Hope and light in darkness !

The sights of these flower buds waiting to open reminded me of. a passage in the Bible, in the ebook of Isiah, who prophesied about the light that was to come enlighten  people who lived in darkness: 

"The people who walk in darkness will see a great light, Those who live in dark land, The light will shine on them" (I saith:9:2).

In the gospel of Matthew, there is narration in chapter 4: 12-17, referring to the text above, when Jesus of Nazareth, heard about the news of imprisonment of John the Baptist, Jesus left Nazareth, and settled in Capernaum, which was by the sea, from where He started his public engagements and discourses, announcing the good news of God's love that pardons, heals and offers new life!

The buds shall open and become a flower! Till then the bud is a mystery and not a delight to behold. 

The flower brings colour, fragrance and fullness in the garden. 

The advent candles that Anna lights each Sunday in our home, brings the message of Christmas- Hope, Faith, Peace and Joy and the central one representing the candle to be lit on the Christmas day, remembering the birth of Jesus. 

We encounter darkness of all sorts in our personal and corporate lives. A new bar that started in our village is located on the main road, only about 100 meters away from a church and two hundred meters from two schools, has a flow of visitors from morning till it closes at eight pm. The watchmen at the bar told me that 150 people come every day, mostly young people, more than half of them are daily visitors. I thought of the interior darkness that fills the lives of those who come, and the darkness they bring to their homes, family life and their children! The health distress and the economies stress that they suffer on account of this darkness in their lives made me think! It is an addictive practice to sedate their disturbed mind!

If only there was more proactive plan in every neighbourhood to care for people that they do not slip into alcohol dependence!

The alcohol anonymous group in our locality has a home visit programme to befriend people who are slipping into alcohol dependence ! 

I referred to one darkness above, The darkness of different nature and impact prevail all around us. 

The buds in the rose bush bring hope, the candle when lit brings light, both suggesting that we live among people whose darkness needs attention and response! 

The mission of life is to bring hope and light around us!

M.C.Mathew( text and photo)