Christmas DayIsaiah 52.7–10 Hebrews 1.1–4 [5–12] John 1.1–14Welcome 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 DayAlmighty God,you have given us your only-begotten Sonto take our nature upon himand as at this time to be born of a pure virgin:grant that we, who have been born againand 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.
Fourth Sunday of AdventIsaiah 7.10-16 Romans 1.1-7 Matthew 1: 18 - endMany years ago I went on an outing to The Netherlands. One of the treats was a visit to the Reichs Museum. At that time I was not really interested in art. Portraits all looked the same and landscapes just pictures of fields and trees. Art had little meaning to me.We were met at the door by our guide. His opening words were that ‘after this visit you will never look at art in the same way again’. He then proceeded to lead us through, gallery after gallery, explaining what the pictures were telling, the story behind their composition, and what we could learn from them. He was right in what he said. I now look at art in totally new ways. My eyes have been opened.From flags on ships flying in the wrong direction to people in paintings who could not have been there, and from bowls of exotic fruit on tables in early houses to salmon on the plates of the poorest of people. I could go on. Sufficient to say that I was taught how to look at art.We are now just days away from celebrating the birth of Jesus. What was being expected of him? Prophets had claimed that someone special was to arrive. Circumstances and signs were just right and pointed to Jesus as the one expected. In this child much was being anticipated.The birth of Jesus was the work of the Holy Spirit. “Mary was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit”. In the birth of Jesus the Holy Spirit of God was very much at work. The Holy Spirit had been very much at work up to now. It was the Holy Spirit which brought God’s truth to us, who taught the prophets what to say, who told them what to do. Who told Joseph about the coming birth.With the birth of Jesus our eyes are opened as to what God is like. We see in him what we ought to be like. Before Jesus we only had vague ideas and they were often wrong. They were the product of our best guesses. Now our eyes were to be opened. As Jesus grew we could see in him love being poured out to many, compassion to the poor and needy, to those who were exiled. We could see mercy and the purity of God. In Jesus truth was being given to us. Obedience to the will of God. We learnt the truth of God.Coming to welcome the birth of Jesus. Being with him side by side as he grew. Learning from what he taught. These are the museum moments that I experienced. They are the same moments that we all can experience. Walking through the galleries is likened to walking through our life. At times we encounter different circumstances. When those events are explained to us our understanding grows. We are better prepared as we move through life.As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus and as we are making way to allow him into our hearts, these will enable us to see things as they truly are. As the guide at the museum explained the hidden depths of the paintings, Jesus will reveal to us the hidden depths of God. Life is quite different when Jesus teaches us how to look at things. When Jesus comes into our hearts, he opens our eyes to see things truly.Collect for the Fourth Sunday of AdventGod our redeemer,who prepared the Blessed Virgin Maryto be the mother of your Son:grant that, as she looked for his coming as our saviour,so we may be ready to greet himwhen he comes again as our judge;who is alive and reigns with you,in the unity of the Holy Spirit,one God, now and for ever.
Christ the KingJeremiah 23.1-6 Colossians 1.11-20 Luke 23.33-43King Charles III is being kept busy with a full diary which takes him to almost every corner of the world where he acts as an ambassador for this country. He does not go defaming his hosts but building up connections to the mutual benefit of all.Now imagine the situation if there was another king also doing similar work. Unless they were of the same mind can you imagine the diplomatic confusion that would arise? If they were both in the Palace at the same time would they sit on thrones, side by side?You cannot have two kings ruling the same country at the same time. Here is where we have a problem. Before this passage in the gospel reading we had the verses detailing how Jesus had entered Jerusalem. The Jews had long been expecting some person to come along to save them from the Roman power. When Jesus entered the city on the back of a donkey crowds descended upon him proclaiming him as the one who was to free them from the Roman occupation. He was acclaimed as a king to lead the push to rid them of the Romans.Ever since the times of King David the promise of a descendent who would establish a kingdom and rule with justice and righteousness had been deeply rooted in their faith. It was the messianic expectation that drove them to acclaim Jesus as the promised King.When questioned by Pilate, Jesus states, "My kingdom is not of this world. You say that I am a king. For this reason I was born, and for this reason I came into the world, to testify to the truth." His kingship is spiritual and transcendent, not limited to earthly realms. Jesus was explaining how a kingly leadership of a terrestrial nature was not for him.The crucifixion of Jesus is a time when his kingship is proclaimed. When on the cross that kingship is displayed with a notice, “This is the King of the Jews." A public declaration for all to see. It may have been put there in mockery but at the same time we can see his love, his sacrificial love, being given for all.Seeing Jesus hanging there on the cross has great meanings for us as followers of him. As we believe in him as the Son of God we see in him control over our life such that we should bow down before him. Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father is our confession as we see in him full authority.We have a part to play in his kingship because we are ambassadors of his and we are to go out and demonstrate his values of justice, mercy, and love. In all that we do our actions should embody these virtues. There should be no room in our heart for hatred. Not to love our neighbour goes against the very commandment that Jesus gave us. To allow even the smallest of feelings of animosity within us removes from us a little bit of that love that has been poured down upon us. Instead, showing mercy is allowing that love, given to us in abundance, to be shared. These are kingly qualities that come to us through Jesus and which govern us in our relationships.The kingship of Jesus is the base of our Christian faith. It is also the base of all that we do. In the life of Jesus we see the fulfilment of the prophecies set out in the Old Testament and in his teaching we learn of the heavenly kingdom where he rules eternally. As he promised to the criminal who was crucified with him, and who asked to be remembered when Jesus entered into his kingdom, he will be in paradise. That promise is made to us today as we proclaim in our hearts that Jesus is Lord. He rules as King for ever.
Second Sunday before Advent2 Thessalonians 3.6-13 Luke 21.5-19It is a nice sunny afternoon and thoughts of a picnic in a green meadow cross our mind. Alongside the meadow is a gentle river wending its way with the waters sparkling in the sunlight. This image is, perhaps, in your mind as you sit back and allow your thoughts to run wild for a few moments. Building up on that image there is a hamper at your side full of sandwiches and other delicacies with a blanket to sit on and relax as you soak up the atmosphere.For many, however, such a dream is all that it can be. The reality is far removed from this image. The field is replaced by piles of rubble where once upon a time graceful buildings stood. The countryside has been ploughed up by the tracks of tanks and military vehicles where fierce fighting has been taking place. A hamper full of sandwiches and cakes are a distant dream as food becomes harder to come by. A sumptuous picnic is replaced by hunger as the order of the day.Elsewhere the meadows are covered in water. Streams have grown into fierce torrents. Storms, hurricanes and cyclones have hit the land and brought flooding and destruction in their path. Homes and possessions have been swept away in the torrential flood water. Again, food has become scarce. No dreams of sandwiches by a gentle stream can be seen as an option. It is a fight for survival.All these things are happening today. They have been happening in history and will, no doubt, be happening in the future. Back in the days of Jesus it was believed that time existed in two ages. The current age with all of its distrust and ill-feelings, with its all-to-ready to sue society where neighbours are prepared to sue and seek ridiculous payouts, where badness could be seen around almost every corner, is a time which we have to endure. It is a time which had to be passed through.Amongst all of this there was to be found beauty on the most lavish scales. The Temple was adorned with beautiful stones. There were gifts that were dedicated to God. Today, travelling through Europe we can visit and enter churches and cathedrals decorated with artwork almost beyond our dreams and all done to the glory of God. Even in our own country we can see, again in churches and cathedrals, such artwork all of which is testament of our love of God. Our worship is being enhanced by the surroundings of beauty.But we are being told that all of this will be torn down at the end of the age. We will hear of wars and fighting. People will come among us and try to lead us astray from our worship of God. The very Earth itself will be subject to violent earthquakes, famine and plagues. There will be portents and signs from heaven.Families will turn against themselves; there will be imprisonments and betrayals. It will be as if the world is indeed turning itself inside out. But fear not. Trust in the Lord. This is the advice that we are being given. When all about us seems to be falling apart, when we appear to be stood there alone, remember that our Lord is there with us. As Jesus said in the gospel reading, he will give us words and wisdom. Those who may stand against us will not be able to contradict us.Stand up and be brave against all adversity. We are told that not a hair of our head will perish. By holding out against everything we will win and gain our souls. Time and time again we are reassured that God is with us. We are his children. The time will come when these things are behind us. Our battle won.Our goal, towards which we are working, is the kingdom of God. The pathway may be difficult at times, but we will endure with God at our side. As we stride forward, we may encounter some who have succumbed to the trials of the time. It is when we meet them that we stop to give succour and aid. Bandage their wounds as is our Christian duty, for we may fall and reach out for help from others.I remember being told once by a bishop that there are times when it beholds the helper to be helped. As we lead our life, and as we see about us trials and tribulation, hardship and anguish, it is so much in our Christian nature that we try to reach out to help, to do what we can to assist in improving the lot of those about us. In such times our help can be invaluable, if not in a physical way, then through our prayers. Prayer is a powerful tool.The news may be full of information that tears at our heart. We see images of people in despair standing surrounded by ruin. It is not practical for us to go out to those places, in fact our very presence could exacerbate the situation for we would be drawing upon what meagre resources they have for themselves. What we can do is hold them in our prayers, their helpers, and those who endeavour to supply aid. That way we can assist them all as, together, we make our way towards that place of peace and heavenly calm in the presence of God.Collect for the Second Sunday before AdventHeavenly Father,whose blessed Son was revealed to destroy the works of the deviland to make us the children of God and heirs of eternal life:grant that we, having this hope,may purify ourselves even as he is pure;that when he shall appear in power and great glorywe may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom;where he is alive and reigns with you,in the unity of the Holy Spirit,one God, now and for ever.
