I've always felt it was so appropriate that the first Christmas came wrapped in such beautiful images of light. For example, there is the story we all know of the humble shepherds in the field, quietly watching their flock on the night of Jesus' birth. Suddenly God's angel appeared and "the glory of the Lord shone round about them." 1 And then there were the Magi, men of power and position from a country far to the east, who had been led in search of Christ by the shining of a single star, "till it came and stood over where the young child was." 2
The Gospel of Matthew speaks of Christ Jesus himself as fulfilling Scriptural prophecy and bringing light to dispel the darkest fears of humanity: "The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up." 3
The healing presence of God's love, the saving power of His grace, a transcendent spiritual vision and inspiration—light can signify all of this and more. It can also represent the infinite intelligence of divine Mind, the radiant beauty of Soul expressed, the realized glory of eternal Life. And wouldn't these things of the Spirit be the kind of Christmas gifts we all would really hope to have coming again and again into our lives? When we ourselves come in meekness to receive the truth of man's spiritual identity and relationship to the Father, we find that God truly is the giver of all good, pouring out light and love freely to every one of His children.
