If you’ve been to any of our carol services this season, you may have heard a version of this reflection:
Certain things just make it feel like Christmas is here, don’t you think?
Whether film or book or song, this month is filled with familiar, much treasured tales: the Snowman, Aled Jones singing ‘We’re walking in the air’, It’s a wonderful life, Slade and Noddy Holder shouting ‘It’s Chriiiiiistmaaaas!’, jingle bells and reindeer, Rudolph with his nose so bright, Home Alone and ‘Is Die Hard a Christmas movie?’, Christmas specials, a Christmas Carol (Muppets or otherwise), It was the night before Christmas, and all through the house…
There’s something about singing or listening to the familiar readings and carols, making the trek in the cold night along a dark path towards a candlelit church, going on a walk to see the houses which have been lit up with lights…specific movies or stories shared with children, songs on the radio, glitter on the carpet … all of these treasures which we unpack every year from the Christmas ‘box’ to ignite the festive ‘spirit’.
And each year we also bring out our treasured story of faith: the birth of a baby 2000 years ago in Bethlehem. A young mother and her husband struggling to find room in an inn, and settling down for the night in a stable. A humble beginning for the King of Kings, kickstarting a cascade of wondrous, extraordinary events: angels filling the skies and singing to shepherds at watch over their flocks, and the long trek of magi from far off lands bringing expensive diplomatic offerings… and Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
This is Christmas – not just a story, and not just history, but something to live in our hearts. Another treasure, not to keep in a box and dust off once a year, but something to take out regularly to examine, to question, to wonder, ‘what does this mean for me?’
And by doing this we believe the baby born in the stable will be born and live in our hearts to be treasured as part of our daily living. And as we treasure him in our hearts, we become more and more like him – his actions shape ours, igniting a flame of love which shines out to everyone around us. All the hope and love and joy and peace of that first Christmas taking root in our lives. A light to shine in the darkness. A hope that cannot be extinguished.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only son – that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3.16
With him there is love, there is forgiveness, there is acceptance. He is salvation and freedom from sin.
And as we treasure him in our hearts, we become more and more like him – his actions shape ours, igniting a flame of love which shines out to everyone around us. A light to shine in the darkness. A hope that cannot be extinguished.
This Christmas, as you bring out the treasures of this season, may you discover anew the wonder of the Christmas story.
May it become a treasure for you, held near at all times – close enough to find whenever times are tough, whenever you need a bit more hope, a bit more love, a bit more joy, a bit more peace in your life.
May you be blanketed in his love.
May his story give you pause for thought, and inspire your actions.
And as you ponder all these things, may Jesus be born anew in your hearts today, and may his light shine in every aspect of your life.
Amen.
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