Here we are on December 1. December 1 is not Christmas! But you would think it is this year. This morning on Radio 2 at 7am, Zoe Ball “launched” Christmas. The Christmas songs started. At 10am, as I was driving to a meeting, Vernon Kay played I wish it could be Christmas every day. I have a bizarre ability to know words of old pop songs off by heart and I was word perfect! It was good to sing what is one of the Christmas classics loudly with it turned up loud!!
Has Christmas started earlier this year in people’s thinking? It does feel like it is here. So where’s the place of Advent as we hear these songs and eat mince pies and begin excessiveness with 24 days to go?
Maybe this year we are seeing a greater yearning for lightness, comfort and joy. Maybe this year instead of moaning it’s all too early we need to join in with people and listen to that yearning for something better within them. What do people want from this season? What do we?
I think like those old Christmas songs we know by heart which are positive and celebratory and whose words suddenly describe a better world, we need to sing a new song, look for surprises and find some joy. There’s too much misery about. We need to rediscover the heart of Christmas, the journey of Advent is relief and hope - glory to God in the highest heaven and peace on earth, goodwill to all humankind. A song of the angels even better than Roy Wood and Wizard!
From today up to Epiphany, I’ll be offering a reflection and a picture. What is God saying? What’s the song we are invited to join in with? What’s being announced around us? In our churches can we find comfort and joy right now as much as people are enjoying on this first day of December. Can we?
At 2pm Scott Mills played Mariah. Okay, I surrender! It IS Christmas…
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