SUNDAY COLUMN

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 62, 22 December 1945, Page 3

SUNDAY COLUMN

S DEVOTIONAL READING s (Conducted by the Ashburton | Ministers’ Association.) | CHRISTMAS DAY - “This clay.”—Luke ii. 11. 2 If there is one day in the year which 5 more than any other ought to enshrine Si the characteristics of Christianity we « might reasonably expect it to be S Christmas Day. It is the greatest E birthday in the year; and this weary 5 and wicked world has yet to learn » what it owes to the day that bids it jj turn from its strife, and sorrow, and ; sin, and allow itself to be enlightened “ and led by the memory and the meanS ing of the Babe in Bethlehem lying in 5 a manger. While time shall last this ■ day shall never fail to have its benign » message of heavenly peace and joy. ■ To a world of woe it brings the minis- ; try of heaven and the glory of the J Lord! Here, at least, is one day in

2 the year when the crass materialism i of our age receives a check; when the ■ sordid and mean things of earth are » put to shame, and seek to hide; when : the warrior sheaths his sword and acl knowledges the Prince of Peace. * Let us think of Christmas Day as it ! now exists for millions in many lands. : We shall notice first: It is a Children’s j day. Therefore it is a great day. How • often have we heard people say: ! “What would Christmas be Avithout 5 the children?” It is Christianity alone ■ that has surrounded the child with a | heavenly glory. From the Babe of j Bethlehem we have-learned to see the i angels hover round each cradle bed. | In the trust and truth and purity of a

I little child our Blessed Lord found an I illustration of the Kingdom of God. it is written, “a little child shall lead them”; and the world needs that.leading to-day. Think of the humanising influence of the siveet simplicity of little children. Our rough, rude, selfish and sinning hearts are rebuked by their tender and unconscious innocence. Do we not always hear the voice of our best angels when Ave stand in the presence of a little child! Think again. The sympathies of a child.are universal. For children there is neither class, nor caste, nor colour. | Rich and poor, black and white, and I yellow, the little ones will freely play together in a universal sympathy that reflects the mind and heart of Him who “hath made of one blood all nations of men.” The world to-day needs the lessons it may learn from the heart and Avays of a little child. It is a true instinct, and a Christian one, that, makes this a children’s day, for on Chris.tmas Day the simple things of life are seen to be sublime, and the sublime things of life are seen to be

simple. "Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength,” for—- “ Children are God’s apostles, day by day Sent forth to preach of love, and hope, and peace.” There is a hidden treasure in the Divine wisdom which ordained that the Saviour of Men should appear as the Babe of Bethlehem. Christmas Day is a Day of Remembrance. On np other day do we so'recall our friends and acquaintances. For all of us the fields of memory are filled Avith the scenes and faces of other days. Our hearts again glow of warm affection, and we give humble praise. For all the faithful, loved and dear, Whom Thou so kindly, Lord, hast given, . For those who still are Avith us here, And those Avho Avait for us in heaven. To-day, myriad minds, visiting their absent friends in imagination, in affec-

tion, in remembrance, are swift upon their myriad Avays. To the all-seeing eye of our Heavenly Father what a web of loving thought must be Avoven each Christmas Day compassing all the Avorld, and wistfully approaching heaven! For bn this clay we feel the bond that binds us to our fellows more fully and more truly than upon any qther day of the year. We can endure the forgetfulness of others throughout the year; bat to be forgotten on Christmas Day is to feel a pang of real loneliness such as, perhapsl, no other clay can afford. This is a clay of good-AVill, of compassion, of gifts, of ministry, and of joy. And it is a family day. If we feel the

call to felloAVship Avith others Ave want especially to feel the bond that binds us to those Ave call our oavii. If Ave have one, Ave all long to be at home on Christmas Day. O near ones, clear ones, you in avlioso right hands Our oavii rests calm; whose faithful hearts all clay Wide open Avail, till back from distant lands Thought., the tired traveller, Avends his homeward Avay! Helpmates and hearthmates, gladness of gone years, Tender companions of our serious days, Who colour with your kisses, smiles, and tears Life’s worn web w r oven overAVonted ways, Oh shut the world out from the heart you cheer! Tho’ small the circle of your smiles may be, The Avorld is distant, and your smiles are near, This makes you more than all the world to me!

Does not the secret of all this association of remembrance, of gifts, of compassion, and of home with Christmas Day lie in the fact that on this day the love and remembrance of our Heavenly Father for us was specially manifest in the gift of the Babe of Bethlehem

All meanly -wrapped in swaddling bands, And in a manger laid?

This Divine remembrance of ns is the real supreme note of our Christmas joy and peace. All loving remembrance brings us strength and cheer; but God’s remembrance of 11s is our consolation in every trial, our supreme joy, and our salvation. O morning stars! together Proclaim the holy birth, And praises sing to God the King, And peace to men on earth!

How silently, how silently, The. wondrous gift is given! Ho God imparts to human hearts The Blessings of- His heaven. No ear may hear Ilis coming; But in this world of sin, Where meek souls will receive Him si ill Tlie dear Christ enters in. O holy Child of Bethlehem! Descend to us, we pray; Cast out our sin and enter in—Be born in 11s to-day! We hear the Chri3tma3 angels

The great glad tidings tell; Oh, come to us, abide with us, Our Lord Emmanuel! W. A, G