Maranatha!

An unexpected gift arrived this morning in the post. Unexpected, unnecessary (because we love the senders even without the gift...) but the spot-on matching of its contents with our preferences made me smile. These dear friends know our weakness – dark Belgian (or Swiss, or ...) chocolate. Thank you, Ivan and Ksenia!!

At this time of year we remember an unexpected gift that arrived one night in a manger. I say unexpected, but actually the Jewish people had long expected a Saviour but were looking in a different place – a palace – and were expecting a more conventional King. 

Jesus is God’s gift to us, born in a manger 2,000 years ago, and born in our hearts often in unexpected ways, at unexpected times. 

His coming, though, is absolutely necessary for peace to reign on earth, in you and me, and goodwill to inspire women and men. At this time of turmoil in the world and encroaching darkness, when many of us lead lives of stress and anxiety, the cry goes up again. Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus, Prince of Peace.