We are in the early days of winter, the days when darkness has the upper hand. The nights are long, so thatmany of us go to sleep in darkness and awake in darkness. These hours of darkness are alreadyshortening, day by day; darkness is gradually giving way to the light. But in the fall the process will begin again,with darkness overtaking the light. Sothe darkness in nature advances and recedes, but it never completely goes away.

This darkness in the natural world is a reminder that there is another kind of darkness in thisworld: spiritual darkness. This is thedarkness that is the absence of spiritual light, the absence of the Savior Jesus Christ. He is the Light of theworld. Where He is known and believedthere is light and life. Where He is notknown or where He is rejected there is nothing but darkness and death. This world, infected by sin and with Satan asits god, is a dark place. The evidenceof its darkness we see all around us, and we see it every day.

Grace and peace be to you from God our Father and the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Our meditation is based on the Child Jesus in Egypt. You will see the Lord carries you into spiritually difficult situations for the purpose that His saving grace might shine.

A 10-year-old girl had gone with her family to see some Christmas light displays at various locations throughout the city. At one church, they stopped and got out tolook more closely at the beautifully done nativity scene. “Isn’t that beautiful?” said the girl’sgrandmother. “Look at all the animals,Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus.” “Yes, Grandma,” replied the granddaughter. “It is really nice. But, there is only one thing that bothers me. Isn’t baby Jesus ever going to grow up? He’s the same size he was last year!”