Christmas is here – the day when we celebrate the love of God coming into the world in the ordinary setting of a human birth.
Today is a day to lift our hearts to heaven and wonder at the power of God’s love to transform the world.
Well - actually, today we may be too busy, too excited, or perhaps too lonely, or afraid, to lift our hearts to heaven. Perhaps at Christmas, the place we look for and find God’s love is exactly here, among the people and things that make up life; around the Christmas dinner table, in the phone call, the FaceBook post, the memories and the hopes.
‘This is love’, writes John, ‘not that you have loved God, but that he has loved you’, which means that we are to ‘love one another’. (I John 4:10-11)
At a recent communion service at Bunyan Meeting in Bedford, we shared our table with Christians in Myanmar, Burma. They were not there in person, but I had been speaking about the amazing work done through the ministry of Rev Sa Do in the Congregational Church of Myanmar. They show God’s love in real, practical ways to the families in the shanty towns that have sprung up around Yangon. It was a privilege to share that love across the continents by showing their images. They responded to the pictures on FaceBook and so we shared God’s love, and our love for each other.
Here is a short exercise of prayer and reflection, that may help you to recognise God’s love, wherever you are on Christmas Day
If you can, find some quiet moments . . .
Let your gaze travel round the people who are with you at the table. They may be driving you mad! But remember your love for them, and give thanks to God.
You may have photos of others who are not with you, or perhaps you can picture them in your mind’s eye. If you are alone, you could spend some time looking through some pictures. Again, remember what these people mean to you, or what they have meant. And give thanks.
Think of the people in your church, and those whose lives are touched by its ministry. Don’t dwell on the irritations or problems, but trace the lines of love that run through the fellowship, and reach out into the world.
Let your mind travel round your community: the people who live and work there, the schools, hospitals, workplaces, leisure facilities. What links you in to this community, and makes you belong?
Now let your mind wander further afield. Who do you know, who will be sharing Christmas around the world? What troubles your mind about the world this Christmas Day? Bring those people and situations to God in prayer.
Finally bring your mind back to where you are. Call to mind the story of Christmas. Remember that you are loved, and rejoice.
Again, Happy Christmas!
Janet Wootton