7. Dec, 2021
Empty Chairs, December 2021
A few years ago, I used this video in the sermon on sharing our faith. I watched a couple of days ago and reflected that maybe it has a wider message this year.
Empty chairs will be at many tables and in many houses this year not just those people who have died with Covid, but all those who have died over the last two years, who we have not been able to say goodbye to as we normally would. Those empty chairs of people no longer with us are painful reminders of what we have lost and for some it is hard to feel like celebrating the moment. And it is important that we remember those no longer with us and if setting an empty place at the table helps with that then that is fine.
Some churches have begun doing ‘Blue Christmas’ services which are held on the longest night in December, this year it is 21 December, and these are to remember and to reflect on those we have lost and all the other difficulties we faced over the year. My church, St John’s Hinckley, has one such service 7pm on 21 December.
But why, and why does this video have a wider message? Well Christmas, while all the glitz, busyness, parties, presents and joy happens, it happens because of a simple act, the birth of a child. Not just any child, God’s child, his Son, who as we follow the story in the Bible, comes to give us the hope and promise of eternal life. One of the things some people find comforting when they have lost loved ones, is the hope of heaven and eternal life, that one day we will meet our loved ones again and that hope all begin over 2000 years ago with the birth of a child. We do not know exactly when and Christmas is the time we mark that birth the time we remember.
It is not just about Santa, presents, huge dinners, and parties. It is about a young, probably teenage, mother, risking her reputation, giving birth to a son. It is about a husband, standing by his betrothed, doing God’s will, bringing up a child – not his – who will become our Lord and Saviour. The countless Nativity plays we watch (or not this year as many are held without parents) tell the story of that birth of Jesus. But do we grasp the hope that is in that story? Do we grasp the wonder that the shepherds felt when they saw the baby born and heard the angels telling them? Do we know that this baby will change lives, not just those who he met when he was alive, but all those of following even today?
Following Christ, becoming a Christian, gives us hope, and that is hope of heaven. It is a faith that that not only brings hope, but love, love for us for our neighbours, for strangers. A love we should share with each other every day, not just at Christmas. Perhaps showing love, bringing hope is something we can do this year, do we know someone who has empty chairs, can we offer them something this Christmas a friendly face, company, a listening ear (also being careful of Covid)?
For me Christmas is all about new life and new life in the baby born, a new life as a Christian, one where I am forgiven, loved, given the hope of eternal life and a whole community of followers to pray and support me when life is tough and to rejoice with me when I celebrate.
For all those with empty chairs this Christmas remember your loved ones well, rejoice with those left behind not just because you are together, but that there is hope, hope in heaven hope of eternal life.
And if you do not know that hope can find it either by going to church nearby you or by talking to people you know, your neighbours, your friends, someone you know who is a Christian and will share with you that hope that comes by following Jesus, new life in faith.
And with our empty chairs this Christmas not only remember those who sat in them but maybe think we can invite to fill them this year and in the coming years.
Have a hope filled Christmas.
Jane