The Church Of The Holy Rood -- Wool, Dorset, U.K.
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The Church Of The Holy Rood -- Wool, Dorset, U.K.
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New life in new places and oldJanuary is traditionally a time of new beginnings. It’s also the time when we celebrate the Epiphany. The word “epiphany” means a moment of revelation. In this case, the revealing of Christ to the wise men from the east who followed the star to Bethlehem. This symbolises the revealing of Christ to the whole world, as well as the Jewish people.
The Epiphany also reminds us of people having to make a new life in a new place. After the wise men’s visit the Holy Family were forced to flee to Egypt. These regions were very different in character: a change as radical as moving from rural Dorset to a city in the Midlands or vice versa. They returned to their homeland when the immediate danger had passed not to Bethlehem but to their original home in Nazareth, much further north. Reflecting on these different aspects of the Epiphany I am reminded that this country, and every community within it, has frequently been challenged to welcome strangers into its midst. Often people with different cultures, colours and creeds. It is not always easy, and takes time and effort. It affects both the stranger and the local. Things will never be the quite same. There will be gains as well as losses. Think of the immense variety of food now enjoyed by us that has been brought to this land by the “stranger”.
The challenge for us, as new people move into our country and into our local communities, bringing different ideas, expectations and values is to make them truly welcome, even though their arrival will inevitably bring change. And for me, the message of the Epiphany is helpful here: o The wise men were guided to recognise God in a small child and we need to be able to recognise something of God in the stranger, since we are all made in His image. o Egypt took a family of “strangers” into its life and in so doing gave shelter to Christ. We need to care for the “strangers” in our country and communities. Jesus himself taught that to welcome and to care for the stranger is to welcome Christ (Matthew 25.31-end). o The “stranger” Christ disturbed those he came to with his teaching but also brought healing and new life to those who receieved him. Where we are disturbed by Christ and by others we need to also open ourselves to the possibility of having our lives enriched by them. Offering of hospitality to the stranger is also one of the themes of this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity which we mark with a service organised by Churches Together in Wool on Sunday 20th January at 3.00pm at St Joseph’s church. To echo the message of the Christmas angels, I look for peace and goodwill towards all in the year ahead. I pray that with God’s help we will know more of what it is to welcome the stranger and to welcome Christ into our lives. Wishing you a blessed and peaceful New Year.
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