It's a very strange experience, celebrating Christmas but not with the church family while on sabbatical leave. But I really treasure the time with my own family - the first time in 39 years I've been able to spend the whole Christmas season with them, not disappearing to write a sermon, prepare worship or be out at church! Last night, some of us went as a family to the Cathedral for midnight communion.
On the way, I visited a dear friend, who, with his wife, give so much so our church and community life here at All Hallows. He is seriously ill in hospital, and our thoughts and prayers are very much with him, and all the family today. While he and I were together, we were thinking of that first Christmas - the vulnerability of the infant Jesus and his parents - and of the countless people across the world lacking even the most basic requirements for daily life. My friend, in his weakness, was very aware of the love and care being poured out for him. Every word, every tender touch, every medical treatment being signs of the presence and healing power of Jesus.
I shared with him something which has struck me these last two days: the phrase 'God remembered mercy'. I found it in yesterday's Psalm (98.4) and of course we find it in Mary's song, the Magnificat, when she discovers she is to be the bearer of the Son of God: he has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful (Luke 1.54). The coming of Jesus is the surest demonstration that 'God remembers mercy'. For generations, in God's heart, there had been the intention to show mercy in this most extravagant and miraculous way. And we, dear friends, are recipients of that mercy by God's Spirit! Always remember: God is merciful. That is his nature. So we can pray, 'Lord remember mercy' as we pray for these and many other situations:
- for the injured, traumatised and bereaved people of Glasgow
- for the victims of the Ebola virus in Sierra Leone, Liberia and elsewhere
- for our Christian brothers and sisters in Iraq, Pakistan and other countries, in danger of extermination
- for those who this day struggle with emptiness and deprivation while others over-indulge
- for those spending their first Christmas following the death of a loved one
- for those sick at home and in hospital
Lord, remember mercy.
As some of you know, I belong to a community called the Community of Aidan & Hilda. I'd like to share with you the words specially written by one of our Guardians for this year's Christmas card:
This Christmas,
may the God who is there with us in the dark night,
lead us not by bright light
but by knowledge of his footfall
finding him
in every street,
in every home,
in every solitary place.
May Christ lead us
not by way of success or comfort
but to the place of his presence.
May the Spirit who sings the song of the angels over us
fill us with joy
and lift our hearts to laugh.
God bless us all today, and enable us to be merciful as he is merciful to us.
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