Friday 23rd December 2022
“The wolf shall live with the lamb,
(Isaiah 11:6)
The leopard shall lie down with the kid,
The calf and the lion and the fatling together,
And a little child shall lead them.”
I look forward to the day the Conservative and the Progressive live together,
When the Humanist, and the Christian and the Muslim and the Jew share a meal
When Catholics and Protestants agree that they’re both a bit right, and a bit wrong
When we’re all led by that little child in the manger.
I look forward to the day when churches don’t debate abortion and sexuality,
Because sexuality doesn’t matter and abortion is unnecessary because women are equal
I look forward to the day when women are safe and men are happy, and not afraid to show it.
When men and women, straight and gay, black and white, and everyone else knows that we are all one, one because of that little child in the manger.
I look forward to the day when the rulers are brought down from their thrones
And the humble lifted up
When the hungry are filled with good food and the rich sent away empty handed
I look forward to the day when we don’t collect for the foodbank at Christmas
Because we don’t need foodbanks anymore
When there is no ‘rich’ and ‘poor’ just people, enjoying God’s provision.
Together.
And thanking God, who once was that little child in the manger.
I look forward to justice.
Justice that arrived in the form of a little child, in a manger 2000 years ago
And is still waiting patiently for us to catch on, to follow his lead, to be just.
And we will.
Eventually,
When we realise that we have to get on with doing it
And not just wait around for the baby in the manger.
