Christmas Message from Bishop Derick Richard of the Methodist Church of Barbados: Reflecting on the Power of Christmas in a Broken World

Christmas message from Bishop, The Reverend Derick Richard of the Methodist Church of Barbados

“Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light”

The world we live in in not the idyllic world our grandparents grew up in. Our world is far more broken, complex, messy and violent. We face unprecedented crises; we are plagued by global warming and pollution, wars and economic uncertainties, social unrest and fundamentalism. Yet, God’s mercy-filled light infuses our morose world with a goodness that keeps bursting out of the brokenness, complexities, messiness and violence with joy and healing. This image of his grace powerfully illustrated in our carols at this time of the year, like O Little Town of Bethlehem.

Yet in thy dark streets shineth, the Everlasting Light.

The hope and fears, of all the years, are met in thee tonight.

Reflecting on these words help to reveal what Christmas does to us and for us. In the midst of the darkness, pain, brokenness, the Everlasting Light breaks through and love is borne into the world by the incarnate Lord.

As the story of Christmas begins, we are reminded of the power of empires and governments. The Roman Empire ruled so formidably that it had no serious opposition, until at last in ease and luxury it decayed from within. By the providence of God, that same empire helped to prepare the world for Christmas. With a firm hand it established and kept peace and order throughout the empire, making it easier to share the good news that the desire of nations had come.

Though Caesar’s decree brought Mary and Jospeh to Bethlehem, the empire could not bring Christmas – the same Caesar tried to kill the Prophesied Son. God sent His Son beyond the reach of danger, and so Christmas lives.

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me on who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” – Micah 5:2

Had we been in Bethlehem in the days before Christmas, we would have noted the increasing buzz of business activity. The mobile armies of Rome were major buyers of consumer goods, so, indeed, were the groups of taxpayers returning to the homes of their ancestors for Caesar’s census. Even Joseph and Mary must have contributed to the economy by buying food on their journey. But Christmas is not borne on wings of prosperity. To a lowly town, The Child of Christmas came to be birthed in a lowly manger -but Christmas came.