Exeter Cathedral's Christmas message

By dean Jonathan Greener

Do you remember Queen Elizabeth’s ‘Annus Horribilis’? 1992, 30 years ago: “Not,” she said, “a year on which I shall look back with undiluted pleasure.” We seem to be having a run of those years at the moment. Covid. War in Ukraine. The death of Her Majesty. Strikes. Bitter cold weather. Soaring fuel prices. There is not a great deal on our news bulletins to lift the spirits.

But it is into this world that Jesus bursts again this Christmas. Not that the first Christmas was without its trials. Certainly not for Mary and Joseph. All that confusion sown by the angel – Mary is engaged to Joseph but God is to be the baby’s father. That must have provoked the odd heated conversation over the supper table. Living under an unwanted foreign regime. The four-day journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem for the census, just as Mary is about to give birth. Finding all the places to stay are full to bursting.

That is the messy world into which Jesus is born. So, Jesus is well used to the mess. And it is in a messy world – like the one we are in – that he preaches Good News, the key to life: Love God, love your neighbour. Make time for your prayers. Be part of the community of believers. Share what you have. Put other people’s needs first.

Whatever is going on in the world out there, doing those things, Jesus says, will bring you peace and contentment and salvation. That is what I think Christmas is all about. I hope that your Christmas this year will be peaceful and joyful.

And that you will have time to come and see us at Exeter Cathedral, and join us in celebrating the new way of living that this baby offers our world.