Dear Jesus,
It’s a good thing you were born at
night. This world sure seems dark. I have a good eye for silver linings.
But they seem dimmer lately.
These killings, Lord. These children, Lord. Innocence violated. Raw evil demonstrated.
The whole world seems on edge.
Trigger-happy. Ticked off. We hear threats of chemical weapons and
nuclear bombs. Are we one button-push away from annihilation?
Your world seems a bit darker this Christmas.
But you were born in the dark,
right? You came at night. The shepherds were nightshift workers. The
Wise Men followed a star. Your first cries were heard in the shadows. To
see your face, Mary and Joseph needed a candle flame. It was dark. Dark
with Herod’s jealousy. Dark with Roman oppression. Dark with poverty.
Dark with violence.
Herod went on a rampage, killing
babies. Joseph took you and your mom into Egypt. You were an immigrant
before you were a Nazarene.
Oh, Lord Jesus, you entered the dark
world of your day. Won’t you enter ours? We are weary of bloodshed. We,
like the wise men, are looking for a star. We, like the shepherds, are
kneeling at a manger.
This Christmas, we ask you, heal us, help us, be born anew in us.
Hopefully,
Your Children
