December 2011

Advent is a wonderful season.  It’s a time of anticipation, reflection, wonderment and celebration.  The Saviour, long expected since the heady days of David’s kingdom, (and the fulfilment of God’s promise to Abraham) will soon burst upon the world amid a cascade of choral singing from a heavenly choir adorned in robes of celestial light.  What more could we ask during these dark, prickly days of winter to make us tingle with delight?  For it is the lack of light in the northern hemisphere at this time of year that can so daunt us it makes our Christmas lights look just a bit dull and dismal.  We need sunlight to feed our bodies the important vitamins they need to stay healthy.  The problem is sunlight is in short supply at this time of year and because it is some people exhibit symptoms of (SAD) Seasonal Affective Disorder.  If we add to the mix the absence of family members for whatever reason, because Advent (like Christmas) is a family time, thoughts may turn to the brevity of life and the fleeting nature of enjoyment. 

We’re living through lean times which will probably get worse before they get better.  People are out of work, some have had their incomes reduced, cuts are beginning to bite and energy prices are rising beyond manageable levels. The system is broken and politicians have little to offer.  Unfortunately the Church, characterised by St Paul’s, didn’t exactly distinguish itself either.  What we need now is something to give us hope; something to shine a light in the darkness of human failure pointing to a better way!  Merely subjecting nations to impoverishment for the sake of an ideology isn’t going to improve life for anyone just demoralise them even more. 

      The coming of Jesus is Good News in that he entered the world’s darkness to shine a light on its injustice.  Isaiah said: The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light (Isaiah 9:2, KJV).  Well, that’s true up to a point but there are many more who prefer a more shadowy existence.  This year has been a particularly dark one: phone-hacking, MP’s expenses, a war difficult to justify, uncaring care homes and rioting in the streets.  Politicians cannot go on ignoring the concerns of the silent-majority and expect peace and harmony to reign.  The nation is creaking at the seams.  That doesn’t mean Christians are in the clear!  Not at all.  The coming of Jesus may be “joy to the world” but it’s an “uncomfortable” presence too. Discipleship is demanding expecting more and more from us.  And just when we think we’ve made it even more is asked.  Jesus in a manger is here to challenge us----to change the direction of our lives and keep those changes in motion.  This is the hope of Christmas.  And it’s a hope that comes afresh to us each year.  Are we prepared to walk in the light as he is in the light or do we want to keep one foot firmly in the darkness?  May we embrace the glad-tidings of Christmas that our SADness might be turned to GLADness through a babe born in Bethlehem to save (through service).  Blessings, and a very Happy Christmas, to all our readers in Focus and on-line.  

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 In Jesus’ name                                                                               

Derek Marsh        

December 2011                                                                                                

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