November and December are not good months for many people. The darkness is hard on some, and on top of that, there's the cold and rain. This can be particularly distressing for sensitive individuals. Of course, it's no coincidence that well-known holidays fall during this dark time: Christmas for Christians and Hanukkah for Jews.
By Dr. Tobias Krämer
Both Christmas and Hanukkah are festivals of light and well-placed in the darkest time of the year. Lux lucet in tenebris – the light shines in the darkness (John 1:5). Naturally, where else?
We recently held a CSI live webinar on Hanukkah . The Grünwald couple from Israel – devout Jews – gave us a wonderful introduction to this festival. The key point: Although there was only enough consecrated oil for one day at the rededication of the Temple in 164 BCE, the menorah burned for a full eight days until new oil could be produced. A miracle from God! The light shines in the darkness – that's how it was then. And that's how it can be today, because everyone has the opportunity to be a light to others. The couple concluded their presentation with this message.
Next came a presentation from our CSI staff member, Dina D'Monte. Dina's husband is a pastor; they have two children and have been celebrating Jewish holidays for years. Dina picked up on the miracle of light at Hanukkah and connected it to the miracle of Christmas. This miracle was the birth of Jesus—Jesus, the light of the world (John 8:12). That, too, is a miracle of God! We all have the opportunity, Dina pointed out, to receive Jesus' light and thus become light ourselves.
Both contributions ended with a similar message, rooted in Isaiah 60:1: “Arise, shine, for your light has come.” Two Jews and one Christian, the same heartbeat, the same perspective, spontaneous and heartfelt – that moved me.
One thing is crucial here: we cannot be light if we focus on the darkness and let our thoughts revolve around the gloom of this world. We can only be light if we concentrate on one thing: to shine. "Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). That's how it's done. And of course, the light shines where it is needed: in the darkness. Where else?
In that spirit: Happy Holidays!
