7 December 2023 – Rev’d Dr Susie Collingridge, Area Dean of Petersfield, Priest-in-Charge, Steep and Froxfield with Privett

A spark in the darkest night

Letting my dog into the garden last thing at night at this time of year has its challenges.

A black Labrador in an area of dark skies turns invisible after a few steps into the darkness, until she feels like coming back indoors. However hard I squint I can’t see where she is, and even a strong torch doesn’t help much unless you catch her eyes in the beam.

So, I bought her a flashing collar. Now even when she’s sniffing in the farthest bushes I can see the green lights blinking and I know she’s there. When she finally runs back indoors the green lights bound towards me through the gloaming, and all is well.

Long before LEDs, one dark night in Bethlehem, a glimmering star stood over an old stable-cave. They say there were angels, too, singing their hearts out to heaven and to earth. All sorts of people turned up to see what was going on.

This was like nothing seen before. A special, tiny child being born. Light in the darkness. Here’s a light shining with hope. Here’s a guide for our darkest paths. Here’s a glimmer of God arriving among us. Here’s someone with pure love running through his tiny veins. The tiny light of that child changed the universe and the course of history for good.

Today where Jesus was born is in Palestine’s West Bank – things are tough there right now, needing the light of hope and love more than ever.

Approaching Christmas time, let’s do what we can to spread the light of hope and love that Jesus brings, in our families and neighbourhoods. A kind word, perhaps, or a generous act. A warm smile, a little gift, an encouraging comment. And let’s all be praying for those affected by terrible conflict in the Middle East and around the world.

Christmas lights can be people as well as garlands of bulbs! It doesn’t take much – every little spark of light is stronger than the deepest night.