Today is a terrible day in the liturgical calendar. This is when we remember the other side of the story; after the adoration of the Christ child comes King Herod’s instruction to slaughter innocent baby boys in an irrational attempt to take out his opposition by firing grapeshot. This was the first time Jesus got in the way of human affairs; it would not be the last.
Three weeks ago, the front page of the Sunday Times carried an advertisement for Chanel No 5. It is not unusual for whole page advertisements to appear on inside pages but was it appropriate, I wondered, for December 10th’s edition to open with a plug for luxury commerce, outside the price range of many readers? There were war, weather and welfare issues crying out for attention and print space.
But that is how things work, I thought, and clambered back into my box deciding to go with the flow and calm down. Jesus was born in poor surroundings, but we glamorise the scene; angels sang in the hearing of shepherds, and we hear the glory songs. In our stories the sheep are bleating happily, wild animals and other predators far from mind. Magi plod through desert sand on camels, romantically pictured looking happy and grand as they give their gifts to Jesus.
Gifts for Jesus, gifts for family, for friends all saying to Scrooge, ‘yes, let the Chanel moment have its airtime because tough times and harsh realities will be our story again soon enough.’
An so it is. Holy Innocents, needless killing, war, and strife; the pictures of human catastrophe. Is it the hope sustained by innocent giving, or the need to do something about pain, which should dominate us? Is it right for there to be perfume as well as pain in the paper? Gold, frankincense, and myrrh came before Herod’s cruelty. Three gifts, all about a balanced life which is more than the death at its end; so much more so that we see resurrection not crucifixion, perfumed feet not the poor swindled.
Next time I share a thought the year will be different. Some of us will have resolved things. How about resolving to see life in all its fullness and thank God for it. Take the joy of the good things as a source of fuel to drive us through the obstacles of the sad things. Let us see heaven, not just hell.
A happy New Year!
A Prayer
Lord God, as soon, a new year dawns with expectation and hope, help us to see complete pictures of wholeness and your purpose working out. Sustain us when we feel overwhelmed by events; may we never lose empathy with those facing challenges but reach out to them from our strength to lend a helping hand rather than transferring weight from our burden to theirs.
We praise you for all that is past and trust you for all that’s to come.
Amen.