Let's approach Christmas with awe and wonder at what God has done for us in coming as a babe in Bethlehem.

In John Betjeman’s poem ‘Christmas’ he contrasts the “tissued fripperies…and sweet and silly Christmas things” with the profound meaning of Christmas closing with the memorable lines;

And is it true,
This most tremendous tale of all,
Seen in a stained-glass window's hue,
A Baby in an ox's stall?
The Maker of the stars and sea
Become a Child on earth for me?

(Click here to read the whole poem)

At Christmas we always run the risk of trivialising the most profound of all mysteries. It can so easily become buried in gift wrappings, drowned by shopping mall muzak and sidelined by our own busyness.

Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyon said...

“He who was the son of God became the Son of man…that man might become the son of God.”

Irenaeus is helping us understand that at Christmas we celebrate the taking up of human flesh into the godhead. God became a human being so that we human beings might share in the divine life. The Catholic Catechism puts it this way;

“O marvelous exchange! Man's Creator has become man, born of the Virgin. We have been made sharers in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share our humanity.”

Let’s approach this Christmas season with awe and wonder that the babe in the straw is none other than the creator of the universe. He is Emmanuel – God with us.

So in these days of pandemic when so many are suffering, let’s remember that God himself came into this messy world in poverty and humility. In spite of the separation of families, personal anguish and suffering, God came into this world for its salvation and healing. “God so loved the world that he sent his only son…”

Merry Christmas to you all

Canon Mark