Christmas has a different meaning for everyone

COLUMN: Food for Thought by Father Simon Scott

Last Sunday marked the beginning of a new liturgical year for us at St Finnbarr’s in Dornoch as it did for many churches across the world.

Advent began! As the first candles on our Advent wreaths were lit we started the journey through this beautiful season which leads us to the feast of Christmas.

Advent is a time when the church asks us to open our hearts and our minds to look forward. Of course, we look forward to Christmas and the celebration of the birth of Jesus, but during Advent most Christians are also reminded that together we have a destiny with God.

We are not on an endless treadmill, with history turning in an eternal circle without purpose. No, we believe that God is leading us to the complete fulfilment of our human story – one that individually (and for all of us together) ends in the loving embrace of God and the never ending experience of beauty and love for which we humans long.

Advent is a unique time in our year because we know and can anticipate what’s coming. You can ask any child and they will tell you that Christmas is coming in just a little while. And for most children, Christmas is a time of wonder and merriment.

Christmas takes on a different kind of meaning, too. For some of us, it’s a time of sadness. We remember those who aren’t with us any more, or we remember relationships that have ended. For others, it’s a time of anxiety because we have to be with family members that we don’t get along with. For some of us, it may be a time when we want to believe, but we’re just not there yet – the commercialism gets to us and we just feel empty!

Advent is a perfect time to ask God to heal us and to bring us into a place of balance – a place of unity with the spirit of the season that reflects the beauty of the Christ Child.

Whether you might be yearning and praying for your own healing, or someone you know and love, for the healing of a total stranger whom you have heard about or healing for our environment, our planet or our nation, maybe this is the time to seek the Lord’s hand upon you and acknowledge your need to rebalance your life and allow the Spirit of God to flood you with the healing balm of hope and peace.

For many of us who profess to follow the Christ Child, that healing and rebalancing comes to us through being part of a community of faith.

Maybe you haven’t been to church for a long time – but why not give it a go? Why not take a risk – dip your toe into the waters of a community of faith – you might just find a place of healing. Come Thou Long Expected Jesus – Come and bring us the spirit of hope and peace!

Father Simon Scott is priest in charge at St Finnbarr’s Scottish Episcopal Church at Dornoch.

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