Good Shepherd Christmas Day Communion 25/12/2006

Hebrews 1.1-4, John 1.1-14


If Jesus was born today what would it be like?

Well, Mary was an ordinary girl,
So if it happened today
I picture the angel Gabriel appearing to her
at home while she was sitting reading the TV Quick
or tapping her on the shoulder in the Asda.

If Jesus was born today what would it be like?

Well, Joseph was an ordinary man,
A carpenter, a worker with wood.
So if it happened today
I picture the angel Gabriel appearing to him
while he was out shop fitting
or sitting in his van at traffic lights.

If Jesus was born today he would come into the lives of ordinary people like you and me.

If Jesus was born today
Mary wouldn't be worrying about finding room at the inn:
She'd be worrying about getting a bed at the hospital;
Joseph wouldn't be thinking about hiring a donkey to get her there:
He'd be tidying out the van, topping up the oil, fixing that dodgy brake
To make sure there'd be no problems once her waters broke.

If Jesus was born today
Maybe the choir of angels would be singing outside A+E.
Maybe it would be a group of hospital porters they would choose to tell the good news to.

If Jesus was born today
The good news would be the same.
The good news that God is no longer a spiteful, vengeful, violent God
Bringing misery to the world.
From now on God is a loving, gracious, giving God
Bringing peace to all who look for it.

If God came to earth today ...
The thing is, God does come to earth today - we just need to look for him.
Remember the words of that favourite carol:

O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!

Happy Christmas - and may the love, grace and peace of God be with you and all your loved ones today.