Zechariah's Song (Final Day)

These are two of the most beautiful verses in Luke, summing up the gospel.

At the moment of this writing, the winter solstice was just over 28 hours ago, making Friday night the longest one of the year. Today, the sunlight afforded to us in the northern hemisphere will be just a bit longer (a whole two seconds, I’m told).

Scholars don’t seem to think there were practical seasonal considerations for the selection of December 25th as the beginning of the Christmas season. But many a theologian loves to note the neat symbiotic relationship between the theology of the birth of Jesus and the growing daylight after the winter solstice.¹

John, a gospel short on the Christmas narrative, is rich in theology of the incarnation: What came into being through the Word was life, and the life was the light for all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness doesn’t extinguish the light.

Advent is decidedly a season of a growing, impending light, be it the addition of one more candle on the wreath each week or simply the overall feeling of the forthcoming, impending arrival of the powerful mystery of Christmas Eve. We’ve but three days left, but already the light is increasing.

Zechariah’s song foretells it all with these beautiful two verses. In the end, it’s not about seasons or sunlight, specifically. It’s about people whose lives have been cast into darkness by the things of this world. Those who are sitting in darkness…

And actually, it’s not even ultimately about light. Light is a tool, a guide, a signpost, a revealer of the way. Zechariah rightly tells us the goal with the final word of his song.

Luke 1:78-79

Because of our God’s deep compassion, the dawn from heaven will break upon us, to give light to those who are sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide us on the path of peace.

Isaiah 60:1-3

Arise! Shine! Your light has come; the Lord’s glory has shone upon you. Though darkness covers the earth and gloom the nations, the Lord will shine upon you; God’s glory will appear over you. Nations will come to your light and kings to your dawning radiance.

Prayer

God,

Thank you for the light that guides us, not as an end in itself, but as a way that directs us out of the darkness of destruction and toward the peace that is you. Remind us of your compassion, breaking through, establishing hope and peace. Let my unwarranted pessimism and unchecked cynicism melt in the light of Jesus. Keep me true, honest, and righteous about reality, but ever in the hope of progression, life and life again, and the peace of your redeeming work in Christ.

Today, as Christians gather throughout the world on this final Sunday of Advent, help us to trust your light, even when the way forward feels uncertain. Make our liturgies life-literal. Activate in us real stuff beyond the beauty of candles and well-worded prayers.

So teach us to be signposts of your love, guiding others toward the path of goodness. May our lives reflect the growing light of your kingdom, drawing nearer with every passing day.

By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.

1. Of course…this only works for Christians in the dominant northern hemisphere.