Diocesan News
'Watch out for Those Feeling Vulnerable' - Archbishop of Dublin's Christmas Message 2006
At Christmas, we cannot but be aware of the intensity of emotions all around, many of joyful expectation, but some of sad nostalgia, and yet others of loneliness and even of fear. Ordinary day to day life seems to stand still for at least a week and leaves some feeling quite adrift. We need to watch out for those feeling very vulnerable at this time of the year.
Christmas interrupts the routine of all our lives. In a positive way, Christmas should make us all feel a bit vulnerable. The Christmas story is about God interrupting life in a very dramatic way, though it was only a small number of people that grasped even something of the mystery that was unfolding. The responses varied from wonder to worship, from the presentation of gifts to the slaughter of innocent children. Awe and antagonism each represent some awareness of the implications of God entering the human arena in Jesus of Nazareth.
When we are interrupted in anything that we are doing, we often wonder whether we can simply return to what we were doing before, or whether the interruption makes a difference, perhaps even drawing us in a new direction. How worthwhile it would be if we were to use the Christmas break to reflect on where our lives are going. The story of Bethlehem has implications for the materialism of many of our values, and for attitudes based on power and self-interest.
One word ?Emmanuel?, familiar in Scripture and Carol, meaning ?God with us? sums up the story of Christmas. In Jesus, God offers the transformation of all of life through his presence with us and in us. Too much rushing about, too much hectic enjoyment, too many parties leave little room for worship and thought, and far too little time to notice those feeling lonely and isolated.
It is worth taking time this Christmas to make space for God to interrupt life, and taking time to notice those for whom Christmas has become a lonely and frightening period of the year. It is in serving and loving one another that we begin to grasp the significance of Bethlehem.
Further information from:
Mr Garrett Casey,
Diocesan Communications Officer,
Dublin and Glendalough,
Tel: +353 (0)1 6106447
Mob: + 353 (0)87 2356472
Website: http://www.dublin.anglican.org