The ritual embraces an annual event. 'Prepare for His Coming' yet He has already Come. So what does that mean?
Why the ritualising this Coming which as the New Testament informs us is a total "Birth, Life, Story, Death, Resurrection and Ascension" event. The implication is that the Day of Resurrection is The Significant Day One for us and all humankind.
Two films on ABC TV tonight - 25th December raises personal and national questions to address. "Easy Virtue" based on a play by Noel Coward. The father who returned to the village after WW1 without the villagers who had signed up with him for the King's shilling but who had all died. He returned with a shattered view of the world. This was not the main plot but a stream of real experience which was not going to be addressed nor relieved ... except? The American woman's tragedy and the Love which dammed her even by her new husband brought these two people together.
Then the second film "Joyeux Noel" the western front in December 1914. Scottish, French and German soldiers. I have,
since learning of this story a number of years ago felt repulsed by the response to what happened at several points along the battle front that Christmas Eve. The response of the High Commands and the response of the Bishop.
There was a discussion on the way to our friends place for lunch on ABC Radio National about Handel's Messiah. More
appropriate for Easter, yet has become a common place for Christmas. This comes back to the earlier notion of what Advent might actually mean. Certainly Advent as presented shows an inordinate pre-occupation with Mary.
What have we done to this News of the One who has come ... yet we live as if ...... we have joined pagan notions of annual religious ceremonies which have a life of their own. We do not Live because of Christmas, we live because we have a Risen Saviour who is Messiah and Lord. Who now sits as the True Adam, The True Israel, the True New Man at the Right Hand of the Father.
