United Dioceses of Dublin & Glendalough

24.12.2009

The Story of Bethlehem is a Story of Hope - Archbishop of Dublins Christmas Sermon

Delivering his Christmas Day Sermon in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin at the 11am Eucharist, the Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Dr John Neill urged his congregation to seek to bring hope to those around them. He said that the Christmas story "asks hard questions of us if we are content to live in a world, and indeed in a land where many are without hope."

The full text of the Archbishop's Address follows.

He continued, "Bethlehem is the story of the birth of the one who accepted each and every person – child, woman or man, respectable or very dubious, religious or apparently far from it, and reached out to them in love and healing, and held out hope to those in despair.  The story of Bethlehem disturbs us in its challenge as much as it comforts us."

Concluding, the Archbishop said, "Can we go forward from this celebration asking what difference the Christ of Bethlehem would have us make for the sake of others?  To celebrate his birth is to commit oneself to a way of life that is different – one that brings hope – one that is all out for others – one that because it is Christ-centred, is also very definitely there to serve. Such a way of living springs from that very simple affirmation, “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life”.

It is a marvellous story – the story of the birth of a baby, whose parents found shelter in the nick of time – the story of the joy of the shepherds, and the adoration of the wise men.    It is a story that never really loses its appeal.  Children love it. It stirs something both in the hearts of those deeply committed to faith, and also to those who feel themselves somewhere on the edge, or even outside of it all.   It is a story that belongs not just to the church, it belongs to the world, and so it should – because it is about the God who made and loves each and every one.

It is a story of love – the love evoked by a newborn baby, and the love of a mother and father for their newborn child.   It appeals on that level to everybody.  But it is a story that is full of mystery too.  It begins as a virgin girl is told that she is to be a mother.  Then months later the shepherds hear the angelic message and the wise men see a star. The baby is born.

These splendid aspects of the story surely point to a deeper meaning than the sentimental, the magical or even the plain mysterious.   They encourage us to search out some purpose in it all.      The events of that night in Bethlehem may with hindsight be seen to be the fulfilment of the message of many a prophet, but certainly at the time it all happened in a way that nobody expected or dreamed possible.    People longed for a better world, people longed for God to change things.  There is nothing new in this – but what happened at Bethlehem was certainly an unlikely way for it all to happen.

This story does not end at Bethlehem because it is but the raising of the curtain on a whole life that is different.  It is the first glimpse of a life that is a life for others, a life of selfless love, a life that could not be corrupted or smeared with all that the world threw at it, a life that could be extinguished in human terms, indeed that is what actually happened, but a life that in God’s way was raised gloriously from the dead.    

The story of Bethlehem is a story of hope, of new beginnings and new opportunities – of a life offered for others.  It asks hard questions if we are content to live in a world, and indeed in a land, where many are without hope – driven to desperation and even sucked into evil because of the sheer hopelessness of their situation.

At a time of severe recession and serious job loss, many who were living on the very brink are feeling themselves to be pushed over that brink into hopelessness.   The real poverty that exists is sometimes obvious, but too often it is hidden. For some it is a real source of shame as much as despair. It is terrifying for those who simply do not know where next to turn.

We have often been deeply shocked by the sheer scale of poverty overseas, and we should be – but there are problems nearer home also that must occupy us now.  A century and more ago, charities and institutions were set up to tackle these problems, and to provide care.  To our eyes today many of the solutions offered have outlived their usefulness, but we cannot fool ourselves – the needs are now greater than ever.   Every effort that brings hope, holds people together, or sensitizes people to each other, can be a step in the right direction. 

The tragedies of peoples overseas are brought very close to us by the international media, and for that we must be grateful.  Now these very problems are on our own doorstep.  The suffering of those whose homes were destroyed in horrific floods, the despair of those without any hope of work, and the agony of young people who are educated and trained for a task, and yet cannot find a place to start – these are all real stories that have become part and parcel of Irish life.

Frequently when you visit in hospital somebody who is going through a really horrible time, they will say to you that they thought they were having a bad time until they saw some others in the ward.  Yes, their eyes may have been opened to the suffering at a distance, just as ours have been as we see the problems of the developing world in our own living rooms.  But in spite of the brave words, your friend in the hospital bed still has his or her own problems to face and the problems of others are never an escape.  The problems of poverty, deprivation and hopelessness in Ireland are ours to be tackled now.

Bethlehem is the story of the birth of the one who accepted each and every person – child, woman or man, respectable or very dubious, religious or apparently far from it, and reached out to them in love and healing, and held out hope to those in despair.  The story of Bethlehem disturbs us in its challenge as much as it comforts us.  

The love at the centre of this marvellous story of Bethlehem is indeed fully human, but it is more than that.  It is the love of God who loved the world so much that he gives to us his only Son.   We are not dealing with just a nice story; we are dealing with the powerful and self-giving love of God – the love of God which is offered to each and every one, but also the love that must change each and every one – if we are to love as we have been loved.  

Can we go forward from this celebration asking what difference the Christ of Bethlehem would have us make for the sake of others?  To celebrate his birth is to commit oneself to a way of life that is different – one that brings hope – one that is all out for others – one that because it is Christ-centred, is also very definitely there to serve.  Such a way of living springs from that very simple affirmation, “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life”.  John 3.16