“In him was life, and the light was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:4,5)

Even as we gather on this night in this peaceful, beautiful Chapel, there is a certain tension, isn't there? It is the tension within tonight's gospel: Tension between darkness and light. The child at Bethlehem brought light, but he was light into the darkness. We gather here, illuminated by warm candlelight, but outside, cold December night is falling.

The Carol we love to sing expresses this tension: 

The everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years 
Are met in thee tonight.

We don't want to think about it, but in a sense Christmas has always been about dark streets and everlasting light. The streets of our larger cities have become haunting pla…