THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Father Christmas or the father of Christmas?

Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth peace to those on whom his favour rests. — Luke 2:14.

Yesterday I asked the question, do you follow Father Christmas, or the Father of Christmas?

Now we all know about the big fat elf in a red suit, who adorns all the retail shops in town, organising sales. But who is this “Father of Christmas”? Firstly, if he were around today, he would be the first to wear a white ribbon, the first to help out at the foodbank, or defend those in trouble.

He was a man of deep faith, whom God knew would always do what he was asked to do. A man who knew how to forgive, and stand by his wife, no matter what.

We all have seen him, standing quietly in the background in the manger scene pictures. God’s man, the one who would be the Earthly Father of the Christ child. I call him the “Father of Christmas”.

He is simply referred to as the carpenter (Matt 13.55; Mark 6.3). We know he was a descendant of King David, hence they had to go to Bethlehem. This babe was destined to become King of Kings. Just as God sent the angel Gabriel to talk to the woman he had chosen to carry the messiah, he sent the same angel to speak to the one who was to be the Earthly dad. The one who would teach the child how to pray, to understand the scriptures, to hear the voice of his heavenly Father. My question to us men: When it comes to character-building, what are you teaching?

Rev Kevin Tarry (Rev Kev), assistant

priest, Anglican