Peace on earth in the midst of conflict

 There is often a seeming contradiction when we welcome the Prince of Peace into our midst on Christmas Day when the world seems to be torn apart by many ancient conflicts. Our current age is no different when we look at the armed conflicts around our world when we see families torn apart and people forced to flee. There are also natural and human disasters that can beset us through fire, flood, and storm. The world seems to rage with wild tempests that can threaten to destroy us or isolate us from one another. Yet it is in this contradiction that we see the Christ child born.

This is not false hope or a retreat into a private religious view of the world. God seeks us out and labors for us not as a powerful overlord but rather as a vulnerable child who is placed in our hands. Like any child, this changes how we live in the world. No longer are our lives called to centre on our own needs but rather on God's desire to nourish, heal and forgive the ancient wounds that are opened around us. God knows that when left to our own devices our vision becomes clouded and opaque. We miss the reality of our calling to be formed in the image and likeness of God. By taking the form of a young child he gives us pause for thought to see how we wish to live our lives.

This may be the divine pause that we need between Christmas and New Year. Not to make new resolutions that place ourselves at the centre but rather to see how we are called to centre our lives on God who draws us closer together. Our prayer of this age needs to allow us to become a people of prayer who live prayerfully with others. It calls us to be people who reflect on how we live in our own environment in a way that draws us closer together. We are called to act with a spirit of faith, hope and charity that embodies Christ for others. May this be a blessed season for us where we seek to reset our priorities in the light of Christ. May the peace of Christ disturb us!

Allowing my garden to grow

 During the year I have consciously tried to maintain a garden of pot plants on the veranda. I have had mixed success as some of the plants are more thirsty than others. There can be a tendency on my part to over water but also know that at times the plants go for significant periods when I need to be away. I find that this gardening is a profound act of trust that they will grow in their own good time. I have also tended to find plants that are not as thirsty and can survive our long hot summers.

When we encounter John the Baptist once again he seeks to not point towards himself but to Jesus. This witness seeks to not put the emphasis on who he is but rather on the person who is coming. This is a bit like myself as a gardener the emphasis is not on my own abilities but on the plants that can bring joy to passers-by who witness their beauty. 

This is also emphasized by Paul in his letter to the Thessalonians. God entrusts us with gifts of peace that enable us to learn how to be good and avoid evil. The element is that our prayer is one of constant thanksgiving that calls us to make this journey towards Christmas.

So as we journey towards Christmas take time to smell the roses and give thanks for the many blessings that you will encounter today. So often we are in a rush to justify ourselves through our own efforts rather than seeing how God desires for us to discover our own holiness. Allow this time to be an advent of anticipation of all that leads you to a safe harbour that allows you to enjoy and give thanks for all that is good. 

Make the Paths straight

 As we meander our way towards Christmas we can find our spirits being diverted by many different things. This is not just about our own personal preparations but also how events in the world can intrude and beset us with many fears, worries, and anxieties. When we turn on the television, read the news on the internet, or listen to the radio we can become besieged by events beyond our control. Whether it is the stories of wars, the climatic changes, the everyday struggles of managing a budget, or seeking a deeper meaning in our daily activities we can search for a way of being present that liberates rather than imprisons us.

In the readings for this weekend, there is a longing for everything to be straightened out so that we can more clearly recognize the voice that brings us Good News. What we seek is a relationship that will sustain us each day and make all things new. I believe that in Advent we make preparations for a renewal of that relationship that is not just lip service but a genuine desire to meet our Lord who will embody our hopes and dreams. This is not a fantasy where all the disturbances will magically fall away from us but rather become solid ground on which we can build a faithful life. It calls us to abandon ourselves to God's love so that we discover how we can love others and ourselves.

One of the Advent practices is to recognize how we can place the focus on ourselves rather than on Jesus Christ. We seek recognition for our own efforts to be good people but discover that we can often be distracted by the way we seek to possess good things and experiences. There is a sense that we can miss the mark and not use the gifts entrusted to us to a good end. Sinfulness at its essence can cause us to become more self-centered even at the moment that we seek to become more charitable. This internal battle needs to be recognized because it cannot be won simply by our own efforts. We are called to trust even this reality to God in reconciliation. This is not therapy or punishment but rather a genuine desire to allow Jesus to guide us in our deepest struggle. When we feel abandoned to handle it all on our own we can tend to dig a pit that only grows larger. However, when we realize we are in the pit Jesus sits down by our side and listens to our story. This is not to judge us or condemn us but rather a lifeline that can embolden our spirit. To discover that we are cherished and that we are worth the effort.

Over this season may we discover a God who beckons us to discover a deeper meaning that will make the paths straight. This is not by ignoring the reality of our own darkness but rather by allowing Jesus to become our homing light. May we follow that light to discover how God walks with us straight when all we see are crooked lines.    

Are we ready for Christmas?

 There can be a fear that Christmas comes too early and we are not ready. While the shops seem to be decorated with the trimmings much earlier each year we can lose a sense of the natural rhythm that leads us into this Advent season. We start humming Christmas carols before the day is actually upon us. Yet this may be a time to actually ponder how we prepare for Christmas. This is more than preparing the meal, buying presents, or posting cards but rather taking time to notice where our hearts are amid all the flurry of activity.

It would be good to spend some quiet time each day reflecting on what type of person we want to be in the hurry of the marketplace and on our way to work. To intentionally carve out times in the morning and evening when we make an appointment with God and put it in our diaries. 

To find ways in which we can reflect on the environment in which we live and discuss how we can become people of faith, hope, and love in our community. Considering what will assist others to seek a deeper meaning to their life, to provide encouragement for those in need, and to undertake practical acts of charity. 

Then calling a blessing down a blessing on each person we encounter whether in the checkout queue, when we are looking out for a parking spot, or when we are considering the needs of those around us. When we seek Christ in our daily lives he will find us quicker than we expect.