2024 December Letter from our Priest
Dear friends,
Love, joy, peace – I was waiting in a queue at a local supermarket and as I stood in line, I glanced over to look at the Christmas cards – this one stood out. Its message was simple and one I think most people can get behind. Love. Joy. Peace. That is what the world needs … what we need and what we need to live out. They are the key themes of the Christmas season.
Recently our family has extended. My niece has given birth to a beautiful boy. These three words completely encapsulate the feeling within our family right now. Pure joy for these two young people that they have safely brought into the world this gift of new life. He was so dearly wanted and now … wow… he’s here. You can’t but help to celebrate and be happy. It bubbles up from inside you – the joy to be found in the happiness of others (something we can forget at times – to be happy for those around us). One look into his face and you smile… but not just out of joy of course, but love. This vulnerable, small human has no agenda… no worries… and is just there, waiting for love – to be loved and to show love. When you look at him the rest of the world and what is going on in it fades away. You become very present with a baby. You are in the moment with them – their needs and cries are your only concern. And it strikes me that this amazing gift of life is exactly what we focus on around the crib on 25th December. We look upon and reflect on this small, fragile baby and his new parents. So much potential in this child, and so much to achieve and yet in this moment all that matters is that he has arrived. His needs basic and the same as us all – to be loved. We gaze upon this baby tucked into our cribs with parents Mary and Joseph with such love, joy and peace. We remember that God has not forsaken the world but heard the cries of his people – he has come.
As we look at this scene before us we ponder a little on all the events that led up to it – the occurrences that leaves us wondering as we hear of actual angels being amongst us in the world, the courage of a young woman with so much to lose yet who gained more than she could dream of and a journey orchestrated by the authorities and yet got this new family to the right place for the prophecy of the Messiahs birth to be fulfilled.
We think upon this baby who would grow to show what love is supposed to be – pure, sacrificial, unconditional and holy. A baby who would grow to bring joy in the hope he offered as he ministered and ultimately as he rose from the grave. And a child who would grow to bring peace to the hearts of many and still does today and promises still a final peace to come when he returns. And yet as a baby (like so many others) just encapsulated love, joy and peace without any effort, there just to be gazed upon and loved. Perhaps you may find yourself in St Lawrence Church, why not take a look and gaze at the Christ child for yourself in the crib scene and consider what this child meant and means to you today.
But wherever you are in life and belief, may we agree nonetheless that this is a time for love, joy and peace. May it reign in all our hearts and be extended to all those we meet.
Holy He has come in human form out of love and will model love radically. He comes to reconcile God to humankind.
Suzie