Warmest Christmas gre
What is Christmas to you?
Trees, lights, shopping, spending money you don’t have? Buying fancy food you probably won’t eat? The shining faces of excited children?
Just another lonely day? Just another day of trying to keep warm; of trying to find something to eat? More difficult when the shops are shut and the shoppers have gone.
Christmas, the season to be jolly is, in fact, a joyless time for many.
The Big Sleep Out all around Britain at the beginning of December was to raise awareness and money for homeless charities.
In every town and village, the numbers of people needing the help of the foodbanks is increasing.
Christmas to many is the romanticised story of the baby Jesus, born in a stable, laid in a manger, with shepherds and angels and a star and kings.
But what does that mean to the busy, the homeless, the hungry, the weak, the poor and the lonely? Not a lot, probably, though it was for them He came.
But a place offering warmth, shelter, hot food and fellowship; the offer of a warm coat, hat, gloves, scarf; the offer of help for problems big and small – that is the meaning of Christmas. The love of God and the saving grace of Jesus Christ shown in practical ways – that is the spirit of Christmas. That is Christianity in action, which is not just for Christmas but for all – for ever.
Blessings to everyone for Christmas and for 2019 from the Church of Scotland, Presbytery of Lochaber. Have you ever wished you could have been present at the first Christmas night? Imagine hearing the angels sing. The wonder of seeing Jesus just after he was born, lying in the crib. Like Mary, we could have pondered the mystery in our hearts. If only we could have known the joy of the shepherds. Such an experience would have been so wonderful. Isn’t it a pity we never experienced it?
There is no reason for regret though. Those who encountered Jesus at Bethlehem or anywhere else in Israel – as a child or as a man – had no advantage over us. It is possible for us to have the most intimate and personal relationship with Jesus for he lives within us. During the Last Supper Jesus urged: ‘Make your home in me as I make mine in you.’ John 15:5. ‘You will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.’ John 14:20. However, do we experience this deeply personal encounter with the Lord?
During the Mass of Christmas Day, St John’s Gospel proclaims that although Jesus is ‘the true light…..the world did not know him. He came to his own domain and the world did not accept him.’ John 1:10-11. Is it not sad and tragic that God prepared the chosen people for the coming of Jesus and yet he was rejected? Is it not equally sad that our own society rejects him today? Are we ourselves any better? St Teresa of Avila, in her masterpiece The Interior Castle, emphasised that at the centre of our being Christ resides radiating light and beauty, longing for us to benefit from his presence but, unfortunately, very few Christians are even aware of his internal presence.
St Teresa’s insight begs the question would I have recognised Jesus at Bethlehem? On that holy night would I have been filled with joy, as only a few were, or would I have been indifferent to the divine presence like the majority? Yet the beautiful truth is that today we can still intimately encounter Jesus. This is God’s Will. It is only ourselves that prevents it. During Advent we heard the voice of John the Baptist pleading that we repent and prepare the Lord’s Way. Only then can we truly experience Jesus. This Christmas let us open up our hearts to the Lord. Let us seek silence amidst the noise to reflect on his love. Let us be prayerful. Let us turn away from sin and reach out to others in love. Then, with open hearts and minds, we will recognise Jesus and rejoice in his presence.
It would certainly have been lovely, but it was not necessary, for us to have been present at Bethlehem. For today we can still see Jesus’ glory that is his as God (c.f. John 1:14). Christ truly lives within us, longing for us to encounter him. May you do so and be thoroughly blessed this Christmas season. May I take this opportunity to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and prosperous 2019. Lochaber is, of course, a wonderful place to live in – spectacular scenery, many and diverse outdoor activities, caring communities but also a recent vibrancy which bodes well for the future. There seems to be an air of optimism which will hopefully translate into beneficial results for the area. Let us hope 2019 will be a year of achievement. Very best wishes. It is hard to believe another year has come and gone. As we approach Christmas and reflect on the past year, I am sure there are mixed emotions. All of us have faced good times and bad – some more than others.
I have been particularly struck by the centenary of the end of World War One. To enjoy the first Christmas of peace time after four years of bloody warfare must have been indescribable. Men returning from the front, families reunited and hearts starting to heal after loss and anguish. Although peace was announced in November, many were still returning from the front over the Christmas period and families waited with great hope to see brothers and sons and husbands.
There are few tragedies as emblematic of the inexplicable suffering and utter devastation of World War One than the sinking of the Iolaire as it carried men home for New Year’s Day 1919. The same families who had endured four years of worry and waiting, expecting a telegram any day, now watched as the ship carrying their precious boys sank within sight of home. The indescribable pain that swept the isles of Lewis and Harris can’t be put into words, but we must commemorate them this Christmas and New Year’s Day.
There is much to be thankful for in 2018. Whilst many parts of the world are not at peace, we are. Humankind has strived for peace on earth for centuries and generations and Christmas gives us hope that it is possible, despite our repeated failings as a civilised species. The Christmas story in Luke’s biography of Jesus tells of angels singing to shepherds by night: ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.’ May you know that peace not just this season but throughout 2019. The year is drawing to a close and as we enter the festive season I always find it right to have a period of reflection on what has gone before.
Politically we have seen some unprecedentedly turbulent times in recent months and years. As the United