In August 2014, the militant group ISIS, seized the town of Bartella, Iraq, forcing the Christians there to leave on the threat of death. This year, government forces had retaken the city. This opened the way for the Assyrian Orthodox Christian citizens of the town to return to their hometown. It was December 24, and they were returning for the specific purpose. As the Associated Press report puts it: they “braved rain and wind to attend Christmas Eve Mass” in their own church building.
What they found was not pleasant at all. The town itself was decimated by the war. Many had to face the shocking reality that only a few houses were not “damaged by shelling or blackened by fire.” Not only that, the church building itself was a far cry from what it used to be. All the religious symbols were missing, and much of the light fixtures were gone. The gathered people had to use candles. Yet the Christians came to celebrate the coming of the Christ. Twenty-year-old university student Navine Ibrahim was one of the 300 who came. She and her family “found their house badly damaged. Everything they owned was gone.” Still she declared: “Our joy is bigger than our sadness.”
The dangerous situation in Bartella is far from over. The dark cloud of war still looms over the town. Many are not sure whether or not they will return to their hometown to stay. But this night, this Christmas Eve, they are gathered to affirm that the light of Christ still shines in the darkness. “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned” (Isaiah 9.2 NIV).
Scripture recognizes that darkness still pervades the world. Yet darkness will not have the last say. “For the darkness is disappearing, and the true light is already shining” (1 John 2.8 NLT). We celebrate Christmas because we affirm that the baby that was born in Bethlehem is the light of the world, and has come to dispel the darkness through his own sacrifice on the cross. Despite current appearances and experiences, where sadness may feel overwhelming, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it” (John 1.5 NLT). This is the gospel of hope, for Jesus declares: “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness” (John 12.46 NIV).
The gospel calls people to the light. This does not mean that we will no longer encounter darkness, but that the darkness will no longer define us or control us. Again, Jesus says: “I am the world’s Light. No one who follows me stumbles around in the darkness. I provide plenty of light to live in” (John 8.12 The Message). We still can declare: “Our joy is bigger than our sadness.”
—Keith Y. Jainga