Isaiah sets the context of the event. Matthew recalled Jesus’ words.
“…the people living in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned.” Isaiah 9:2;. Matt.4:16 NIV
Hymnology alludes to it: ‘O holy night’; ‘Yet in thy dark streets shineth’. Jesus arrived into darkness. The words above introduced his ministry. Isaiah’s spoken to people caught up in ‘conspiracy and fear’, input from ‘mediums’ and ‘walking in distress and hunger’. (Isaiah 8:12-22). He could’ve been talking about southern Ontario.
But why bring it up among ESL teachers? Working with newcomers is tough. Stuff happens, crises arrive, they’re homesick, the end of the month is further than their bank account. They never supposed materialism would be this foggy, black, and tough. They’re in darkness.
Teaching ESL makes us evangelists. Like Jesus as he introduces his ministry in Matthew 4, we are making an assault on darkness in Jesus’ name, acting as his hands and feet. Through us,
…the people living in darkness
have seen a great light;
There was a star, too. God placed a light into a dark tapestry displaying enough hope to keep them searching ‘til they saw, heard, touched and ate with this brightness. The star isn’t around tonight, but the light is. You’ve been woven into this dark needlepoint as the hopeful potential. The students come, perhaps only a few, as we enter Canadian winter, because there is something about you that is real, perhaps at times sinful, but with more light and hope than they’ve seen. They want what you’ve been given. The great light has dawned.
To those working in the dark, may you have a blessed Christmas and as we worship, may many follow.
Brian Seim, for the Southern Ontario Cooperative of ESL Ministries.