I've heard a lot of talk this week about the need to work for "peace." I've heard a number of elected officials and church leaders call for reconciliation. I'm not praying for either of those yet. I'm not. One of the prayers our Prayer Book asks God to help us “fearlessly contend against evil and make no peace with oppression.” I’m not praying for reconciliation. I'm praying for conversion. I believe we need conversion before we can talk about peace.
Friends, there isn't just a light at the end of the tunnel. There has been light in the tunnel the whole time. You, for me, for so many, have been little lights shining. And the darkness did not overcome us. Keep letting your lights shine, even as we can hopefully see that big light at the end of the tunnel.
This Christmas, if you are grieving the Christmas that could have been, perhaps there is an invitation. Next Christmas, will we look backward to all of the picture postcards of our childhood, or will we look forward? Will we work to make sure that in the year to come there has been good news, great joy, for all, yes all the people?
