Zetland Park Methodist Church Pastoral Letters
December 2015
The reason for Cristmas
As I start to write this I confess that I don't feel very Christmassy, nor very much at peace, nor very joyful, for I write in the immediate aftermath of the attacks in Paris. The shock at such a large number of innocent people being killed and injured makes many ask if there can ever be an end to hatred and violence in the world and asking what is the correct response to such atrocities. It is clear that in Paris, at least, such attacks are not so easy to "shake off" and for people to just to get on with life as before. Understandably, people are questioning when and were the next violent attack will come from - fear is clearly palpable.
It was into a similarly unsettled situation that a baby was born two thousand years ago - the baby who is the reason for Christmas! The violence and cruelty of the occupying Roman forces in Israel at the time was constantly repulsed by guerilla-style attacks of extremist groups wanting freedom for their own country. Yet it was into this 'boiling pot' of 2000 years ago that God sent His Son, Jesus, into the world and the "Prince of Peace" was born! Far from avoiding humankind's suffering and violence, it was almost as though God choice that time so as to reinforce that even in the midst of violence and suffering He is still there. It is no mistake another of Jesus' titles, Emmanuel, means "God with us".
So, while we pray that the invisible work of our security and police forces will mange to keep us all safe, we need to be encouraged that Christmas is the season when we especially remember that God came to us in Jesus that first Christmas, and continues to be present in His world, and especially in places of suffering and difficulty. Now if that isn't a reason to celebrate Christmas, I am not sure what is. So please join us at any of our advertised Christmas events and learn something more about the loving, ever-present God who reached out to humankind 2000 years ago through a crying human baby so as to give us the real reason for hope, peace and joy - because God is always with us.
All Blessings