The most authentic and I believe the most enduring symbol of the spirit of Christmas in Belfast is to be found in the generosity, openness and sheer joy represented in the response each year to the Black Santa Sit Out. People of every Christian denomination, people of other faiths, and people of no faith at all, travel from all parts of the City of Belfast and indeed from other parts of the Province to seek out Black Santa in order to make their contribution in person. They do so with smiles on their faces and goodwill in their hearts – they are people transformed.

The generous self-giving of God; the solidarity of God with ordinary, often vulnerable, people; the risk taking that was involved in His first coming as the child of an unmarried young woman; these things are inherently part of Christmas and have so inspired us that, whether for strictly religious reasons or not, this season has become the most widely loved and observed festival of the year.

Now if the true face of Ulster bears a smile of goodwill accompanied by a hand open in generosity, and if the festival that inspires it is easily the most loved and observed of all, engaging almost every citizen, cannot the generosity, the solidarity and the willingness to take risks for the well being of all, inspire us to transform our relationships with one another throughout the rest of the year? I believe they can! Christmas challenges us to show our true face – our Christmas face – to one another beyond the Christmas season so as to transform the whole forthcoming year. Christmas reminds us of what through the love and grace of God is actually there to be found within us. The challenge is to let the light shine forth.

May Christmas be peaceful, may it be filled with joy for every one, but most of all may the season of peace and goodwill be transformational, and may that transformation begin in each one of us as we celebrate Emmanuel – God with us.