Christmas in Sandy Hook, Connecticut

Last updated on: December 18, 2012 at 8:16 am by Brad Williams

Christmas in Sandy Hook, Connecticut 2012-12-18T08:16:28-07:00 Brad Williams

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I have a son who is eight years old, and my daughter will be five in April. As the images of the children who lost their lives began to pop up on the internet yesterday, it was all too easy to see my own children in their place. I do not think I am alone in this.

As I write this, it is eight days until Christmas. Most of the presents we have bought for our children are already wrapped and under the tree. I am looking forward to seeing the faces of my son and daughter when they open their presents. Many in Sandy Hook are looking at presents this morning that will not be unwrapped, and many more are probably dealing with a kind of survivor guilt, wondering if it is even appropriate for their children to open theirs. I have read that some people are taking down the more festive Christmas decorations. I think that is an appropriate expression of a shared grief; it is difficult to have a festive celebration in the face of such mourning.

This Sunday, it was my turn to light the Advent Candle at our church. It fell to me to light the Candle of Peace. I thought of the Longfellow poem, Christmas Bells, as I reflected on this tragedy, and I fidgeted in my seat:

And in despair I bowed my head;
“There is no peace on earth,” I said;

“For hate is strong,
And mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”

Is the story of the incarnation of the Son of God able to shed any hope in this dark world? I don’t think Santa and all his reindeer can, but I do think the story of Christ’s birth, when you whittle away all the lights and trees and presents and stockings, is able to bring hope to the hurting.

Instead of the assigned reading for the morning, I lit the Candle of Peace, and I read from Matthew 2:16-18. This is passage that records the actions of another mad man against children. Herod had all the boys under two killed in Bethlehem and the surrounding area in an attempt to get rid of the Messiah. Matthew summarizes the grief this atrocity brought very poignantly:

A voice was heard in Ramah,
weeping and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children;
she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.

She refused to be comforted. The people of Bethlehem refused to be comforted, and who could blame them? Their children were no more. Many of us have read this as a part of the Christmas story for years, I know I have, but Sunday morning, it slammed me. Why is this included in the Christmas narrative at all?

I believe that Herod’s rampage is given to remind us of why Christ came in the first place. Jesus came because the world is full of tyrants and mad men. Jesus came because there is a real enemy who is shredding the hearts and lives of people everywhere. Grief is a thick blanket covering all the world, but Christ has come to shine light through the veil.

Christmas will come to Sandy Hook this year, but it will look and feel different than it has in the past. In the dark, every light seems bright.

Of the Moment

Christmas

newtown PA

sandy hook elementary

Previous Post

December 17, 2012

Is Sandy Hook a Sign that We need a Christian Culture? Or a Savior?

Next Post

December 18, 2012 Will My Son Be Black Enough for Rob Parker?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Asides Elsewhere Featured Film Games General Culture Headline Literature Music Of the Moment Podcast Politics RetroPost Sports Technology Television Uncategorized Viral

Select a Month February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz