Message for Advent


On his first mission, Space Shuttle astronaut Charles Frank Bolden Jr. commented that it "fundamentally changed his view of the world". From 400 miles above the earth, all looked peaceful and beautiful. Yet Bolden later recalled that, as he passed over the Middle East, he was "shaken into reality" when he considered the conflict that made that area such a dangerous place. During an interview with film producer Jared Leto, Bolden spoke of that moment when he saw the earth with a sense of how it ought to be – and then sensed a challenge to do all he could to make it better.

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the world was not the way God intended. Into this moral and spiritual darkness, Jesus came bringing "life and light to all" (John 1:4). Even though the world didn't recognise Him, "to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, he gave the right to be children of God" (v 12).

When life is not the way it ought to be, we are deeply saddened : when families break up, children go hungry and the world wages war. But God promises that, through faith in Christ, anyone can begin to move in a new direction. The Christmas season reminds us that Jesus, the Saviour, gives the gift of light to everyone who will receive and follow Him.

 

Father in Heaven, may we share the gift of life and light of Jesus with all we love and know.

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