For this Christmas, for our Last Christmas, and especially for that final Christmas when we will sing in tune with heaven.
We live because Christ was born amongst us.
We can depart in peace because Christ came to live among us.
These are the signs of the season…
Eyes and ears are opened.
Limpers and Lepers are welcomed.
Those who seem dead to our common life are born again.
Good News is shared with those who never thought they could afford or were worthy of it.
..and we are the ones who have been called to do this.
We have a King who forgives – we are called to be a people who forgive.
We have a King who saves – we are called to be a people who offer salvation.
We have a King who is innocent – we are called to be a people who, even imperfectly…aim to live lives of purity.
We have a King who remembers – we are called to be a people who will not leave anyone out of the arms of love stretched out on the Cross.
The parable of the Rich Fool, and in fact the whole of Luke Chapter 12, is not about money, nor about bread, nor even about barns. It is about being, ‘rich towards God’ and so proving the faithfulness and loving kindness of God by living generous lives of active service. And being ever-ready to do so….
Believing is not about seeing things…
Believing is about us, you and I, kneeling in front of the risen wounded Christ. It is about being brave enough to know that the next words we will say, and the words by which we will lead our lives, are these and these alone. ‘My Lord and my God!’
Jesus is our Midwife and like a mother looks on us every day with love.
Jesus, with His own body, defeats the power of death and sin and bears us all into the promise of the Life after Life.
During ‘Twixtmas, like Mary & Joseph having been busy about the Festival we may have lost the Child at the centre of it. How will we use the rest of the season to find the One who came to find us?
The only power struggle in the Church of Christ should be that of competing for the last place!
True greatness is not found in ruling.
True greatness consists in serving!
We cannot hold on to the blessings of Christ if our hands are wrapped around something, anything, else.
We will not enter into the joy of our Father if we continue to seek fulfilment in the things of this world.
‘He must increase, but I must decrease.’ (John the Baptist)
When we learn to follow the first follower of Jesus we discover that the Christian life is about learning to grow smaller.
Suffolk Vicar 