THE CHILDREN’S FEAST:

Over the years you have heard me speak of Christmas as the children’s feast and as I watched the three nativity pageants of our younger children in school this week I reflected on the wonderful gift we are able to share with them. At the same time I was praying that their precious memories of Christmas as children would not be swamped by other narratives that leave them doubting the presence of God in our world and in their lives. 

On my recorded message this week again I share a little of my own recent experience. I have now completed my reading of Fr Teilhard de Chardin’s The Human Phenomenon.

His vision has long captivated me and I thank God that he has offered me a way of coping with all the scientific advances without losing my faith in the bewildering mystery that God so loved the world that he sent his only SON. Fascinatingly, those who read his original thesis had challenged him that he had not dealt with the problem of evil. He admits that he does not have all the answers, but offers, in my opinion, more than a satisfactory way forward as he shows how Christianity has transformed so many people’s lives. I had another perfect illustration of that in my own prayer life during this past week. I can only beg all of you to search for those moments when you have experienced the Lord touching your lives and suggest you encourage your children to do the same, beginning with their experiences of Christmas.