CHRISTMAS UNHINDERED

BY REV GOH YONG KUANG

In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. - John 1: 4-5 (ESV)

We are told that Christmas will not be the same this year.  Two recent articles in the local paper carried these headlines:

“GET SET FOR A QUIETER CHRISTMAS LIGHT-UP IN ORCHARD THIS YEAR”

(The Straits Times, 6 Oct 2020)

“A NOT-SO-MERRY CHRISTMAS IN EUROPE WITH TIGHTER CURBS”

(The Straits Times, 4 Dec 2020)

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which is showing no sign of abating, businesses are slowing down; many outdoor Christmas festive events are either cancelled or scaled down; churches, families and individuals are forced to make drastic adjustments or cancel their plans and programmes. 

The circumstances facing the people in Judea during the birth of Jesus was bleak, to say the least.  Besides living under the oppressive yoke of the Romans, there was poverty, gross injustice, political turmoil and religious unrest – resulting in an overbearing sense of dread, of uncertainty and hopelessness.  It was against these backdrops that the good tidings of great joy were announced and proclaimed (Luke 2:10)

Christ was born at the darkest time of the year to reveal the glory of heaven in this dark world. Yet, no amount of crises can put a damper on the joy of that first Christmas!  There was no scaling down or cutting back of the Good News!  The shepherds shared what they heard and experienced!  Just as the darkness cannot extinguish the light (John 1:5), no circumstances in the world can hinder or stop God’s saving plans and purposes through the incarnated Christ!  

As people of the incarnation (John 1:14), let us be God’s love incarnate in our homes, our neighbourhood and workplace throughout this Advent season!