“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom, a light has shown.” This is the prophecy of Isaiah and we are living in as disturbing times as the prophet was with our government gridlock, terrorism on the upswing, and urban and domestic poverty and violence on the increase. But there is good news: “For a child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests.” Isaiah gives names to this child—all of which are Christmas gifts to us:
Wonder-Counselor: All of us need someone to whom we can turn to who points us in the right direction. Who better knows what is in the human heart and what we need for the fullness of life than the resurrected Jesus who carries with him his human experience?
God-Hero: We need models of integrity, humanity, and valor in our live, people who encourage us to realize our potential. What better hero can we have than the one in the Gospel who challenges the weak-hearted to bravery, the sinners to repentance, the blind to see the deaf to hear, and the crippled to walk.
Father-Forever: No one has a father long enough. He gives the unconditional love we all long for. What better father can we have than the Father who waits for his son to return from his life of foolishness or goes out to draw his other stubborn into his embrace?
Prince of Peace: St. Augustine says, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” Most of us have a restless heart syndrome. Where does true peace come from? It can only come from the Prince of Peace who implants this gift into men’s and women’s hearts and gives them the vocation to bring “peace on earth to all people of Good Will.”
“For a child is born to us, a son given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests.”
