Isaiah 9:1–4 

But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined. You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. (NRSV)  

Human hearts long for the shift from anguish to joy, from oppression and gloom to freedom and exultation. In the time of Isaiah, the prophet’s people were living under the domination of the Assyrian empire. The prophetic poem goes on to tell of the coming king who will save the people and rule with justice and equity. The words are familiar to us because we often sing them at Christmastime:  

For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders, and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). 

For humans to live and to be ruled with wisdom, love, and peace—that is God’s will, God’s dream for humanity. Christ the King provides a model for us. He is the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. As followers of God in the way of Jesus, we can turn toward the will of God and the prophet’s vision like plants turn toward the light.  

We may not experience that wisdom, peace and love perfectly at this time, but we may continue to work for it, to hope for it, and to ground ourselves repeatedly in God’s dreams for the world. God’s power is the power of possibility.