​Advent B-3
John 1:6-8, 19-23
 
I have been waiting with great anticipation for Dec. 21st.  Once we make it through the 21st the daylight starts getting longer on December 22nd.  I did look it up, though, and December 22nd has only three more seconds of daylight than the 21st.  It’s not much, but it’s everything.  From next Thursday on the days will be getting longer and longer.  For the next 6 months.  It can be 20 below and I’ll know there is more daylight coming, even the next day. 
 
The exact date and month of Jesus’ birth are not known.  It is not known exactly why, in the 4th century, Dec. 25 was chosen as the date in the western world to celebrate the birth of Jesus, but most scholars believe it had something to do with the darkness, at least in the northern hemisphere.  It’s not just since the identification of SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder, that darkness has been a “thing.”  The lengthening and shortening of daylight has been noticed since anyone first paid attention.  Before Jesus was born, centuries before, there had been celebrations of the winter solstice.  Some even think that December 25 was chosen to compete with some of those celebrations.

​From the pastor….
 
I suppose that, in the scheme of things, looking back through all of history, things aren’t so bad these days.  There are certainly a lot of terrible things happening in the world.  I think of all the unrest and violence.  Yemen comes to mind as particularly horrible.  In our own country the reality and pervasiveness of sexual harassment and assault is finally coming to light.  There have been huge disappointments at hearing some of the names along with a sense of waiting for the next shoe to drop.  Not to mention the incredible hypocrisy of the reactions of some the accused.  Anyone who has experienced sexual harassment or assault knows the harm it does to the victim.  It can be life-changing and not necessarily for the better.