Bishop Alastair writes...

Christmas Sights

Although the church prepares for Christmas in Advent, most of society is well into this process by November. Planning, preparing and procuring provisions are all aimed at fulfilling a particular perspective.

Providing a Picture

When I was on holiday in Spain in the summer, I visited some amazing places - castles, cathedrals, mosques, civic buildings. In each, as I stopped to take in something of the wonder and almost miraculous creativity of the past, I seemed to be surrounded by people with digital cameras. Each place of wonder was captured by technology, and in a way that appealed to the individual creating the picture. A parable of our time - each person has the power to provide their own picture of the world - to construct what they choose to see, to create a private, personal view.

Perception as Reception

Modern people perceive what we choose to notice, value, ponder - a process of exercising control over creation, over others. When we bring this way of living and seeing to Christmas, we want to ensure a similarly controlled environment. Baby in the crib, lights on the tree, turkey on the table. Jesus is part of the picture, as we choose to notice and frame Him.

But there is another kind of perception. Not one we create and control, but a gift received - a new insight, hope, awareness, enlightened by the power of mystery, difference, something beyond our imagining.

The gift of new life

Too often Christmas is another exercise in our own creation and control. It can be a sign of a religion focused on framing Jesus as seems to suit us best. In fact Christmas is about the gift of sight. Learning to see in the mystery and miracle of a baby born, a person heralded by angels and adored by the wise, the powerful, the poor and the peasantry. Not a sight to be simply captured on a card, or in a service, an image we create and control. Rather, Christmas is a moment to approach in awe, stillness, open to noticing new and amazing things in this story of struggle, new birth, hope, asylum seeking and fleeing from terror.

May we use our long run up to Christmas to make serious time and discipline for looking carefully at this moment given to us from another age, but powerful with eternal truth about the mystery of life that God offers to those who are willing to notice.

May we use November to really get Christ-mas in our sights. Then God's gift can be readily received, and we will be changed for ever.

+Alastair