Guest post by Ted Malloch author of Common Sense Business
In this period of great expectation, leading up to the Christ Mass, we need to — be still and listen.
That is hard to do in our era of extreme busyness and constant connectedness, where we have little time for reflection.
Try it.
Put away all the noise and clutter, all the commerciality and secularism of shopping, and instead ponder anew the true meaning of what awaits us.
In the Song of Zechariah we read,
“Long ago God made a promise
He would set his people free
That in all our life and worship
We might know true liberty,
To be holy, to be righteous
In his sight throughout our days,
Now this child will be a herald
Making ready all God’s ways.”
The gospel itself, in the Book of Luke, proclaims, “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”
In our world of constant turmoil and grave troubles, a world deeply divided, and where fake news abounds, there is in this season a story of ‘Good News’ we all need to attune to.
The Nativity should be our focus in these coming weeks of anticipation.
This is for our spiritual health and collective good, regardless your church background or religious experience.
The late English poet and composer, Ralph Vaughan-Williams perhaps put it best:
This is the truth sent from above
The truth of God, the God of love;
Therefore don’t turn me from your door,
But hearken all, both rich and poor.
The first thing, which I do relate,
Is that God did man create;
The next thing, which to you I’ll tell,
Woman was made with man to dwell.
This we were heirs to endless woes,
Till God the Lord did interpose
And so a promise soon did run
That He would redeem us by His Son.
And at that season of the year
Our blest Redeemer did appear
He here did live, and here did preach,
And many thousands He did teach.
Thus He in love to us behaved,
To show us how we must be saved;
And if you want to know the way
Be pleased to hear what He did say.
Listen to it here, song by a traditional choir:
Christmas is coming…
