Christmas – People Matter

Paul writes - A couple of nights ago I watched the beautifully shot but harrowing and very sad Afghan movie, Osama. Parts I couldn’t watch, and had too leave the room. As I watched I reflected on Genesis 1:26a & Gen 2:18-23, and the inherent dignity of all human beings. I reflected on the incarnation and tragedy that is so often a part of our human condition. I reflected on the hopes and love of parents for their children. What did Mary and Joseph hope for Jesus? What did they feel and experience as they watched him grow? What did Mary experience as she watch him tortured and killed?

Osama brought so many feelings to the surface. Osama centred my attention on God, human creation, human tragedy, and the ways we humans live out our religious believing. You can read a review of the movie here.

Archbishop Rowan Williams captures something of my reflection 

“Christmas is the Christian’s Christmas present to everybody else.

Christmas, for a Christian tells us why people matter. They matter because God took us seriously, seriously enough to get involved with our lives to suffer with us and change things. That’s what I believe, that’s what Christians believe and Christmas exists because of that belief. You may or may not believe that; you may think people matter for other reasons, but never mind; that’s what we’re saying and that’s our present, that’s our gift to the rest of the world…” (1^st December 2005).

Comments

[apostle john]

This makes me want to rent the movie -- I've seen it on display at blockbuster and wondered what it was about. I'll make sure to make time this week :)