As we approach Christmas, our President Maggie Rich offers some of her reflections on the Nativity, and draws on her own parallel experiences that illustrate the heart of the Christmas message...
It was some years ago now – I won’t say how many, as that would only embarrass him – and it was Christmas Eve. I held my five month old son in my arms and, just for a moment, felt that I was actually in that cowshed in Bethlehem, standing alongside Mary in that fierce, protective love of a precious son.
I looked down at my own son in his Christmas Babygro, fed and clean and ready to be gently lowered into his warm cot, and I thought of that other baby, wrapped in what was probably strips of Mary’s own clothing, being lowered into straw and warmed by the breath of cattle who crowded round to see what was in their feeding trough (cows are nosy creatures!).
I felt that I was actually in that cowshed in Bethlehem, standing alongside Mary…
And I wept for that long ago baby. And still we weep for babies born into poverty, into insecurity, into disease and starvation.
We weep for babies born in war zones, babies born in places and situations we could not even begin to imagine. We weep for babies who were never wanted, babies who are unloved and ill-treated. And something in us cries out with a longing to gather up those babies; to feed and clothe and protect them, to shower them with love.
God loves all His children with a love like this, and whether we are newborn or in our tenth decade, or even beyond, we are still God’s precious children.
But do we feel that same love for those who are on the margins of society, those who feel invisible, those who are lonely and feel unwanted?
God loves all His children with a love like this, and whether we are newborn or in our tenth decade, or even beyond, we are still God’s precious children.
Do we want to gather them up in the same way? Love is God’s gift to us in Jesus.
Christina Rosetti (1830 – 1894) wrote a beautiful little carol which we don’t hear very often:
“Love came down at Christmas,
love all lovely, love divine;
love was born at Christmas –
star and angels gave the sign”
And in the last verse she goes on to say:
“Love shall be our token,
love be yours and love be mine,
love to God and all men,
love for plea and gift and sign.”
When Jesus was asked which was the greatest commandment, His answer was this: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbour as yourself.”
Let this Christmas be the time when we take this seriously.
Let this be our new year resolution; to let God’s love shine through us to those who need it most. May you have a blessed Christmas as you celebrate the birth of Love Incarnate.
And from all the BUW family… Nadolig Llawen / Merry Christmas!