The Year in Review

Sermon for Christmas Eve – 24 December 2024  – All Saints Kesgrave

Text: ‘Do not be afraid; for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord.’  (Luke 2v10-11)

God give you peace my sisters and brothers.

In a few days’ time, once a baby has been born in the East End of London after a Midwife has been Called, our nation has recovered from the final antics of the two Welsh love birds from Barry Island, and Hans Grüber has earned his just desserts and fallen to his doom from the top floor of Nakatomi Tower yet again, our collective TV viewing habits will turn to assorted versions of ‘The Year in Review’.

This UK tradition, a gift provided to the whole world by the denizens of Broadcasting House (and the perfect accompaniment to late afternoon turkey and cranberry suace sandwiches), has grown into a major TV event.  Once upon a time it was simply a month-by-month account of the news headlines of the year past with the occasional humorous ‘…and finally’ to round it off.

Now we have not only the ‘The News Review of the Year’ but also the Year in Sport, the Year in Politics, in Science, in Film, in Business, The Royal Year, The ‘famous people who died this year’ in Review – affectionately named ‘We Remember’ which I really hope has video clips of Dame Maggie Smith as both, Professor McGonagall, and the Dowager Countess of Grantham.

However, much as I love the ‘Year in Review’, and those little bon-bons of film and fact that keep me entertained until ‘Call the Midwife’ (5 January – 8pm BBC1) and ‘The Great Pottery Throw Down’ (same date Channel 4 at 7.45pm) begin again, I don’t enjoy watching the Daily News anymore.  In fact I’m tempted to do what my younger self did when William Hartnell was ‘The Doctor’ and go and hide behind the sofa when the 6 O’Clock News comes on the telly.  Anyone else feel the same?

Real news is not nice news any more is it?  There was a time when News informed and educated but know all it seems to do is remind us of what a sorry state of affairs we have gotten ourselves into.

And there appears to be no respite to be found in alternative news platforms.  Social Media, once the preserve of pictures of plates of food and cute cats, too often overwhelms and constantly reminds us of the messy world in which we live.  What was meant to bring us closer and add joy to lives seems consumed by despair and disagreement.  Little wonder that some of my friends take a Christmas break and a Lenten fast from the oh so modern trinity of Facebook, Instagram and X – formerly known as Twitter.  

After all who would want to listen to news that, presuming it is true in the first place, is distressing, disheartening, discouraging, and offers no weal for our woe?

Better to lock ourselves up and hide away from a cruel relentless selfish war-hungry world than face an apparently endless onslaught of doom and disaster.  Little wonder we are tempted to cocoon ourselves with Call the Midwife, Gavin & Stacey and the various iterations of Die Hard and find solace in the familiar and comfortable.  

Not fake news, not entertainment news, sport, science, or even business news – but Royal News of a different sort.

‘Good news that will cause great joy for all the people’

And, wherever we have come from, or for whatever reasons we are here tonight, shepherd-like we have heard this news again. 

What happens next?

Now it is our turn to take up their story.  We are latter day shepherds called to bring ‘good news’ to a world in sore need of salvation.

These ancient angelic utterings need to be our watch words and become the heartbeat of our lives not just on Christmas Day but on every day of our lives.

May we, having witnessed the birth of the Babe of Bethlehem in our carols and our worship this night, become proclaimers of those same words to all those we meet this Christmas.

[This blog ‘The Year in Review’ is copyright © Andrew Dotchin 2024 and may be reproduced without charge on condition that the source is acknowledged] 

oooOOOooo

 

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered.  This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.   All went to their own towns to be registered.  Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David.  He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.  While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child.  And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.  Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord.  This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,

‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace 

among those whom he favours!’

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’ 

So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.  When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.  But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.  The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.  (Luke 2.1—20)