The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.

In a world where there is violence, there is a word of hope in today’s appointed lesson from the Old Testament taken from Isaiah:

 

But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined.  You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire. For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,   Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onwards and for evermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. (Is. 9:1-7).

 

When our days are darked with violence, 141 people killed at a school in Peshawar, Pakistan by the Taliban, when hostages are taken and 2 of them die in Sydney, Australia when a self-styled Muslim cleric became unhinged and took control of a shop, and then in our own country, there is unrest and tension, we hear a voice of hope.  It is a voice that speaks of a great light after our walk in the darkness. There is the promise of a little child who will bring peace and justice to a hurting world, one who you and I will call Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,   Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  His authority shall grow continually, and you and I are agents of that growth by the grace of that child, the Christ, who will shine in our darkness.

 

Let us pray:   Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 

CALENDAR REMINDERS

 

The Seaside Seniors will have their Christmas Party starting at 11 AM.  The choir from St. Vincent’s House will be there. 

 

This Sunday, the 21^st of December, we will have a pot luck luncheon.  Please bring something to share.

  

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially Duane.

 

Your servant in Christ,

 

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550