Back in 1973, new singer Maureen
McGovern recorded a song for The Poseidon Adventure, one of the first of
the not-so-big-budget disaster films. The song was a song of hope… “Oh, can't
you see the morning after? It's waiting right outside the storm. Why don't we
cross bridge together? And find a place that's safe and warm"
Disasters happen.
Many of them go unnoticed because they are in a corner of the world that
many people would just as soon forget.
Daily, there are hundreds of people that lose their life
unexpectedly. In the United States over
35,000 people are killed each year in highway accidents.
Nevertheless, the loss of innocent life is tragic. Our hearts are moved when we hear of children
being gunned down. It seems senseless,
tragic and meaningless.
When Jesus was born, the Bible says that Herod, the King
of Judea was ‘exceedingly angry’. Being
angry and having power whether it is having soldiers at your command or an
automatic weapon in your hands is not a good combination. Herod commanded that all male babies in his
district under two years old be put to death.
The Gospel of Matthew quotes the Prophet Jeremiah and writes, “A voice
was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping
for her children, Refusing to be comforted, Because they are no more.”
(Matthew 2:18)
Yet, the message of Christmas was and continues to be
‘Peace on Earth’. The gospel of this Savior, born in Bethlehem is peace
and His message is to bring hope and joy.
There was a morning of hope after that day of evil King Herod when babies were put to death just as there was a morning of hope after the crucifixion of Jesus at Calvary. The same prophet Jeremiah who prophesied about the weeping for the children also told of a morning after, "I will turn their mourning into joy; I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow". (Jeremiah 31
We have hope when we have the peace that passes understanding. As believers in that peace, we are to share that hope and help others cross over and know that there is hope right outside the
storm.
