12/25/2025
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shone....
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon[d] his shoulder,
and his name shall be called[e]
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. (Isaiah 9)
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JUST JESUS
A “contronym” which is a word that can have two exactly opposite, contradictory meanings.
For instance, the word “trip” can mean you’re taking a trip (embarking on a long journey.) Or, sometimes we “trip” and stumble and flat on our face. Or we get “tripped up”--we’re stopped cold, maybe by a difficult question.
English is a funny language.
The word “just” is a contronym. In Scripture, the “just” are recognized as people who live holy lives of honor and integrity according to God’s laws. The “just” are people others turn to for advice, for their wisdom and leadership. They treat and respect people equally, no matter whether they are rich or poor.
But when we use the word “just” in our everyday lives, we often mean “nothing special.” Mary, Joseph, the shepherds–they are “just” everyday, ordinary people like us, caught up in an extraordinary situation over which they had no control. God chose them to serve even though they had no special skill sets.
We just want to make them “more special” to give ourselves the false sense of security that God won’t ever ask us to do hard things.
There’s another definition of the word “just” when we use it to describe “the only one.” There’s “just” one cookie left in the cookie jar. We mean “the only one.”
Scripture is a wonderful treasure–a library filled with all kinds of insights and surprises. It’s easy to go down all sorts of interesting rabbit trails about the different people God used to tell God’s story.
But at the end of the day, it is all just about Jesus. The one, the only one: In the beginning was the one who is called the Word. The Word was with God and was truly God … and his life gave light to everyone. The light keeps shining in the dark, and darkness has never put it out … The (one) true light that shines on everyone. (John 1 CEV)
Sr. Joan Chittister writes that one of the most wonderful things that can happen in life is to have something before which we stand in awe–Whatever we see that is bigger than ourselves gives us the opportunity to feel the greatness of God.
For me, that is always the night sky. The greatest blessing of living in the country is that there is such complete darkness that we can see the full expanse of the heavens from horizon to horizon. The stars, moon, planets, shooting stars, Northern Lights–those are the moments even when I am alone in the dark that I know that God the Creator loves us to create so much beauty in the dark, and there is a much greater, more beautiful purpose at work than we can ever see or imagine. That the moon–the beautiful moon–has no light of its own, but only reflects the light of the ever present Son.
All is calm, all is bright.
Those of us who have experience with 35mm cameras know if you want to take a decent photo at night, you have to find something to anchor your camera and hold it steady, and set your camera for a very long exposure. Sometimes when we are walking through the darkness, it is also hard for us to see the light. Often it takes us a long time to see how the light has been present and develops during the dark times of our life.
The word “government” in tonight’s passage from Isaiah may trigger some of us: how many of us this year have looked at the priorities and bickering and fighting and wars caused by the human governments and power around the world and just shook our heads?
Spoiler alert: human governments will never be perfect, no matter which party you prefer.
It sometimes feels like we are people who dwell in a land of deep darkness.
And yet, God still says: keep calm, do not be afraid. Fear not. Do not lose heart.
For there is also Light. Light that promises to multiply our joy. For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given. Human, to understand the fear and loneliness and rejection and suffering we experience on our journeys through life.
And yet divine, God’s own son. Immanuel. God with us.
We. Are. Not. Alone.
But the government of The One–the Just One, the only One–is perfect. Even in the darkness, there is the promise of something that just seems too simple and ordinary to be true: a ruler who is a Wonderful Advisor, counselor, confidant and friend. A Mighty God more powerful than the evil that humans can concoct. A ruler who loves ALL citizens and wants the best for ALL his children, just like a good parent. A prince of peace: a ruler who provides wholeness, completeness, well-being and safety–not just absence of conflict. A leader who focuses on serenity, clear calm, and undisturbed state for his people, free from anxiety or distress.
There’s Just One King in all of history who fulfills that description. Just One King who lowered himself to be born in a barn, live an ordinary life among poor, hardworking people who knew how to make a living with their hands, a King willing to sacrifice himself and humble himself even unto death to save all the people He loved–to show people how far God is willing to go to save the people God created and loves.
He carried the burden of his government–a cross–on his shoulders.
To save us.
Just Jesus.
Why is there darkness? I don’t know.
The beautiful poinsettias we enjoy this time of year are the descendants of weeds that grow along the roadside in Mexico. If you take care of them like normal plants, they may stay green year around.
They only fully display their really, beautiful colors if they are subjected to darkness. The leaves that remind us of the Star of Bethlehem. The white poinsettias represent the purity of a just Jesus. The blood red that depicts the blood of Jesus, shed for us for the forgiveness of sins.
And resurrection: even when evil thought they had sealed the Word of God into the darkness of the tomb, Easter’s morning’s light revealed a glory in Jesus greater than anyone could imagine.
Just Jesus. Holy, honorable, full of integrity, wisdom, the power and might of God, kindness, mercy, justice for all peoples. Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
Just Jesus. The one, the only. Like no other.
The light still shines in the darkness, thousands of years later, and the darkness has never been able to overcome His life, His message, His worthiness of worship.
"I am the light of the world,” Jesus says. “Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life".
For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9)
