These past few weeks and coming days leading up to Christmas are defined by movement. We are a nation in transit: navigating the M25, M3 or countless other roads, squeezing onto overcrowded trains, or braving the winter weather to “drive home for Christmas.” Over 64% of us will make a significant journey to be with others at Christmas.
In doing so, we spend approximately £361M in fuel, drive 3.3billion miles with the average journey of 66 miles, taking around 75-80 minutes. That is unless you live in Southampton and have relatives in Wick, Scotland which means you have a journey of just short of 700 miles taking you 11 hours 51 minutes without a stop! Impressive – that’s commitment!
We make these pilgrimages because we know that the joy of this Christmas season is found in presence – in simply being alongside those we love.
This moving around echoes the four journeys that lie at the heart of the Nativity story, each revealing a different aspect of Christmas joy.
First, we remember Mary and Joseph, whose journey to Bethlehem was one of necessity and obedience. In their weary travels, we find the joy of trust, believing that even in difficult circumstances, God is working out His purpose. Their path was paved with uncertainty and dictated by a census, yet they walked it in faith. Where in our lives are we being asked to trust God, even when the road ahead seems unclear?
Then, we see the lowly shepherds, who made the short, hurried journey from the hills. Theirs was a journey of simple faith and immediate response. They remind us that the joy of Christ is accessible to all; no-one is excluded – we just need to turn aside to see it. They left their work immediately to find the Saviour in a stable. Are we willing to set aside our daily distractions to find the holy in the ordinariness of everyday life?
We also trace the path of the magi, their long journey of intellect and seeking. They remind us that the joy of finding the King always ends in worship and is worth every mile travelled. They travelled far, bringing their best gifts to a King they had never met. What “treasure” of time, talent, or heart can we offer to Jesus this Christmas?
Yet, the most significant journey was not made by human feet. It was the journey of God in Christ, who
travelled from the glory of heaven to the dust of earth. This is the Incarnation: the Creator crossing the great divide to be with His creation. The longest journey ever made was from the height of Heaven to a manger in Bethlehem. How might we embody this love by reaching out to someone who feels distant or isolated this season?
As you make your own journeys this Christmas – whether across the country or just down the road to St Mary’s or St Swithun’s – may you travel safely. And more importantly, may you find that God has already made the journey to you, meets and welcomes you there.
Helen joins me in wishing you and your families, a happy and wonderful Christmas and a peaceful New Year.
Revd Paul