December 3, 2010

GENEVA – In his 2010 Christmas message, The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) President Bishop Munib A. Younan reminds Christians around the world that Christ comes to bring his light and hope to those surrounded by darkness.

Younan's reflections are based on 2 Corinthians 4:6. He also evokes the story of the 33 Chilean miners, who earlier this year were buried beneath tons of rock for more than two months before they were finally rescued.

Their hope of rescue, says the LWF president, was from above as they waited in the darkness, most probably amidst doubt, but never giving up.

"So it is in our world of darkness, Christ was born in Bethlehem, the light of the world and the hope of the nations," says Younan, who is bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land. His message also draws attention to this year's LWF Christmas card image, painted by a Salvadoran artist family, which depicts beams of light shining above Mary and the baby Jesus.

"Whoever you are, wherever you are in the world, when darkness surrounds you – the darkness of domestic violence, the darkness of hunger and poverty, the darkness of disease, the darkness of injustice and oppression, the darkness of loneliness and alienation – the message of Christmas is that the light shines out in darkness and into our hearts and brings us the real peace."

"May the light shine on you this Christmas," he adds.

The full text of the 2010 LWF Christmas message follows:

2010 LWF Christmas Message from the President of the Lutheran World Federation

2 Corinthians 4:6 – For it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give them the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."

No story has moved the world community this year like that of the 33 Chilean miners trapped beneath 700,000 tons of rock for 69 days. While family members prayed and worked for rescue, the miners could only sit quietly waiting in the darkness. Their hope was from above. What impressed me was that they never lost hope of being rescued although they must have been surrounded by caverns of doubt. Then the day finally came and they were brought up one by one to the surface with the light shining so brightly they needed to wear sunglasses.

So it is in our world of darkness, Christ was born in Bethlehem, the light of the world and the hope of nations.

Whoever you are, wherever you are in the world, when darkness surrounds you – the darkness of domestic violence, the darkness of hunger and poverty, the darkness of disease, the darkness of injustice and oppression, the darkness of frustration and loss of meaning and purpose, the darkness of loneliness and alienation – the message of Christmas is that the light shines out of darkness and into our hearts and brings us the real peace: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives" (John 14:27).

This image of God's saving light is represented in the LWF Christmas card from El Salvador where Mary and the baby Jesus appear as a typical emigrant family. They seem to be in a new manger by themselves, but the beams of light extend to them to warm them with the light of Christ, and draw the surrounding community to embrace this humble family with God's love. This light shining on the whole town of the El Salvadoran Bethlehem assures them that they are not alone. Such a light is not theirs to keep and store away, but they hear the voice of the babe calling, as it calls us in the communion, "You are the light of the world."

Joyous light of heavenly glory,
loving glow of God's own face,
you who sing creationÕs story,
shine on every land and race.
– Marty Haugen, Evangelical Lutheran Worship, 561

May the light shine on you this Christmas 2010.

Bishop Dr Munib A. Younan
President, The Lutheran World Federation
Bishop, The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land

Download the 2010 Christmas message in English and German in PDF format (French and Spanish versions to follow): http://www.lutheranworld.org/lwf/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/LWF-Christmas-message-2010-EN.pdf. and http://www.lutheranworld.org/lwf/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/LWF-Christmas-message-2010-DE.pdf.

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