The message of Christmas is one of hope, peace and unity.
What generates more hope than a newborn child, whose story is still to be written, whose whole life is still in front of him?
The other day my brother Dennis forwarded the story of the World War I Christmas Truce between German and British soldiers on the western front. What a great story! Jennifer Rosenberg summarized it well in an article on the truce: "In one of the truest acts of goodwill toward men, soldiers from both sides in the southern portion of the Ypres Salient set aside their weapons and hatred, if only temporarily, and met in No Man's Land."
In spite of today's ongoing wars, there is hope. Maybe mankind can still bring about the peaceful Kingdom of God here on Earth. But it will take hard work by all those of good will coupled with a general raising of consciousness to understand that prayer of Jesus at the end of His life: "I pray that they will all be one, just as You and I are one." (John 17:21)
So, if some of us believe in a Virgin Birth, the Resurrection and the Transubstantiation of bread and wine, we can also hope for a transformation of the world to one of peace and unity.
It won't come easily or automatically. We will need to work at it ceaselessly and keep up our hope. As another of my heroes once sang: "War is over if you want it. "
Peace. And have a merry, hopeful Christmas.
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