The Bishop of Oxford writes his Christmas message as he prays for worldwide peace and reconciliation.
There will be no carols, no tree and no Christmas lights in Bethlehem this year.
The traditional celebrations have been cut back in the place where Christ was born because of the atrocities in Israel and Gaza.
But the prayers of all the world will join together for peace and reconciliation at this time of year.
READ MORE: Considerable waits expected at A&E this Christmas
A few weeks ago, more than 500 people came together in central Oxford in an Oxfordshire Vigil for Peace in Broad Street.
We gathered at just a few days’ notice as people of all faiths and none to stand together for peace, to grieve over the atrocities and the aftermath, to express our commitment to one another lest conflict in far-away places lead to increased tensions in our own communities.
The faith and civic leaders across Oxfordshire have been meeting together regularly since the Hamas terrorist attacks, building on deep friendships which go back many years.
Peace is a rich and deep word in the Bible. Peace – shalom – means more than the absence of war.
It carries a meaning of wholeness, harmony and wellbeing. Wholeness in humanity’s relationship with creation, harmony in our relationships with one another locally and across the world and peace in our humanity’s relationship with God our creator and redeemer.
The prophet Isaiah, Christians believe, foretold the birth of Jesus in these powerful words:
For a child has been born to us, a son given to us; authority rests on his shoulders and he is named Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9.6).
As we celebrate Christ’s coming this Christmas the land of his birth is scarred by conflict. The images of the war can be overwhelming.
But they should spur us on to pray and work for peace, in our neighbourhoods as well as in far-away places and to do all we can to relieve the suffering of others.
Christians remember in this season that Jesus Christ does indeed bring peace but the kind of peace which first disrupts and overturns our complacency and materialism and exposes our longing of meaning, for justice, for truth in our lives.
One of my favourite Christian bumper stickers reads: “Carpenter from Nazareth needs joiners.”
To be a Christian means more than simply joining an organisation.
To be a Christian means to be committed to this work of peace and reconciliation: joining people and communities and lives.
And the child born in the manger will, Christians believe, ultimately offer his life for the peace and wellbeing of the world. Jesus gives his very self so that all of us might know peace and light.
You will find a warm welcome in a church near you this Christmas. Even if you have not been for a long time, come and find fellowship and friendship in the familiar carols and traditions.
Come and grieve and pray for the peace of the world. Come to reach out the hand of friendship to friends and neighbours. Come and discover more about Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
Oxfordshire Civic Community and Faith Leaders are hosting our next event on January 21 as part of the national network, Together for Humanity.
Together for Humanity is supported by the Together Coalition – a coalition of hundreds of organisations from the NHS to the Scouts, the Football Association to the Women’s Institute.
The purpose of this event is to draw together Oxfordshire's communities in friendship, understanding and peace. We will remember all those lost to the conflict in Israel and Palestine, and other conflicts across the world.
We will stand together, as residents of Oxfordshire and the United Kingdom, in solidarity and commitment to work to build relationships rooted in understanding, trust and mutual love for all.
We will be joined together in the hope that peace is possible and that next year, God willing, there will be carols again in Bethlehem.
Steven
The Rt Rev Dr Steven Croft is the Bishop of Oxford
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