An Iconic Advent

I have not been around much recently. I seem to have been some what swept up by the comings and goings of life. The times I have been able to sit and reflect have been few and far between. But now is the season of Advent, a time set aside for reflection. A few weeks when we should try and hit the pause button, slow down and focus on the magnificent and humbling gift that is about to enter into our lives. One small tiny little life born in a manger vulnerable and defenceless, that will with time will become our salvation.

There seems to be a hundred and one examples of what Christmas should mean to us all going round. But to me there is nothing more iconic about Christmas than the Nativity scene.  I choose the word iconic deliberately, it is an image to be respected and revered. It is a leading example of all we should hold dear at Christmas and not just for the light of the world at the centre. The illustration, known so well to us all, is the image of a family, turned towards and centred on Christ. No matter how many thousands of times I have seen this image in it's many guises, both gaudy and plain, I never tire of it. Never cease to find a new message in it. It is a calling to all, to take your family, be with your family, share with your family and focus all those wonderful gifts and blessings in on Christ. My favourite images are those of a kneeling Mother and Father, these to me symbolise more than centring just the amazing in on Christ. To me it symbolises us as we come through our Advent pilgrimage to kneel at Christ's birth in prayer and thanksgiving and also maybe in fear and sadness asking the saviour to light the path to our own salvation.

I know there are many references of what Christmas means in today's world, which bits of secular life best reflect the Christian message in the modern world. I can not hope to compete with the great and glorious theological minds of our Bishops and their clergy. But for me this image of family is best reflected not when we gather to watch TV, hide in our phones or open our gifts. It is when we gather to share a meal. No matter how grand or how small a meal we have, the fact that we gather at the table, face each other, share one thing between us, talk, love and essentially break bread together, we share this image of family far better than at any other point this season. It is a starting point, for all the other love, sharing and giving we should do at this time of year. Both our Christian family gathered at the altar to share our meal and our own immediate family gathered round a table. Neatly poetic, neatly reflecting each other and the image of the nativity, a family centred on Christ that will turn and share his light with the world so the family gathered at the stable may grow.