You will probably be reading these words as Advent begins on December 1, and it will soon be time for the Christmas tree to make its way from the garage to the house. Loved and familiar things will come out of their boxes to be put in a place of honour for a few weeks, and, in the process, no doubt, there will be many discussions about how things should be arranged.
In some ways the journey from garage, shed or loft to house is not an unfamiliar one at this time of year, with our carols telling us about a family given shelter for the time of Jesus’ birth, before moving into more permanent quarters, we can assume, before they had to flee for their lives after the Magi came to visit.
Good News
It is a reminder of how vulnerable God’s good news was when he decided to package it in human form, in the child Jesus. We read history backwards, with hindsight, knowing the end of the story from the beginning, but for all those who were actors in the drama of grace, there was no such clarity or certainty. They were moving forward as we do, one day at a time, trusting God, and still having to live with their fears and worries as they went.
Fragile Lives
Our own lives are just as fragile, as are those of our neighbours, both near and far. We live in a materially rich society, and we may feel insulated from many of the pressures other people face in more exposed parts of the world, where famine or conflict or natural disaster or disease are an ever-present reality. But the fact is that we do not know our own futures, and we all need faith and hope, love and respect, care and trust.
Trust God
These are the gifts God offers us through the man born in Bethlehem. He invites us to trust him, to build a community of care and generosity, to be people who reach out to others rather than closing ourselves in against the world. At Christmas, we will all probably do things that are moved by the spirit of the good news that is Jesus. But unlike the Christmas tree and its decorations, God is not asking us to make an effort for twelve days or so. He is asking us to make this our lifestyle, the expression of our values and our contribution to his kingdom coming on earth. Jesus, and all that he teaches and invites us to discover, is for life, not just for Christmas.
So may the season of Advent give us time to reflect on the hope that Jesus brings, and may the celebration of Christmas inspire us to act hopefully all year round for the good of the world.
Merry Christmas,
Dave
