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Sunday 28th December 2008 Jesus into the desert. But grant our humble prayer: Give us
wisdom and strength and we shall save him.”
Jeremiah 31. 15-17
1 Corinthians 1. 26-29 And the angels reply:
Matthew 2. 13-18 “The power of heaven will guard you on your journey against
all disaster.”
Christmas does have its magic moments, doesn‟t it! This is a beautiful song which adds both depth and emotion to
the story we heard in today‟s Gospel.
I wonder what yours were this year?
In fact, this story of the wise men from the East, Herod the
I enjoyed watching the faces of the children at school when King, and the plight of the Holy Family, plunges us into an
they visited Santa at the Christmas Fair. And singing carols by intense drama. Where now are the baby asleep in the hay, the
candlelight here on Christmas Eve was special, too. But one of gentle mother, the humble shepherds and the angels singing
the most magical moments for me this year took me rather by of peace on earth? Today, just three days after our Christmas
surprise. I was watching a programme called „Ten best sacred celebrations, we are reminded that Jesus was born into a
Christmas songs‟ on television. The programme included some world of tension, violence and fear. We read with horror how
familiar carols, together with classical music favourites, like the the well-loved story of the wise men comes to an end – with
Hallelujah Chorus, all splendidly performed by various soloists, the anger of Herod and the murder of innocent children.
choirs and orchestras. And then came a piece which I had
never heard before – „The Angels‟ Chorus‟ by the French This is a part of the Christmas story which we often forget, or
composer, Berlioz. gloss over. I can tell you that in our school nativity play –
which this year rejoiced in the title of „The Xmas Factor‟ –
„The Angels‟ Chorus‟ is part of a Christmas Oratorio, which tells Herod, who, of course, thought that he should be the star of
the story of the birth of Jesus and the flight of the Holy Family the show, simply lost track of the wise men, as they went on
into Egypt. In this particular song a distant angelic choir calls their way to Bethlehem.
to Joseph and Mary to save the life of their son, who is in
great danger, by fleeing into the desert towards Egypt.
But Matthew‟s Gospel reminds us that Christmas has a darker
Mary and Joseph respond: side, too. The infant Jesus has caring and protective parents,
but he is born into a far from perfect world.
Christmas story aside, Mums, Dads and babies have been very
much on my mind recently! Save the Children tell the story of Prince, a baby born in
October this year, in Kingsville in Nigeria. Kingsville is a poor
Our younger son, Harry, is about to become a father. The baby village community. A dirty water supply threatens lives and an
is due to arrive in two weeks time. under-equipped clinic makes treatable illnesses deadly. 1 in 9
children here die before they are five. Prince was born, without
My nephew, James, is currently serving with the army in Iraq, medical attention, in the mud hut which his mother shares
and will be away until April at least. His wife is expecting their with her mother. His father has provided some basic essentials
first, long-awaited, baby in March. It‟s an anxious time for for them – soap and nappies, and a lantern so they can see at
them and for all the family. night. Sadly, he can only provide for them by working miles
away from home, for weeks at a time.
I know that these babies will be welcomed, loved and cared-
for, with every modern comfort and convenience. I am sure In the Christmas story, innocent children died as the direct
that their mothers, like Mary, will cherish and nurture their result of one man‟s greed, ambition and paranoia. Sadly, we
children. I am sure that their fathers, like Joseph, will provide can see this happening today, too - in Zimbabwe, for example.
for and protect them, to the very best of their ability. But today‟s „innocents‟ are just as likely to die because of
ignorance and neglect. As Save the Children remind us,
But these children, like Jesus, will be born into a far from „Nothing‟s more precious than a child‟s life‟ – and yet millions
perfect world. of children are left to die needlessly every year. They die from
illnesses which are preventable in the 21st century. They die
They will grow up in a restless and troubled time – in a world from hunger, though the world has the resources to provide
which is greedy for money and material possessions, a world food for all. Above all, they die because of inaction.
of rapid technological advance and moral uncertainty, a world
in which people jostle for advantage, a world with the potential In 2005, international politicians signed up to Millennium Goal
for environmental disaster. 4, to cut the number of children dying, by two-thirds, by 2015.
And, while these children will enjoy the benefits of loving But earlier this month a Times headline read:
families and comfortable homes, many children throughout the
world suffer neglect, abuse, hunger, homelessness, sickness “Global aid in crisis as cash supply dries up”
and poverty. Some, like the children of Gaza, are innocent
victims, caught up in other people‟s conflicts.
helpless so that he might exalt us all through his mercy and
abundant grace.”