by Rev. Racquel Ray, Associate Minister of Congregational Life
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness—
on them light has shined.~ Isaiah 9:2, Matthew 4:16
Behold. Behold, beloved, is a term often used in the scripture to announce the presence of the Divine or the work or word of the Divine. ‘Behold’ informs the biblical reader that God’s revelation, or Theophany, is at hand. For example, “Behold, I am sending a messenger…” (Malachi 3:1), “Behold, a virgin shall conceive…” (Isaiah 7:4), or “Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people…” (Luke 2:10). Behold, beloved, God is with us.
These are the darkest days of the year. And for many of us the dwindling daylight is keenly felt in our psyche. I am a person who is very regulated around waking up at 5am and going to bed at 8pm (except for the occasional evening event or meeting!). And in the darkest days of the year, I’m ready to turn in even earlier! For some, the decrease in sunshine leads to seasonal affective disorder and even depression. Between now and January 8, 2025 the sun will rise a minute or two later each day. On the morning of January 9, 2025 the morning will begin to lengthen slightly each day until June. The afternoons with also shorten from now until December 12th. And the afternoons will begin to lengthen on December 13th.
I refer to the days between December 12th and January 9th as Halcyon Days – those days of stillness around the winter solstice. I write about this every year. Halcyon Days is a fairly amalgamous term which generally means days of nostalgia and reminiscing. It refers to the Ancient Greek tale of the Halcyon (or Kingfisher) and is referenced by Shakespeare when referring to days of remembering good times.
In our modern Christian world, these days of course are celebrated in a flurry of Advent, Christmas, and New Years activities. But, there’s an undercurrent of sparkling sunny afternoons, long and clear frosty nights, and chilly mornings. In these days, my Spirit yearns for sunshine!
In the morning, I like to sit in my favorite chair as the sun beams break over the horizon and through the old glass panes of the front door, across the living room and into my eyes. At breakfast, the sunshine hits my dining room window and I like to sit in the sunny spot while I eat and sip coffee. In the afternoon, the sun radiates through the picture window and onto my favorite ‘napping chair’, warming my feet and face. These are the days when there is a short window of opportunity in the afternoon for a walk – the warmest part of the day but before the early sunset and returning evening chill.
This year, I feel the compounding darkness of the season and the collective community response to the election. A group of inter-faith community members joined the Barrington Interfaith Partners in the BCCUCC library on the Monday evening before election day. Each person present was asked to share their name and one word that they were holding in their hearts. The collective majority said the word ‘hope’.
I think it is important to remember that even if many of those present did not hear the results they were expecting, their ‘hope’ is still present.The text quoted above from Isaiah and Matthew is the opening to the story of Jesus. It continues:
For a child has been born for us,
a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders,
and he is named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Great will be his authority,[a]
and there shall be endless peace
for the throne of David and his kingdom.
He will establish and uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time onward and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Behold, beloved, light breaks forth in the darkness as the morning sunshine breaks forth over the horizon. Hope is present just as the sparkling afternoon sunshine twinkles on the ponds and rivers around town. The Great Light that shines upon us, among us, in us, and through us is the presence of God. And, even in the shortest days of the year, there is much to celebrate, observe, and find hope therein. Behold, Beloved, Behold.