Insights
Rev Gav
Rejoice
Philippians 4.4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Reflect
I have to admit that I am a closet Hallmark Christmas movie lover. I do not go too far out of my way to watch one, but if one ‘happens’ to ‘accidentally’ to play on my TV then count me in. Over 2025, there were enough Christmas movies released to watch at lease one every day of the year, or over 10 each day during December! Hallmark, alone, released 24 Christmas movies this year. They paint a picture-perfect postcard of Christmas, usually with woolly sweaters and open fires, oh and some royal prince or princess having to live out of their comfort zone and falling for a rugged farm-hand.
For those with church buildings we want them to look perfect. We spend hours trimming trees, making wreaths, and placing lights — and yes, they do look stunning. Our mantlepieces are adorned with warm, serene, back-lit nativity scenes, or robins, polar bears, penguins, and chubby Santas with sacks filled with presents. Then there are the carols we sing. Mary, ‘meek and mild’ and Jesus, ‘no crying he makes’. Hmmm.
I wonder if we sometimes look at the Christmas Story through rose-tinted glasses, or worse, edit the story and sanitise it?
In the same way that we want Christmas to be perfect, we want our own lives — our own stories — to be perfect too, and so, I wonder if, sometimes, we project our own needs onto the Christmas story — the story of Christ entering the world.
Yet, the story we read in the Bible is not a pleasant story. It is not bathed in soft light and couched in cosy comfort. It is a story of heart-wrenching drama and trauma.
It begins in First Century Palestine, in an occupied territory. An oppressive regime is persecuting the community and the religious leaders are colluding with the authorities. In the midst of the political and social troubles, an unmarried teenager falls pregnant. Her husband-to-be is a manual labourer; a builder. They face shame, embarrassment, and the risk of being shunned. And then there is an enforced Roman census meaning unpaid time away from work and a difficult journey using the cheapest of transport with Mary, who by this time, is heavily pregnant. Then there is the stress of arriving in a town at dark with no pre-booked accommodation. Can you imagine?
No, I do not suppose Mary was serenely calm and meek and mild. I bet she was stressed out and Joseph almost in tears if he was not already crying with despair. And then a cattle shed — a lower room where animals were usually kept. A birth with no family, no mid-wife, and no medication.
Painful.
Stressful.
Christ was born.
Then, despite being utterly exhausted, wiped out, there are visits from rough, common strangers. And then, later on, persecution of the most heinous and horrific kind, meaning this little family becomes displaced refugees with no place to call home.
No, the Christmas story is not perfect.
If we are honest, we recognise that our own story is also not perfect. Many of us are unable do Christmas how we want. Some of us are unable to see loved ones. Some have broken relationships. Some are lonely or alone. Some are unwell in body or mind. Some of us actually dread Christmas and want it to be over as soon as possible.
And it hurts.
It really hurts.
We want to cry out to God, “It’s not fair!” And how does God answer?
As we turn again to the story, now without our rose-coloured spectacles, we see the real truth, that Christ entered an imperfect world in an imperfect way. Why? So that God could meet us in our pain and suffering.
He was born to ordinary people in a ordinary, backwater town, in the midst of a political and social mess. He grew up in a place that was so lowly that people scoffed, “Nazareth? What good can come from there?”
Yet, it is precisely when we see through the sanitised story, to the true story underneath, that we gain our hope. For what greatness, what majesty, what glory came from this humble beginning! What hope there is for our own lives as we too hear the angel voices and follow the star to witness the birth of our Saviour. God came into the world — to you and to me.
Immanuel.
God with us.
As John wrote, “The light shines in the darkness and the darkness will not overcome it.” And so, Christ’s very presence calls us to bring light and hope to others.
Even though we are unable to meet face-to-face, even though we might be far from loved ones, alone, or stuck indoors, the light of Christ still shines through us and it cannot be extinguished. When the gloom of our own lives closes in, because Christ is with us, we just invent new ways of being kind, generous, loving, and giving.
Because we have removed those rose-tinted glasses and given our own difficult circumstances, we see the real truth — that Christ enables each one of us to shine even brighter — and our FAB Church Family really does shine. The way you continue to rally, support, and love one another is humbling, each of you using your gifts to serve God and bless each other.
Therefore, stay tuned.
Stay connected.
Christmas might not be the perfect Hallmark-style event of which we dream, but the Spirit is moving in and through us in mighty ways. Therefore, may you discover a depth of relationship, a sense of family, and know the incredible presence of Christ today and over the coming days. May Christ continue to cast out all fear and fill you with everlasting peace.
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Amen
Pray
Holy God
Thank you that you
came to meet us in your Son;
and that you stand with us
in our own pain and suffering.
This Christmas Day,
may I be so filled
with your Holy Spirit that
I will shine like a light for you,
and be a blessing to your world.
and then