As we make our journey over the next four weeks toward the stable in Bethlehem one symbol of our faith will be preeminent “that is the symbol of light. Tree lights, candle lights and in the heavens the radiant light of the star the wise men followed on that holy night.

It is perhaps a parable of our times that we are rarely without some form of light. We have Thomas Edison to thank for that I suppose. It is said that after thousands of experiments, when he finally achieved this monumental breakthrough that would affect all of human history, he heard the shrill voice of his wife call out, "Tom, for goodness sake, would you turn off the light and come to bed!"

Even on the darkest night in most communities in our land there is artificial light everywhere “streetlights, car lights, neon sign…