21.12.2011
Archbishop of Dublin’s Christmas Message 2011
From The Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson, Archbishop of Dublin & Glendalough and Primate of Ireland:
In a world where there are glaring contradictions, in an Ireland South and North where the clichés of economic melt–down have become grim realities and glaring inadequacies in a society which is beginning to cease to function as a society, we all together face a hard and a gruelling year. Not only will we have to do with less, we will have to do more together to keep alive a hope which is shared, which is just and which gives light to others while we also try to keep our own flame of love burning. Eagerness and patience are gifts of God’s Spirit for which we ask at Christmas. They open to us the pathway of hope in the New Year soon to unfold.
St Paul, whose conversion to the way of Jesus Christ we mark and celebrate in the latter days of January every year, has left us with the probing thought in the Letter to the Romans that hope is in the things not seen. Paul goes on to say that hope of such richness and depth feeds both eagerness and patience. I suspect that we do not often think of eagerness and patience combining, least of all at Christmastime. Christmas is when the eagerness of children so often has to be measured against the patience of parents if all are to enjoy the time which is offered to families in a very special way as one year glides forward into the next and the hope is sustained by twelve days of a Season which, for good reason, is like no other.
Eagerness and patience have been the hallmark of Biblical prophets throughout the Season of Advent. We have heard the hope of generations spill out and pour forth, hope that Jesus Christ will come in a new and definitive way to visit – if I may use that quaint but fascinating word from the older version of the Advent Collect – God’s people in great humility. And that way is the way of salvation, freely given and open to all. The Child of Bethlehem is the Prince of Peace. The Stem of Jesse is the Wonderful Counsellor and the Everlasting Father. All Three Persons of the Trinity weave their way as hope, faith and love combine in the Word made flesh and living among us.
It is, therefore, no surprise that Christian people world–wide rush in their hearts and in their imagination to Bethlehem on Christmas Eve to greet the new–born child. It is no wonder that excitement and energy run through the veins of people everywhere and bring out of them the best of who they are and want to become. And so, I am brought back again to Romans chapter 8. Hope at Christmas is in an event which we cannot see for ourselves. Hope resides in what is unseen but deeply felt, hope leads us into spiritual possibilities which we hardly dared to imagine with our eyes open – possibilities which, with the assurance of the presence of Jesus Christ, become actualities.
May God give you blessing at Christmas and in 2012.