Christmas a time to share
Father Julian Hollywell
‘SO, are you ready for Christmas?’ As a vicar I get asked that a lot in December, along with, ‘It’s your busy time of the year’ as if vicars spend the rest of their time in hibernation waiting for the annual festive onslaught of singing Hark the Herald daily for weeks on end.
I think the question is asking if I’m prepared for Christmas? Have I got all the shopping done, cards sent, presents wrapped, turkey ordered, booze in the cupboard?
The answer is ‘No!,’ although there’s quite a lot of booze in the cupboard if I’m honest. My partner and I are both vicars and you have to live in a vicarage to understand how little free time we have once the carol services and Christmas tree festivals begin around the middle of November.
So yes it is my busy time of year’ That busyness, that pressure for Christmas to be a kind of competitive sport, has become more pronounced and it’s hard for people who don’t feel like celebrating, who do not have someone to buy a gift for, and the increasing numbers who cannot afford to engage with that kind of Christmas.
But am I ready for Christmas? You bet I am, in the sense that we all face things in life we couldn’t prepare for.
2018 has been a difficult year for lots of people and it looks like 2019 is going to be a year of even more uncertainty. There’s lots of reasons we might be facing a harder Christmas than we expected – bereavement, relationship breakdown, financial worries, isolation, and illness.
But, at the heart of it all, is the story of a baby with ill-prepared parents in difficult circumstances, and a truth that God chose to become like us. God chose to become limited and fragile and dependent on the love of others.
So a word to those looking forward to having a great Christmas, who will get all the preparations done and expect the wonder of Yuletide cheer with family and friends. Take a moment to look beyond your blessing and see who isn’t ready, who isn’t coping, and share some of your blessing with them. That way, as well as being well prepared, you’ll be truly ready to celebrate Christmas too!
St Werburgh’s, Spondon