Throwing a light into the world's darkness

I WRITE this article having only just returned from a carol service in York Minster - one of a very large number of carol services which the Minster hosts in the run up to Christmas, of course with the Christmas Eve Service of Nine Lessons and Carols as the climax - always crowded out and with standing room only.

The service this afternoon was for me very special indeed. It was arranged by an organisation called United Response, of which I have the privilege to be a vice president. It is an organisation which seeks to help, assist, support and advise people, young and old, with all manner of difficulties physical as well as mental.

And it was quite splendid and immensely moving as groups supported by the organisation made their way on to the platform to sing their carols, a deaf choir to sign them, wheelchair bound young people playing the drums and reciting poetry.

Here was a very special carol service indeed and one which I shall long remember.

But even more than that I noted the way in which these people really did support, help and assist each other - giving each other a hug, taking an arm, helping each other down the platform steps and so on together with their helpers.

Here in these disabled persons was the quite spontaneous and ready generosity of caring for and about their neighbour - each one showing a genuine love for the other - a demonstration in action to me and I believe to all present of the Christmas message about which they were singing.

The trouble is, of course, that the account of Jesus' birth, especially as St Luke tells it, with the angels and the shepherds has become very familiar indeed, perhaps over familiar.

But in these few sentences there is the account of God's love for us and God's care for us and the pattern given us in the words and works of Jesus Christ for our own daily life and living.

All of a sudden the world has become a more anxious, troubled and dangerous place. During the past 12 months we have seen terrorism on a huge scale and are being warned that they could strike here in this country any time, anywhere.

There have been scandals in the world of finance and commerce which along with the instability in the Middle East and the world generally, have had an effect both on trade and commerce.

Almost overnight people have found their savings, their investments and their pension provision take a massive downturn. And all the talk is of the inevitability of a war with Iraq in the coming year. What a world!

More than ever then we need to hear the message of the angels this Christmastide. It is a message of life and light and hope as they announce the good news of Jesus' birth.

For in the darkness and gloom which pervades the world today the celebration of Jesus' birth is a bright and shining light which sets before us the way the world could and should be - a world where resentment, hatred and war gives way to reconciliation, peace, justice and harmony.

Such a way was clearly evident to me at that carol service in the Minster. It was clear to me too as here in Bishopthorpe and many other towns and villages throughout the land people came together to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee - the spirit of good neighbourliness certainly flourished over that weekend!

And lest we should conclude that there is only unrelieved gloom for the future, moving as I do among so many people and places, my own experience as Archbishop tells me that there are so many people not least young people who give me faith and confidence for the future.

Just a couple of weeks ago for example I presented awards here in Bishopthorpe to two young people who had been specially sponsored because of the very significant contribution they were making voluntarily here in the local community and indeed more widely still. It was a pleasure to hear their testimonials read out.

So often the reports about young people are negative and bad. There are far more who are really making a difference at home, in their schools, in their neighbourhoods for good and for the flourishing of all.

Old story it may be, the birth of Jesus Christ, now more than 2,000 years old, but a story ever fresh and new - a story vital for our survival.

Christmas Day is a sign of hope for us all - a shaft of light which pierces all our darknesses.

The birth of Jesus Christ is the assurance that the world need not be the way it is - that there is a better way not only in the future but for today and every day. And it was those in York Minster, quite in spite of all their difficulties, who really showed the way.

My prayers and good wishes to you and yours for peace and joy this Christmastide. A very happy Christmas to you all.

Updated: 10:42 Tuesday, December 24, 2002