Matthew 2:18

Matthew 2:18

“A voice was heard in Ramah

Weeping and loud lamentation,

Rachel weeping for her children,

She refused to be comforted,

Because they are no more”

This week Brian’s sermon reflected on the painting of Vivarini of “the virgin and child” which is at Westminster Abby in the lady’s chapel - how the artist painted dirt under the fingernails. The Christmas story can be sanitised to be too clean, when the story has many sad elements,

Jesus was born into a dark story

Laid in a manger (animal eating trough)

The slaughter of innocents by Herod

This Christmas there are many who are struggling in our own streets, but also the news of innocent Christians killed in Iraq, but we must not lose hope.

Have hope for Jesus comes into the dirty parts of our lives.