The Christmas story, the vulnerability of incarnation is at the heart of that message of daring to overcome fear. Sanitised by kids nativity plays and kitsch decorations, and overwhelmed by the commercialism of our era; the Christmas story remains in reality one of great challenge. Everything about the first Christmas has deep fear inherent within it. A hesitant young mother whose pregnancy doesn't correspond to the social, cultural and religious norms. A vicious occupying regime flexing its muscles. A series of outsiders trying to find a space in an unfamiliar place...
And yet there is hope. All of those fears are overcome, by the presence of deep love.
And yet there is hope. All of those fears are overcome, by the presence of deep love.
Amidst a
regime of violent oppression
Where bitter
hatred invades the atmosphere
There is
hope in the birth of a baby
As God
himself comes to live among us here
And humble
vulnerability shares the promise
“Know that I
am with you, do not fear.”
To the poor
on the fringes of society
And the
stranger who has journeyed and drawn near
There is
hope in the singing of the angels
As dark
foreboding skies become clear
And a lone
bright star bears the message
“Know that I
am with you, do not fear.”
And for those
of us who build up walls around us
To protect
all the wealth we think that we hold dear
There is
hope in the loving and the sharing
As rays of
light through chinks in armour yet appear
And if we
listen he continues still to whisper
“Know that I
am with you, do not fear.”
Merry Christmas!
