Diocesan News
Christmas message from the Bishop of Down and Dromore
CHRISTMAS MESSAGE 2004
The Rt. Revd Harold Miller
Bishop of Down and Dromore
?Isn?t it odd how one word in a vocabulary can take centre-stage at a particular time in our history? December 2004 has definitely been the month of ?humiliation?. Whoever said it first, we have looked at the word, examined it from all angles, wondered why we had never quite noticed it in the same way before, and even heard erudite professors speak of whole doctorates done on this subject.
What I have noticed, thinking freshly about the Christmas Story, is the difference between ?humbled? and ?humiliated?. ?Humiliation? is something done to a person - it feels de-humanising; we have no control over it, and it appears to give a sinister and perverse joy to those who inflict it. ?Humbling? is different. And, this Christmas, as we progress closer towards ?peace to people of good will?, I want to suggest something very simple: we can all choose to take control of the situation and humble ourselves, just as Jesus did when he came from the glory of heaven and made his home on this earth.
That means we no longer claim everything that we have a right to: it means we put others first and give up things for them, no matter how sinful or twisted we think they are. For those who have power and control, it will mean laying some of it down, graciously.
For those who have done wrong on all sides it will mean admitting it and saying ?sorry?. For those who have only seen it from one point of view, it will mean looking at things with the eyes of others.
?Humbling? ourselves you see, means taking responsibility ? it is our choice. But if we humble ourselves, as Jesus humbled himself, freely and intentionally, we will no longer be consumed with a fear about humiliation.?
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