Christmas is rapidly approaching again but somehow this year feels different.
We are confronted with a world in chaos, all points of the globe contain conflict where many innocent people, from the very young to the very old, are being killed, traumatised, damaged, displaced, hungry, sick, and living without hope.
So, what does the Christmas story say to us and all people around the world?
The writer Luke’s gospel chapter 2 records where the angels bring a message of hope to the shepherds, people on the fringe, rejected by community. Luke writes – 1º But the angel said to them, “Listen! Do not fear. For I bring you good news of great joy, which will be to all people.”
This is a message of hope, and encouragement; there is no need to fear. But we do, we fear for the world and what is going to happen; we fear for our children and grandchildren and what the coming years are going to be; we fear that we may not even have a tomorrow to wake up too.
However, the Christmas story doesn’t just finish with the manger, but with good news of great joy which is for ALL people.
There is hope, even in a time of apparent hopelessness. Hope that comes in the person of 2q1Jesus, Emmanuel – God with us.
This is the good news of Christmas as sung by the angles, “on earth peace, and good will toward all people [men]”.
May the busyness of Christmas and the stress of trying to meet others’ expectations not overwhelm you.
May you find time of quietness where you can reflect on what makes us afraid and what we can do about it.
May we be encouraged by the good news of Jesus as laid out in the gospels.
May we understand that there can be peace on earth through the expression of good will towards ALL people.
Let us feed the hungry, house the homeless, stop the killing and provide medicine for the sick.
May the message of Christmas, fill you with hope, remove your fear, and invigorate you to reach out to others, bringing joy and hope.
May you have a holy, happy, and blessed Christmas.
May you keep safe in all that you do and see the future as filled with hope, not because of what you can do, but by what God has already done for you.
Rev Jim Furze.
