Love shall be our token

A couple of weeks back children from Moredon and Rodbourne Cheney primary schools came to look inside St Andrews. They asked me questions about faith. It was great, for the questions included “Who created God?” and “Who was St Andrew?” I could answer one of those but not the other!

The discussion moved on to saints in general and I mentioned Saint Nicholas – Santa Claus. This then prompted a boy to ask “Why doesn’t Jesus give presents at Christmas instead of Santa Claus?”

And I explained how the giving presents at Christmas is related to the giving of gifts to Jesus by the Magi rather than Jesus giving gifts. I suppose it was inevitable that a discussion about Christmas would lead on to presents.

We all know that Christmas has become about buying. Buying presents. Buying food. Could the wise men have foreseen what their gesture of giving gifts would lead to?

I don’t know if you saw the recent interview the Archbishop of Canterbury gave to Martin Lewis the “Money Saving Expert”. The Archbishop said that people are making themselves "miserable" at Christmas because of the pressure of buying expensive gifts for loved ones.

In the interview Justin Welby admits it is a cliché for him to be complaining about modern consumerism - but said that people were risking their relationships by spending big, leaving themselves short of money.

The Archbishop urged families to show "love and affection" at Christmas rather than giving expensive presents.

He added: "Giving at Christmas reflects that generosity of God. So be generous in a way that shows love and affection rather than trying to buy love and affection," he said. "You can't buy it; you can show it, and when you show it, it comes back at you with interest”

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24896330

Love is the essence of Christmas and that is what we must all remember. Christina Rossetti wrote a poem:

Love came down at Christmas,
Love all lovely, love divine;
Love was born at Christmas,
Star and angels gave the sign.

Worship we the Godhead,
Love incarnate, love divine;
Worship we our Jesus:
But wherewith for sacred sign?

Love shall be our token,
Love be yours and love be mine,
Love to God and all men,
Love for plea and gift and sign