The Church, Christmas, and the Light of the World

This past week more than 2 billion people celebrated a single event which occurred 2000 years ago.  A boy was born to a middle class Jewish family - a boy whom both shepherds and angels called "Savior."  More than two millenia later, a single institution bears still bears the news of the advent of Christ today.  The church is the object of much criticism, and many of it valid.  However, the church is the caretaker of the great treasure of the ages - the gospel.  The gospel of Jesus' birth, death, resurrection and second coming still blazes through the ages.  From the Middle East to Western Europe, from America and now to the Global South, the message is still much alive today.

As Christians celebrate the birth of the Redeemer from the cathedrals of Europe to the favelas of Brazil, from the megachurches of America to the underground church in China, many of them will light the last candle of the advent wreath. The last candle represents "Christ, the Light of the World." Indeed, his light still blazes today in the most unlikely of places.  And if Christ really is, the Way, the Truth, and the Light, then he certainly must be at the center of the educational process.  My alma mater, Valparaiso University, took its motto from the Psalms: "In your light we see light."  Through the light of God, all things become clear and beautiful.

Merry Christmas to all.