Do not be afraid

Simeon the old man at the temple, looked on the baby Jesus and felt that he

could now depart in peace. The Nunc Dimmittus sung still in our churches at

the end of the day speaks to us of going into the night peaceful in the

knowledge that we can face uncertainty because of God's love for us.

It is a dark time of year for many people perhaps a loved one is no longer

here to enjoy the season, perhaps you face illness, perhaps you have lost

your job and the future is uncertain.

Whatever face we might show to the world, I think we all have deep fears,

and somehow at Christmas when we are meant to be so happy, these fears

can surface more strongly than at any other time of year.

Yet the angels said, “do not be afraid”. Simeon looked on Jesus and knew

peace, Jesus himself reminded us that God takes care of the flowers of the

field without them having to worry and toil and the psalmist reminds us that

the moon shall not harm us by night nor the sun by day as God watches over

all our comings and goings.

Christmas means Christ has come; God has kept his promise now we may

depart in peace.

The LORD watches over you—

the LORD is your shade at your right hand;

the sun will not harm you by day,

nor the moon by night.

The LORD will keep you from all harm—

he will watch over your life;

the LORD will watch over your coming and going

both now and forevermore. Psalm 121 vs 5-8