book of Psalms, Chapter 80, Verse 3

Just as the lengthening of days, first by seconds and then minutes, point to the coming of spring, the acts of hospitality, love and charity that we participate in today point to the coming day when peace among all will be fulfilled. Every time we participate in acts of love, we make that future real. Photo by Kathleen Barry, UM Communications.

Yesterday was the Winter Solstice. In the Church’s liturgy, it is also known as the Longest Night. Yesterday, at the latitude where I live, we had approximately 9 hours, 17 minutes, and 48 seconds of daylight. Today? Today we will have 9 hours, 17 minutes, and 50 seconds. By the end of the year, we will have gained 4 extra minutes of daylight. These might seem insignificant changes, but they point to the inevitability of spring.

Yesterday was also the fourth Sunday of Advent. In the Christian tradition, this Sunday highlights love as the greatest of values. This value is best exemplified in the celebration of Christmas. The Christmas story gives us the opportunity to see past our divisions and into a vision of nature and humanity together, in mutual charity. The different Christmas narratives feature shepherds, barn animals, wise men, angels and even a wandering star, all coming together for the birth of a child. This message of the unity of heaven and nature and humanity has always been relevant. As it has been through the ages, it is also a needed message for today.

Just as the lengthening of days, first by seconds and then minutes, point to the coming of spring, the acts of hospitality, love and charity that we participate in today point to the coming day when peace among all will be fulfilled. Every time we participate in acts of love, we make that future real. Writer Christina Rossetti put it in this way:

Love shall be our token;
love be yours and love be mine;
love to God and others,
love for plea and gift and sign.

May striving for love be our ethic. May the giving of love be our pursuit. May the witness of love be our joy.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!