Always winter but never Christmas. For we who grew up here in New Zealand where Christmas is in summer it is a little harder to comprehend the full grimness of a Northern Hemisphere winter. Winter for most of us here does not even involve snow, it is just colder and often wetter. But the winter's that C.S. Lewis and those in the Northern Hemisphere endure are freezing, snowladen, dark and often seem endlessly long. Christmas with its lights and cheer was a wonderous joyful time that helped break the dreariness of a long winter and reminded all to be kind to others and give to those less fortunate at a time when people needed that the most. So can you then imagine the horror of a time when it was always winter, an endless winter and never Christmas. This is what Narnia was like under the reign of the White Witch, cold, hard, life-supressing, no celebrations, no giving, no joy.

Then as Aslan nears, even before he confronts the Witch, her spells begin to lose their power. Father Christmas comes, finally able to get in to Narnia! Healing comes, but it is in dying for another that Aslan breaks the power of death, and begins to bring that conquering life to even the poor, petrified figures in the witch's palace.

Think of that beautiful scene in the Dawn Treader where Lucy is caught with the others in the nightmare of the Dark Island. Desparately she prays that Aslan might save them, and a light appears in the darkness, bringing hope, bringing love, leading them out of darkness into the light.

Now think of the first chapter of the gospel of John. Into this dark world comes one unconquerable shard of light: the Kingdom of Light incarnate. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. The darkness of the world would never and will never put it out. The light moves amongst the darkness on earth, and wherever He goes, the darkness is pushed back and the space is filled with light: He brings with him healing, acceptance, forgiveness and life. Demons flee at his command and he announces, "Look, the Kingdom of God is here among you!