大象传媒

Good morning.聽 People make up weird and wonderful names for certain days of the year, usually when they want to sell more of their goods. It鈥檚 only a week or two since we had Black Friday. That was followed by Cyber Monday. And that鈥檚 what鈥檚 given me the courage to call today, December 21st, Fulcrum Thursday or, if you prefer, See Saw Thursday. Why? Because this is the day, the shortest day in the year, when the imbalance between darkness and light begins to be redressed. Daylight starts its fightback on See Saw Thursday and I for one am overjoyed.

This is the time of the year when 鈥淥 come, o come, Emmanuel鈥�, a plaintive yearning for the dawn of a new day, begins to be faded out in favour of 鈥淥 come, let us adore him鈥� which invites us all, at least in our minds, to make the trip to Bethlehem to see this great thing which has come to pass. The note of longing, all in the minor key, is being replaced by the message of welcome crashed out in great major chords. On Fulcrum Thursday the hope-filled dream is on the point of becoming the dream-come-true as Advent becomes Christmas, waiting is at an end, Emmanuel, God-with-us is truly about to come into our lives.

I know there are still a few days to wait but, as the last shopping weekend arrives and all the preparations get done, we can feel the change of tempo, the heightening of anticipation, the build-up to the great moment when the skies are filled with glory and our hearts overwhelmed by joy.

Open our hearts dear Lord to the message of this season. Attune us to the song of the angels and make us all instruments of your peace. In the name of Christ. Amen.