What does the Christ-child have in common with police dramas? What does Jesus, Saviour of the world have to do with The Bill, CSI and – for those of us who remember it – Z Cars? The answer is fingerprints!

As I journey through Advent this year, I have been reminded afresh of the fingerprints of God as the Old Testament prophets point us to the coming Messiah.

For example, writing 700 years before the birth of Jesus, Isaiah proclaims: ‘For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, And the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace’ (Is 9:6). My research indicates that there are 48 major predictions of Jesus’ coming in the Old Testament. Fingerprints - fingerprints of the Messiah to come, of what it would look like when God came in human form, with a motive of love.

So, this Advent, as I prepare to celebrate once again the birth of the Christ-child and reflect on the certainty of his return one day, I am trying to consciously be aware of seeing today’s fingerprints of God.
As I live for Jesus everyday wherever I find myself, where do I see God at work, leaving his fingerprints behind?

I wonder, will you join me in asking that question this Advent?

I pray that as we ask that question, God may reveal his fingerprints, and that we might rejoice and with sincerity of heart respond… ‘O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel’.

Archdeacon Martin