Thought for the Week

 

25 December 2007 – Christmas Day

 

Collect:

Almighty God,

you have given us your only-begotten Son

to take our nature upon him

and as at this time to be born of a pure virgin:

grant that we, who have been born again

and made your children by adoption and grace,

may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit;

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 

Readings

Isaiah 52, 7 - 10

 

Psalm 98

 

Hebrews 1, 1 - 14

 

John 1, 1 - 14

 

Carol Services and Nativity Plays have been held in many churches in the chaplaincy since the beginning of December.   We’ve celebrated the Christmas story by the light of chandeliers and candles.   On my travels I observed the increase in Christmas lights on houses, barns and public buildings.   Whilst I hope that these lights reflect an eagerness to share the Good News of Jesus’ coming, the cynic in me is more tempted to accept that it merely reflects increased affluence and the ready availability of cheap outdoor lighting! 

 

So, I’ve seen the spectacle of the Christmas lights.   At the same time I’ve been reminded by many people of the importance of light in our everyday lives. Our musicians need a good light in order to read the music, our readers need a clear light by which to read the message of Christmas, and we all need a good light after the service to show us the way from the Church to the Salle de Fetes to share in the mulled wine and mince pies!

 

In recent weeks we’ve discussed the effect of darkness on our daily routine and behaviour.  People deprived of sunshine may suffer the depressive symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder.   Those living nearer to the Arctic Circle spend several months in near darkness.   Although they tend to hibernate during those twilight months they are more likely to commit suicide at that time of the year.   All this confirms that light is not only helpful - so we can find our way around - it’s also essential to our well-being.

 

Alongside the natural light we need spiritual light, the light St. John refers to: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never mastered it.” 

 

At the Carol Services we heard afresh the words from the Old and New Testaments.  We were reminded that God created the world for humankind, and that humankind failed to respond appropriately to God’s generosity.   But God did not reject us.  Instead he inspired the prophet Isaiah to write: “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light…… For unto us a Son is born…..” [Isaiah 9. 2, 6-7]. The night sky was bright indeed when the angels brought the good news to the shepherds, and by the light of a very bright star the wise men found their way from Persia to Bethlehem and brought their gifts to Jesus. [Luke 2.8-14 and Matthew 2.1-12]

 

We heard more words from the gospel of John: “In the beginning was the Word.”  Reminding us that Jesus was with God when the world was created. Reminding us that Jesus was, and still is, part of the creation story.  So why did Jesus come to live among us as “the Word made flesh”?   John gives us the answer: “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but may have eternal life.” [John 3.16]

 

That is the wonder of God’s gift to us.  Firstly, that God, in his great love for humankind, created a world fit for us to live in.  A world with natural light provided by the sun, moon and stars for our physical and emotional well-being.  That might appear to have been a remote act – love at a distance. 

 

But God didn’t stop there.   In his even greater love for us, God sent his only Son to share in our humanity.   We can’t get any closer to anyone than by living alongside them.   Because Jesus shared our experience he understands all our hopes and fears, our joys and sorrows, our pain and despair.   By his death and resurrection Jesus lives for ever – accessible to each one of us through the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

May the Good News of Jesus, the Word of God made flesh, the light of the world, be with you and all whom you love this Christmastide and for ever.   Amen.

 

Revd. June Hutchinson: Anglican Chaplaincy of Midi-Pyrénées & Aude

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