If there had been a daily newspaper at the time of Jesus birth I wonder how it might have reported the events? A screaming headline on the front page of the Bethlehem Gazette – “Baby Boy Born In Bovine Booth”. Or perhaps in the Herod Herald “Imposter King – It’s a right royal mix up”. How about a feature article in the full colour ‘Halo’ glossy magazine. ‘“Mary and Joseph share their joy as they show us round the one room maternity suite and introduce us to their beautiful son”. Maybe it wouldn’t have deserved a mention at all. 
I’m not sure that the nativity story would have had a huge an impact in Bethlehem at the time – not enough to warrant much more than passing comment anyway. An unremarkable young woman has a baby. Some shepherds suffer from a group hallucination. A group of wealthy tourists get lost on the streets of a backwater town. Nothing to see here. The Roman census would be a much more pressing concern. 

So often everyday life gets in the way of seeing something extraordinary.

In the headlong rush towards Christmas, with all of the hubbub of the shopping for presents, the excitement of decorating the Christmas tree, the preparation of the turkey dinner, and the festive visits from family and friends, what do we miss?

Advent, the weeks leading up to Christmas, is a time that has been marked by Christians for at least 1500 years. It’s about preparation. Not of gifts or food or decoration, but of ourselves. It’s also about expectant waiting. We look for the coming of Christ – eyes and hearts open. And when we do that, there’s so much more we will see and hear. The smile on the face of a child. The tears of those who mourn. The cry of the hungry. The laughter of the joyful.

With our vision clearer and all our senses keener, the headline for this and every Christmas comes into focus. “Jesus Christ – Gift From God”.

Have a happy and blessed Christmas
(December 2015)