the darkness. Open the map of the world, and
its bright spaces correspond with and are largely caused by the shining
of this Light. The teachings and spirit and power and personality of
Jesus are illuminating the world. Political despotism and slavery cannot
live under the light of his gospel of brotherhood and are fleeing from
his presence. Intellectual light is flooding all Christian lands: has it
not been touched by his torch? Moral darkness is being penetrated and
dissipated by the purity and peace of Christ. Pessimism meets its match
and victor in his mighty jubilant optimism. He clears the world of the
muddle of its confusion and turns it into our Father's house. He lifts
life up and makes it worth while in its great and grand meaning.

As from the uplifted hand of the Statue of Liberty in New York harbor
there shoots a sheaf of electric light that illuminates all the bay, so
from the pierced hand of Christ there shines a blaze of light that
penetrates and scatters the darkness of the world. We live in this
Light. This is the meaning and true blessing of Christmas time. This is
the real joy that breaks over the world on Christmas morning. All our
gifts derive their significance from this Gift; all our joys are
scintillations of this Light.


O thou Light of the world! In thy Light help us to see light. May sin
not wrap us in darkness, may not a worldly life breed in us a spirit of
bitterness and despair. Shine upon us with the light of thy truth and
thy love. Light up the world for us so that we shall see it as our
Father's house. May thy presence put a deeper, richer, gladder meaning
into all our life and pour a new splendor over all the world. And may
nations come to thy Light and kings to the brightness of thy rising.




[Illustration]




Printed in the United States of America





End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Wonderful Night; An Interpretation
Of Christmas, by James H. Snowden

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