Christmas reflections from Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham
Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham, World President of Women's Ministries, reflects on the gift of hospitality and welcome.
As we reflect on the birth of Jesus, I have verses from the gospel of John on my heart: “He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognise him … The Word became human and made his home among us” (John 1: 10, 14).
In the Message paraphrase, Eugene Peterson puts it this way: “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighbourhood.”
God, the Creator of everything, stepped into his creation, entering the world he spoke into existence with nothing more than a baby’s cry. And the incredible part? Most people didn’t notice. Imagine that – the Maker of the universe, walking among them, and they missed it!
But here’s the thing: we get to see it. We get to embrace the wonder of God coming close, and we’re invited to welcome him now. To see Christ in the places we may be tempted to overlook, and to open our hearts and homes to him.
I wonder what ‘hospitality’ means for you this Christmas. I’ve been contemplating this definition from material produced by Spiritual Life Development earlier this year: “Hospitality is the consideration of others that allows us to welcome God in person.” It’s about creating space in our lives for people – the stranger, the neglected and rejected, as well as those we do daily life with. Quite simply, it’s about loving our neighbour.
The world is waiting for us to show up, to reflect the light of Christ in our neighbourhoods. Let’s not miss the opportunity.
Just as the Word moved into the neighbourhood, we’re called to move into ours. Not necessarily with grand gestures, but with humility, with peace, with intentional acts of kindness. We might share a meal, offer a listening ear, extend grace to someone who’s struggling. These moments don’t have to be flashy or perfect – our human lives rarely are – they just need to be motivated by welcome and full of God’s love.
This Christmas, how can we move toward others the way Jesus moved toward us? How can we make space in our hearts and homes for the joy, hope, peace and love of Christ? What will it look like for you to be God’s hands and feet – especially to those who are missing him?
In Luke’s gospel we read of Mary and Elizabeth – their joy at noticing, nurturing and making space in the most intimate of ways for their babies who would change the world. We, too, carry an incredible gift to nurture, to notice, to make space for. And this Christmas, I encourage you to be bold in your hospitality, in your love and in your service. The world is waiting for us to show up, to reflect the light of Christ in our neighbourhoods. Let’s not miss the opportunity.
Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones. May you experience the presence of Christ in every moment and share that gift with others.
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