Christmas Day Reflection

As I look around at our neighbours, I’m wondering what sort of Christmas they are having, and whether Jesus is actually playing any part in their celebrations. That is, of course, if they are in any position to be celebrating in the first place (for we cannot assume that everybody is of the mind or in the position to celebrate). Now, I want to be clear – I don’t say this judgmentally, but rather longingly! For many people have not had the opportunity of really appreciating who Jesus is.

Mary gave birth to Jesus, and wrapped him in pieces of cloth, and laid him in an animal trough – because there was no room anywhere else. Today, Jesus can be confined to be the plaster doll in the nativity scene, in some cases the subject of blindly repeated Christmas carols, or a swear word when frustration strikes – because there is no room anywhere else. The rooms of so many houses are so full of things of dubious importance, that there is no space for Jesus. This state of affairs should disturb us. Why ? Because so many people and neighbourhoods and communities are missing out!

This is not just an eternal destiny thing … far from it. This is about the opportunity to know and experience Jesus in everyday life here and now. In some cases this will be because the gospel message has been outright rejected. In other situations, through apathy, laziness, or self-satisfaction, Jesus has been cast out to the back room or the shed, right out to the periphery, or out of their minds entirely. However there is another state of affairs that should disturb us even more. Large numbers of people, perhaps even the growing majority, have never (effectively) heard about the good news of Jesus … even in the streets around where we live.

So what are people missing out on? Why would be so concerned? What has Jesus to offer that people are missing out on? We should be able to answer this question, for it is exactly what we are experiencing and enjoying, that they are missing out on. This is what we want for our neighbours and friends also:

·        Salvation – where we can be totally lost in our destructive habits and behaviours, Jesus came to rescue us and allow us to take a totally new direction … “[Mary] will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Being saved from our “sins” releases us to live with life-long purpose in an intimate and uninterrupted relationship with our Creator.

·        Peace – where there is so much hurt, violence and disruption around people’s lives, the opportunity of having an uninterrupted connectedness to our loving heavenly parent and creator allows us to survive, develop and flourish … “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means God is with us” (Matthew 1:23); “Glory to God in highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favours” (Luke 2:14).

·        Light – where often life is a mystery and full of deeply difficult challenges, Jesus came to shine light into the darkness and give us guidance which helps us to see our way forward. Because of this richness of knowing Jesus, we must persist in sharing the message and living out the light and peace and hope-filled salvation. God is seeking to reach out through us, and Christmas seems the most natural context in which to participate with God – as this is when God came to the earth in human form to connect personally with his creations.