The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God’ (
In Charles Dickens’ classic story A Christmas Carol, Mr. Scrooge encounters the ghost of his former business partner, Marley, who informs him that he will be visited by three spirits. First, the Ghost of Christmas Past, then the Ghost of Christmas Present, and then the Ghost of Christmas Future. Among the three visitations, however, the Ghost of Christmas Future fills Scrooge with the most trepidation and fear. This spirit is the most fearsome, the most unknown. Among the three spirits, the Ghost of Christmas Future has no face, but is a nearly gruesome form.
Perhaps Dickens was on to something here, as he knew our greatest fears lie ahead of us. Our worries about our families, our congregations, our finances, our children—all of these and more can seem uncertain to us because we have not yet experienced the future. What will it bring?
The Gospel of Luke paints a picture of good news—gospel—which has everything to do with the shadows of the future. Mary will be overshadowed by the Most High, and she will give birth to the Son of God.
The message is clear. We need not fear the future. God’s shadow is a large one, and God’s shadow is cast over us in good and loving ways. The future is not a thing to be feared but an experience to be embraced. We need not loathe tomorrow; but we can anticipate joy, acceptance, salvation and good news.
As we consider our youth ministries this year, there may be many teenagers who need to hear this good news for tomorrow. They may be living in a shadow of despair, misery or heartache; but we can remind them God’s shadow has been cast over them in Christ, and this shadow has fallen on good places for them. They have a promise from God and a bright future. We can help them embrace it.
There are, indeed, many shadows and forms of anxiety that can enslave us to the past or the present; but when we realize our future is faith, what a difference it can make. You have a bright future in your ministry, too. Day by day, year by year…God will continue to unfold a marvelous wonder in your life and in your ministry.
