But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11
It has been an extraordinary year of nurturing our following of Jesus Christ, whose birth in Bethlehem brought good news of great joy for all people! Our diocesan focus of intentionally following Jesus has drawn us closer to God and to one another. Love increases among us.
“A people who walked in darkness have seen a great light,” said Isaiah. Jesus is the light of the world that no darkness can extinguish. Guided by the light of Christ, many positive changes happen within and around us. Darkness is overcome. Light increases among us.
Christmas gifts us with everything we need to live joyful, peaceful, loving, helpful lives. Receiving Jesus as our Saviour and friend puts us on “The Way of Love”—love for God, self, others, and creation.
As we look a little deeper into the theological and spiritual significance of Christmas, we find God has come among us in human form, restoring us to our best selves, lifting us out of selfishness and indifference, sin and death, grief and sorrow. We are empowered to turn swords into ploughshares, and hate into love. We are learning to care for ourselves, to reconcile with one another, and to make our communities better.
By listening more closely to the message of Christmas, we hear it announcing a new way for the world—a new way for each of us. The old way of anger and discord, bitterness and envy, fear and despair, hate and violence, self-interest and self-serving, has proven to be the wrong way. Jesus provides a way that is shaped by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control. His way makes life much better for us and for the world.
Let us see through the tinsel and the party. Let us go deeper and see that there is so much more. Christmas is the true gift that keeps on giving.
Merry Christmas!
+John, Western NL
