Friday 29th March
Christ the Redeemer has come - Romans 8:35, 38-39
Our series of Advent readings is now complete. We offer this reflection for Christmas and wish you God's presence and blessing in this season of celebration and joy.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?.... I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.


People around the world are celebrating that God's promise has been fulfilled through Christ's coming. We recognise that God's human face was first found on the new-born child of a homeless couple on the streets of Bethlehem. In whatever circumstances we commemorate that birth, we are reminded that there is no place on earth where God's presence cannot be found.

That God can be present amidst such poverty and destitution, enacts the truth that nothing can separate us from his endless love. Hardship, persecution, danger and sword are all too present elements in the accounts of Christ's nativity - yet in and through all these things God's love is present, God's promise is fulfilled; God's salvation is accomplished. The joy that is ours defies every struggle, every injustice, every scar and pain that this world might inflict, for Christ has come and will one day come again.

This is the hope on which our faith is founded; this is the truth that inspires us to live as followers of Jesus amidst every earthly circumstance. We receive God's gift of salvation with joy and thanksgiving, and offer our lives in grateful service to this Gospel.

Child of Bethlehem; God born amongst us; Love's gift out-poured for us, be present in us again - that our live's endeavours, our hopes and aspirations; our aims and our ambitions might proclaim your Good News and draw us and those with whom we journey ever closer to your endless love. AMEN

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