As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ this year, I’m conscious of all what we have to be grateful for. Many long for what so often we take for granted.  The terrible tragedy of Israel and Gaza, the ongoing war in Ukraine and the persistent and life-destroying famine in East Africa, are all the more shocking when we see their impact on the lives of children.  The terror of hunger, fear or maiming should be far from every child’s life and yet we see it daily in our media. Recently Pope Francis unveiled a nativity scene featuring a unique display crafted by Palestinian  artisans from Bethlehem, and featuring baby Jesus lying in a cradle wrapped in a Palestinian Keffiyeh.

During th event, the Pope appealed for an end to the war, saying, “Enough wars, enough violence! Did you know that one of the most profitable industries here is weapons manufacturing? Profit from killing. Enough wars!”

Through his actions, the Pope reminds us of the important role churches have in advocating for peace and showing solidarity with all those who are suffering, especially at this time of the year.  It is right to reflect on these matters as we prepare to celebrate the birth of the baby who was God himself.

The world into which Jesus was born was as destructive to childhood as ours in many similar ways: hunger, homelessness, seeking and being refused refuge and being the victim of political leaders’ power struggles.  There was no social media to carry the instant story and yet, the events of Bethlehem and Nazareth have echoed down the years, changing people’s hearts from stone to flesh, their lives from hatred to love. As we prepare for Christmas this year, let us pray that the telling of the Christmas story will give us a new impetus to leave aside hatred, jealousy, judgmental attitudes and allow us to see the life-changing effect of letting love in.

The Christmas story began with Mary and her acceptance of her place in God’s plan.  Human, like the rest of us, she could not see all that it would entail of joy and sorrow, but at the moment of the Annunciation she was willing to let God’s love work through her.  She was truly faithful in the sense that she trusted God and felt that great things could happen if she said yes. As we prepare to celebrate Christmas, the challenge given to us is much smaller but no less significant.  Can we say yes over the holiday period to children, to the elderly and to the lonely or recently bereaved? Not just by giving material things but also by giving people our attention – the gift of noticing them and making them feel visible and loved in the world.

Throughout his life, Jesus welcomed the outsider, the marginalized and assured them that being included was God’s plan for them.  We will have plenty of opportunities to do this over     Christmas and the year ahead.  It is in small things, kind words, a welcoming smile, a helping hand that the Kingdom of God is found and our chance to build God’s Kingdom is when we take the opportunities to do that.

2025 is a jubilee year. It’s hard to believe it is almost 25 years since we began the journey of the new Millennium . The first quarter of a century has brought huge opportunity and challenge to humanity. Pope Francis has called this jubilee a year of hope. In an often-troubled world, hope, will always prevail for the Christian people. Hope In the promise that we are not alone our God is very near and in him all things will be well. Hope that soon even the winter darkness, will once again be but a memory, when we anticipate the birth and new life and green shoots of the new spring . Hope because God’s presence is alive and active in the many actions of compassion and kindness that are part and parcel of our daily lives. Hope is indeed one of the great Christian virtues and my prayer is that this new jubilee year there will be anointing of great hope in all our lives.

We are at a time of great change in the church – as Pope Francis calls it, a change of era – but we can look forward with hope to God doing great things in all our lives.  With that thought in our hearts and minds, let us see in Mary, God’s mother, a model for journeying in faith without knowing where the journey will take us. I pray we will all be filled with Hope and Joy of Christmas, the  confidence to see that God is at work in every person and the  courage to fearlessly bring about change in the time and place where we live. May the Lord fill us with health of body and peace of mind this Christmas.

May the feet of God walk with you, and his hand hold you tight.

May the eye of God rest on you, and his ear hear your cry.

May the smile of God be for you, and his breath give you life.

May the Child of God grow in you, and his love bring you home.

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