Advent Reflections

It is an unusual person whose mind does not turn to gifts at this time of year – gifts to be given to and received from family and friends. Some people – maybe most people – find choosing, buying, wrapping, posting gifts are necessary but uninspiring chores … but I enjoy them. I love giving gifts to my family and friends and take pleasure in choosing something appropriate, wrapping it and attaching tags, ribbons, baubles or bows

Jeanette Winterson, in a very perceptive little piece in The Times on 16th December 2006, noted how the Christmas story "begins with a demand ...; and ends with a gift." The Christmas story as told in Luke 2 and Matthew 2 is full of wonderful contrasts!  Here are six to ponder:

I was taking the service at my own church last Sunday, and of course it was advent themed. Like many churches we light an advent candle on each of the four Sundays, and we usually get one of the children to do the actual lighting – fun for them, but always a heart in mouth moment for those on the fabric committee! As they were being lit, I asked the children why we lit the candles. Unsurprisingly, one of them said “We’re counting down to Christmas.” And so we are. But that is not all that advent is. Advent is the particular season in the church’s year when we reflect on both the first coming of Christ and on His return, His second advent.

It’s the middle of December and Glasgow’s Winterfest is in full flow in George Square. This, now traditional, event seems to get bigger and brighter every year with carnival rides, stalls selling food and gifts, staging for music and other entertainment, and an ice rink. Every night George Square is packed full of people enjoying all that Winterfest has to offer.

“What good is it to me if Mary gave birth to the son of God 1400 years ago and
I do not give birth to him in my time and culture?”

- Meister Eckhart

The central focus of the Nativity is obviously the birth of Jesus Christ, however one of the other characters in the story that interests me is that of Herod in chapter 2 of the Gospel of Matthew. My interest in Herod comes primarily from my interest in politics and government.

A Christmas Blog may be a bit like a snow ball. It can be given and received in good fun or it may have serious consequences. Snowballs can have gravel, stone or glass in them, not to mention frozen liquids other than water. Even the most benign beautifully formed snowball can melt into an uncomfortable soggy mess.

A couple of Saturday’s ago I was in the city centre of Glasgow doing a bit of Christmas shopping. The streets and shops were packed with people jostling their way through shelf upon shelf of ‘ideal’ Christmas gifts.