Calvary Episcopal Church
Memphis, Tennessee
December 24, 2002
Christmas Eve - 10:30 p.m. service

…and the darkness has not overcome it…
The Rev. Canon William A. Kolb

Gospel: John 1:1-14
(This sermon is also available in audio)

The Gospel we just heard is so dear to me and to millions of others. I love to hear it on Christmas Eve, especially, in the dark of a starlit night--darkness and light, a time of memories and hopes. There are many truths in this part of John’s Gospel, truths that grab us and remind us that there really is a God and that there is more going on than human plans, accomplishments and failures. For example:

“…the life (Jesus) was the light of all people.” And “The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.” And “He (John) was not the light but came to bear witness to the light.” And “The true light, which enlightens all people, was coming into the world.” And, (We who know Him) were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man but of God.” And, finally and most powerfully, “…and the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth."

C. S. Lewis says that in the birth of this baby, “the rightful King has landed.” And somewhat in disguise. Lewis sees that our world contains a battle between darkness and light, between evil and good. And that the rightful King has landed, asking each of us to help him commit sabotage against evil. He makes it clear that good and evil, or, if you will, God and Satan, are not equal combatants, but in fact evil, or Satan, is the product of good; it is good gone bad. God is the creator of all that was, is and will be. Good is right. Good is of God. Evil is wrong and God opposes it.

There is in fact much darkness in the world. You know how when we exchange the peace, depending on our mood and the circumstances of our life that day, we can receive the “peace of the Lord” as something we need inwardly, or we can hear it as something outwardly, something the world in general needs. And we can look at darkness in the same way. If we look at darkness personally, we see that we all have the potential (and most of us have or have had the reality) of darkness. Inward darkness can shadow our spirit with shame and regret, with guilt, anger and resentment; inner darkness can bring hard-heartedness and brutality against others. Or we can look at it outwardly, knowing that there is indeed darkness in the world out there. The darkness of death, of war, the darkness of impending war, of poverty, of crimes against humanity. Those who claim there is no God can make a good case talking about the darkness in our world.

But it must be noted, that if there were no darkness and potential darkness within each of us, there could be no darkness “out there in the world.”

John in his incredible opening chapter, speaks of Jesus Christ in the world as the light, the light that enlightens every person, the light that has not been overcome by the darkness. The darkness has not overcome it.

How do we know this? Think about it. If all were darkness how would you and I know there was any darkness? If all were darkness we would be all darkness and would see nothing wrong with evil. It is God’s Light that tells us that evil is evil. How do we know that the light has not been overcome? By the hope that resides in most hearts, even in times of darkness. How do we know this? Because there are so many good people; flawed yes, but who do good. Obviously, the darkness has not overcome all the volunteers, all the loving partners, all the selfless acts by billions of people. If darkness had taken over there would be no good.

Not only does the light shine in the darkness, it is moving ever forward to the day when the light will overcome the darkness! Both inwardly and outwardly. Many of us can attest to personal growth from darkness to less darkness, from little light to growing light. And our world: God promises that the Kingdom of God is coming, when the lion shall lie down with the lamb. And that is not just the absence of war and death; the Kingdom of God is also the presence of joy and peace in our every day. God operates at all levels of life and living.

And at this holy Christmastime, we continue as long as we must, to live with darkness and light. But this inspiring and inspired writing called the prologue to the Gospel of John, has been set down for our reassurance through the ages, that light and goodness are what God is all about and that anything contrary to light and goodness is doomed to be overcome, sooner or later.

May God bless us all with a holy Christmas.
Amen.

Copyright 2002 Calvary Episcopal Church

Gospel: John 1:1-14
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. 6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. 14And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. NRSV

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