Parish Magazine Item for December

 From The Rectory

 

For many of us, December is the busiest month of the year. There are Christmas presents to worry about, feasts to prepare, family commitments and parties jostling in the diary. It’s easy to be frantic and distracted.

 

For the church, this period is not only the build up to Christmas but “advent”, a word which means “coming” or “arrival”. Of course during this time we prepare for our celebration of the birth of Jesus (his first coming) but in particular we also look forward to the Second Coming of Christ. In the Nicene Creed we confess that Jesus who is now enthroned triumphant in heaven “seated at the right hand of [God] the Father … will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead.” Traditionally the four Sundays of Advent might be given over to considering the so-called “Four Last Things”: Death, Judgement, Heaven and Hell.

 

 Some of us (and indeed some at some other local churches) are reading a little book this Advent by Tom Parsons called The Radiant Dawn (10 Publishing) available from:

10ofthose.com/uk/products/25292/the-radiant-dawn and elsewhere. The book gives a daily reflection from chapters one and two of Luke’s Gospel.

 

For many the Christmas story might seem like a fairy tale – make believe for the children, some glitter and sparkle in our gloomy winter. But for the Bible writers, Jesus is the Light of the World stepping in to his creation. He is God made flesh entering history. When he writes his gospel, Luke is aware of other accounts of Jesus and he tells us he has carefully investigated everything from the beginning and has checked his facts with the original eye-witnesses. He has written an orderly account of the things which have been fulfilled, he says (see chapter 1 verses 1-4). He has become convinced that God has acted in history. The ancient promises of God have at least come true. And Luke wants his readers to have certainly about these things. When he comes to speak of the birth of Jesus it is not “Once upon a time…” but “in the days of Caesar Augustus” when “Quirinius was governor of Syria” (chapter 2 verses 1-2). Luke is presenting evidence on which we can depend.

 

In his opening chapters, Luke repeatedly tells us of good news to sing about. Mary, the mother of Jesus, asks “how can this be”? And well she might. But she comes to rejoice in God her Saviour. She sings of God’s mercy and rescue: that he is going to bring down the proud and raise up the humble. She treasures up all these things and ponders them in her heart.

 

The angels bring a message of peace to the shepherds. At last the Messiah, the long-promised rescuer-king has been born. People can know God’s favour. They go and check it out and they find it to be just as the angel had told them, and they return glorifying and praising God. 

 

We’d love to see you at some of our Christmas services and events, details of which are given later in the magazine and at: warbletonchurch.org.uk/whatson/dec-christmas-services/

 

May we follow the example of Mary and of the shepherds in believing this good news this Christmas. Perhaps this advent we might take some time to reflect on these things, maybe with the help of Luke’s gospel and with Tom Parson’s little book. Beyond all the food and tinsel of this festive season, the first coming of Christ makes all the difference to The Four Last Things of Advent. By responding rightly to the first coming of Jesus with joyful repentance and faith, we can be ready for his second coming with confidence. 

 

A very happy and peaceful Christmas to you and your family.