Collect and Readings for Christmas Day – Isaiah 52:7-10, Psalm 98, Hebrews1:1-4 (5-12), John 1:1-14 The Prayer for today Almighty God, you have given us your only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him and as at this time to be born of a pure virgin: grant that we, who have been born again and made your children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
A holy day has dawned.
A glorious light shines in our dark and broken world. It is Christmas! What we have prepared for and longed for has finally arrived. The packages have been wrapped and unwrapped, the delicacies baked and enjoyed. The world comes to a wonderful pause as we stop to savour this height of the holiday season. The manger no longer sits empty. The baby Jesus lies on the straw and in our hearts, replacing our longings with hope. We feel a gentleness about the world and in ourselves.
As quickly as Christmas comes, for many people it is all over. Wrappings go in the recycling, crumbs are swept away and the decorations come down more quickly than they went up. It is back to work, back to the reality of the bills to be paid and life returns to the normal cycle.
It is no wonder that January heralds the blues of winter. But Christmas is not over for us as Christians, it has just begun! The incarnation of Jesus is a grace we get to experience over and over again. Here is the hope that we need to be able to overcome the many challenges life throws at us and let’s face it at present there are many challenges for everyone.
That hope is ours through Christ. Jesus comes into our world with every prayer we breathe. The celebrations do end, and the decorations do get put away, but the life of the party remains and that light is Jesus who loves us for who we are. May the light of Jesus shine within us and illumine the lives of those around us. May we experience the goodness of God’s grace reborn in every kind word and every helping hand, not just today, but every day.
May the light, the hope, the joy of Christmas remain with us always
- Some things to reflect on:
- How do you share the hope and joy of Christ with your family and friends?
- What can you do to bring the light of Christ into the darkness of other peoples’ lives?
God bless, have a blessed and peaceful Christmas and stay safe and well.
Rev’d Fiona Robinson