Homily for the 7th Day in the Octave of Christmas

Tomorrow begins the new year, roughly 2,020 years since the birth of our LORD. There is something fresh and hopeful about starting a new year. It is a time to think about the possibility of new beginnings. Although we are in mid-winter, we know that for the next six months each new day will now be that little bit longer than its yesterday. With the lengthening of daylight, comes the thought of new life.

The Prologue of John’s Gospel reflects this thought of new beginning with its new light dawning on the earth. Its opening words are “In the beginning.” It speaks of a light that shines in the darkness; a light that darkness cannot overpower; a true light that enlightens everyone.

The Gospel passage, of course, is referring, not to the light of the sun, but to a different kind of light. It is the light of the Word who was with God in the beginning. Because this Word became flesh, His light has become available to us. This is a light that envelopes all our living. We live and move in this extraordinary light. Later on in John’s Gospel, Jesus says of Himself: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” 

Most of us have known our own personal experiences of darkness. A darkness of spirit or mind or heart can engulf us; we can be suddenly plunged into some dark and difficult situation that we had not anticipated. It is to these kinds of situations that today’s Gospel can speak most powerfully: “A light shines in the darkness, a light that darkness could not overpower.” Our faith declares that there is no darkness in our world that the light of Christ cannot penetrate.+