A Christmas Editorial

One of my favourite Christmas carols is It Came Upon the Midnight Clear. Its message is one that breaks through the noise and clamour of our secular culture and pierces our hearts and minds with a call to listen. The carol bids us "hush the noise" and "hear the angels sing" and with the busyness of Christmas, oh how we need to heed this call.

As we hear more and more about the millennium there will be much excitement about Bethlehem and the miraculous birth of the Infant Jesus. But with all the commotion will there be room to listen to the message of that holy night? Can we hear the cries of his Mother Mary as she gives birth? Can we hear the cries of the new born child brought into this world in a lowly cave? Can we stand with Joseph and hear his cries of joy? With the shepherds in the fields can we hear the song of the angels "Glory to God in the highest and peace to God's people on earth"?

In our own prayer life do we take time to listen to what God is saying to us as we bombard God with our pleas and desires? The Psalmist declares "Draw near, O nations, to hear; O peoples give heed." Psalm 34.1

One of the greatest joys of being part of the Anglican Communion Office is to travel to our many Provinces to experience and listen to the sorrows and joys, as well as the yearnings and hopes, of God's people, our global family. My recent trip to Hong Kong was one that reminds me of how times and situations change, politically, in society and in the church. This, our newest Province, has the opportunity to truly listen to now a vast nation, a nation longing for the message of peace that Christmas can bring.

As Communications Director of the Communion I have read with keen interest and much prayer reports from many bishops and dioceses on the Lambeth Conference 1998. Lambeth gave the bishops a chance to begin a process of listening that was found to be difficult at times. Many dioceses have now begun new companion link relationships. Our desire to be a family of churches demands that the listening process take hold of us and centre us. To quieten us, and make us stop to listen to each other and to Christ speaking to us. If we as fellow Anglicans can not listen to each other how can we possibly attempt to listen to those outside the church and in turn speak to them. True listening is hearing what the other person is saying without formulating your reply as they are speaking. Just listen! The Apostle James says "You must understand this, my beloved; let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger." James 1.19 No one ever said it would be easy! Indeed this is true communication. The outcome of true listening is shared conversation.

As the carol bids us can we "hush the noise" and "hear the angels sing"? Let us pray that we will be given the grace to be able to listen to the Christmas message. Why? Because that message is one of peace, good-will, salvation and love to all. What if Mary had not listened to the message of the angel Gabriel or Joseph had not heeded his angelic visitor? Mary's child is our Saviour and Lord. Christ's way is one that demands that we stop to listen, learn and care for one another while listening, too, for his words of encouragement and peace. The carol, speaking of the angelic message, warns us that after "two thousand years of wrong" that we, at war with each other, "hear not the love-song which they bring".

So whether it is in an elevator in your favourite department store, on the car radio, over TV, or in church, the song will be there - "Peace on the earth, goodwill to all, from heaven's all gracious King! The world in solemn stillness lay to hear the angels sing."

James M. Rosenthal