Thought for the Week

By Rev. Richard Walker – Vicar of St. John’s Church, Yeadon

TWO young boys were spending the night at their grandparents the week before Christmas. At bedtime, the two boys knelt beside their beds to say their prayers when the youngest one began praying at the top of his lungs. "I PRAY FOR A NEW BICYCLE!"

"I PRAY FOR A NEW X-BOX!" "I PRAY FOR A NEW iPHONE!" His older brother leaned over, nudged his younger brother and said, "Why are you shouting your prayers? God isn't deaf." To which the little brother replied, "No, but Grandma is!"

Christmas is a time for giving and receiving presents. It’s also a time to be with family; it’s a time for food and festivities; it’s a time to think about others. We all know the platitudes well, I’m sure – and I’m not knocking them. We all need opportunities during the year to do these things. But it is easy to forget the reason for the season.

When Pope Julius I authorised December 25 to be celebrated as the birthday of Jesus in A.D. 353, who would have ever thought that it would become what it is today? The birth of a baby to an unknown family, in questionable circumstances, in a backwater province of the then Roman Empire, now inspires the religious devotion of almost a third of the world’s population. But amongst all the hype of our modern commercialised Christmas, the real meaning is quickly forgotten.

One of the titles given to Jesus was ‘Immanuel’. It means ‘God with us’. It tells us that in that humble birth, Almighty God has somehow broken into our world to be with us, to speak to us and to rescue us. It declares that there really is hope and purpose and meaning for all those who find in Jesus a connection with their Maker. It proclaims that whatever else is happening in our lives, the saving grace of God is available for us, both for this life and for eternity.

Why not take some time during this year’s festivities to think about its true meaning? Perhaps visit your local church. Maybe say a prayer. Realise afresh that God truly is for you and with you. I wish you all a very happy and ‘meaning-full’ Christmas!