A Thought for Thursday - Advent 23

Walking backwards to Christmas

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(Photo krb - 2019)

Advent is meant as a time of reflection, a time of taking stock. On the one hand it is a time of quiet preparation for the coming of Christmas and the birth of Jesus of Nazareth who the Biblical record tells us was born in difficult circumstances in an occupied country in a place of little recognition in an out of the way corner of the world. Yet this is described as a momentous event which was the fulfilment of and yet changed the course of history. There are many layers of meaning in the Christmas story and most of us connect with it at some level. The second reason for this time of preparation is to think about and 'prepare' for the return of the Christ in glory at the end time to bring all things to completion. The many commentaries that I have heard on this idea have ranged from thought provoking to the utterly bizarre. This is a deeply mystical issue that I am sure I will never fully comprehend. If we were meeting together, I would be interested to hear what you think about these issues.

I have to admit that I enjoy Christmas, the music, the joy of celebration in some form as a church community, as a neighbourhood, as a family, the shared food and hospitality. It is all just wonderful - probably because it is a time filled with nostalgia. There are so many stories when we think about previous Christmases. But that isn't for now. Now it is different. I don't feel ready. It is like the photo above. Blackwater River is in the highlands of Scotland. If you can enlarge the photo you will see there is a bridge in the distance. We never got to the bridge. It felt like as we attempted to get there the bridge got further away. That is how Christmas feels this year. Like the Goons song of old "I'm  Walking Backwards to Christmas". There are lots of reasons for this, particularly that after three years we are still dealing with my health issues against a backdrop of continuing covid. It is difficult to engage with the community in these circumstances. But it's okay. I know Christmas will be great as it always is and whatever our changing circumstances we continue to be blessed living in a luckyish country. So one way and another Christmas will be okay.

But I am sure that you don't need reminding that that won't be the case everywhere. It is impossible for us to begin to imagine what Christmas will be like for Christians still living in Gaza. The picture and its message below, I received from a  Catholic community that has been working in Calais, France, to bring humanitarian relief to the thousands of refugees who arrive there. Their work is extraordinary and sustaining to many, against the odds. It is a moving portrayal of the situation for many.

Advent peace and blessings to all.