In manychurches and cathedrals, people are invited to light candles and to write downtheir prayers. Often children do this, and often they are thoughtful andthought-provoking. Here is one I read some time ago. It simply said, Dear God,everyone misses you.
Now I dont know what passed through that childsmind as he or she wrote those words. Were they just the sort of words you writeon a holiday postcard to a much-loved grandparent, or on a get-well card to apoorly aunt: an affectionate phrase that seemed the right sort of message tosend to God? Or was there more to it than that? Whatever that child had inmind, I think those words bear thinking about. Dear God, everyone misses you.
The Christmas story is the story of the God who ismissed. For centuries, the prophets had foretold the coming of the Saviour, butwhen he came how few noticed it! How many doors were closed against him? Ourfailure to recognise the Christ when he comes is a theme that runs through thegospels, in the stories of his infancy, his ministry, his suffering and death,and his resurrection. Everyone, or almost everyone, misses God.
But the words have another way of being read.Everyone misses you: that is, everyone would love you to be here, everyonelongs for you; there is in every human heart a deep yearning for God, a desirefor the meaning and purpose and peace of mind that God alone can give.Everyone misses you.
And themessage of Christmas is that God acted decisively to meet this human need forhim. God has drawn near, God has made his home with us: the Word, says StJohn, was made flesh and dwelt among us. The God whom all the ages havelonged for has come to us at last. And the message of Christmas, and ofChristianity, is not of the rumour of some far distant God, but of God who hasmade himself one with us: in the person of his blessed Son he has shared ourbirth, and our life, and our death; and in his resurrection he points us to thelife which lies beyond this life and lifts us into the gracious presence of theFather. Dear God, everyone misses you. Dear child, says God, but you havecome home to me and I have come home to you.
Yea,Lord, we greet thee
Bornthis happy morning,
Jesu,to thee be glory given;
Wordof the Father,
Nowin flesh appearing:
O come, let us adore him, Christthe Lord!
