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FROM FATHER PHIL.

The Unexpected Gift

I am sure we have all been in the situation just before Christmas Day itself to wonder what presents we might be receiving – or dreading the one that we have to smile at but which will prove to be wholly awful! The strange-shaped present, resistant to prodding or shaking. To know before hand is to spoil the sense of excitement and anticipation – the whole essence of the magic of Christmas.

In Louisa Alcott’s beautiful novel ‘Little Women’ it is Jo who opens the book with the comment “Christmas won’t be Christmas without presents.” And, of course, that is sort of true for nearly all of us – but not for all; not for those who cannot afford presents – who do not receive presents – who dread this time of year.

Just recently I received my first Christmas card. It was from the Church Urban Fund that has, over the past 25 years, fought to tackle poverty in our towns and cities. ‘Poverty in England?’ – yes, indeed! 2011 has seen the necessity for urgent action as the near-recession takes its toll: urgent action across the dioceses working together with the charity to tackle poverty and homelessness. And although the generosity of others helps those in desperate need in the days leading to Christmas, come January the spirit has gone and the homeless remain homeless.

It seems staggering yet sadly unsurprising as well that we still need organisations like the Church Urban Fund to work alongside the impoverished of our society. Charles Dickens in his evergreen allegory ‘A Christmas Carol’ has a warning that lies at the heart of our responsibility one to another. Through the character of Scrooge we see the corrosive effect of greed on human relationships. The greed that results in global poverty. It is only through his dreams and their ghostly warnings that Scrooge comes to his senses and realises the truth about himself and the impact his ruthless selfishness has on others around him.

Our world is overwhelmed by wealth and by poverty; acts of kindness and despairing wickedness; of selflessness and selfishness; of lies and truth – yet it is a world overwhelmed by the gift of God in human flesh – Jesus Christ our Lord. It was God’s decision to become human. And it was his decision to come among us as the unexpected gift: the gift of love, of justice, of tolerance and of peace.

When, as the shepherds, we seek out Jesus and allow him into our lives then we see ourselves in a new light. We see the way to salvation by the forgiveness of the sins we have committed. A special gift at Christmas that lasts for all eternity.

My God bless you all this Christmastide and sustain you through the challenges of the year ahead.