sunday 22nd december

Yesterday I read something about the achievements of the Pope in 2013.   It made for incredibly positive and hopeful reading.  Everything I've heard about Pope Francis since his installment or enthronement or

whatever it was, has been great.   He hasnt been afraid to speak out ( and speak sense) on the big issues, and yet he has time for the ordinary people,  posing for photographs, letting children play on the platform when he is speaking, selling his Harely Davidson for charity  .  I mean how cool to have a Pope who owns a motorbike let alone a Harley!!!  
http://distractify.com/people/reasons-why-pope-francis-is-the-person-of-the-year/

Living in Northern Ireland and being a Protestant, saying you like the Pope is a deeply controversial thing.  Unless you live here it is really hard to understand just how deep the Catholic Protestant divide goes and how much mistrust, misunderstanding and downright bigotry exists here, ingrained in the psyche of generations of Irish from North and South.  It really is reminiscent of the attitude which tolerated and promoted apartheid or justified slavery in days gone by.  That same deeply held belief in the inferiority/error/demonisation of the other.  It's sad.    It is changing, very slowly.  And I truly hope that Pope Francis, in his Christlike attitude and behaviour, will help sectarian Protestants and narrow minded Catholics to re-evaluate.   He seems to be a good and Godly man.   As does the new Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby.

I absolutely love what the Archbishop did at the Metropolitan Police Carol Service

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/10525801/Gospel-according-to-the-boys-in-blue-Welby-retells-Christmas-story-as-police-drama.html

Surely in these two men we see a demonstration of what its all about.   And, as I read on a comment about the Pope article, if you like these guys - then you are going to love Jesus  :-)

The Pope and the Archbishop are just ordinary people like you and I who are taking the opportunities afforded to them by their position to be the voice and hands of Jesus in the world.  We too can be the voice and hands of Jesus.  We dont have to have an international platform, or the eyes of the world media on us - in fact it must be so much harder for them because of the scrutiny of their every move and word.......
No, we just need to take the opportunities afforded to us by OUR positions - our positions in our families, our churches, our workplaces, our schools, our towns or cities - and be the voice and hands of Jesus.   I dont think we need to go out of our way to create opportunities really.   If we are willing then God will send them along.

Lord, this Christmas as we are busy with family and friends and eating and drinking I pray that we will not miss the opportunities You send along.  Help us to be kind.  Help us to be wise in our words and generous in our attitudes.   Let us be Your voice and Your hands to our families and friends in our places of work and in our churches.  We want to be a blessing as You intend for us to be.   And for all the places in the world where sectariansim and conflict are rife may the Prince of Peace reign.   Bless the Pope and the Archbishop of Canterbury as they lead two major expressions of Your church on earth.   Amen