People Who Walked in Darkness
Christmas – Season of Promise
He remembered how grown-up he had felt when he attended his first midnight Mass. Before that they had always gone to the children’s Christmas Eve Mass. His brother and he had insisted they were no longer children, had put behind childish ways and were ready to attend midnight Mass at the ripe old age of ten and twelve.
The church had been darkened, allowing the lights on the Christmas trees that decorated the altar to shine all the more brightly. They arrived early in order to get a seat and listened to Christmas carols lead by the choir as people crowded in and they squeezed together to make room for yet one more person in their pew. Then the full lights were snapped on and the opening procession began, “O Come All ye Faithful!”
Here he was, so many years later, away at school. He hadn’t been able to go home because of his job. He needed the extra hours to help with tuition costs. He had since joined the ranks of the unchurched. Who had time for church between school, work and socializing. It just didn’t fit into his schedule. Still he felt impelled to attend tonight, joining the ranks of the New York crowds, sitting alone in the darkness of the cathedral, waiting for the light to shine and remembering the promise of a time not so long ago.
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone. Isaiah 9:1
This post is part of a series of reflections on the Church year. Merry Christmas! click here to follow blog
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