Christmas Day

Isaiah 52.7–10 Hebrews 1.1–4 [5–12] John 1.1–14

Welcome to your Christmas Communion. We are gathered together to welcome the Christ child into this world. All those years ago that welcome was done by just two or three people as, in the traditional story, a few shepherds came to greet the child, and later some wise men also visited bringing gifts.

Today it is us doing the welcoming. We may not be bringing camels loaded with gold and frankincense and myrrh. The camels we changed for Nissan or Skoda, or whatever. But we do bring gifts.

We might struggle to find myrrh in the local shop. It was a resin used throughout history in medicine, perfumery, and incenses. Myrrh mixed with wine was widely used in many ancient cultures to produce pleasurable feelings and as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic. Today we give a quick squirt from a bottle of Chanel Number Five to produce a highly expensive aroma as we walk past. Correction, as you walk past. But it is used in a similar way, to give a pleasurable aroma.

Similarly, to find a quantity of Frankincense could be a problem. In days of old it could be found making its way, on the back of camels, travelling along the well-known Silk Road in the Middle East. Again, it is used for its medicinal qualities in addition to its aromatic value.

Now we come to the gold. I am not aware of any local gold mines, or of any streams nearby worth spending time and effort in panning. But, as before with the Myrrh and the Frankincense being used to create an acceptable aroma in a palace, a scent which hits you as you enter and brings to mind the sense of royalty would be befitting at the place of the entry of the Son of God into the world. The gold would be showing the wealth, the kingly wealth of any ruler.

Here we are in church. The Advent bleakness has been cast to one side as we fill the dark corners with flowers spreading their colour to dispel the gloom. There is brightness and light as befits any palace. Some churches will be using incense to fill the church with the aroma of frankincense. The church will be made a place ideally suitable for the Son of God to enter.

That has looked after the external material side of the world. But what of the internal part of our life. We have travelled through Advent preparing ourselves to receive Jesus. Are we ready? Have we the equivalent of flowers bursting into colour in the darkest places in our soul? Have we the equivalent of the aromatic spices preparing ourselves to receive the Lord?

Today, we are celebrating the birth of Jesus. Around the world bells are ringing, lights are glowing, people are celebrating. The Son of God has come to be with us, to teach us about God his Father, about his heavenly kingdom. To show, by example, how to relate to our neighbour. To love them and to love the Lord God.

This Christmastide let us welcome the Lord Jesus into the world, into our hearts, and receive him with joyfulness. May he be received the world over with people listening to his message and resolving to act upon it day by day.

Gill and I wish you a very Merry Christmas.

Collect for Christmas Day

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.