Tower and Town, December 2025 (view the full edition)St Thomas Moore RC ChurchThe opportunities and challenges are so noticeable at this time of the year: Advent, Christmas and New Year. Like the Shepherds of Bethlehem, we live on exposed hillsides, a prey to sun, wind and rain. We try to live good and upright lives in this world, and to take care of our own, to make a living, and have security - but living in this world is like "living out in the fields." We are vulnerable, nothing is certain, and the darkness often engulfs us. We do live in a land of deep shadow. Our yearning is to be delivered into the light of day, like a newborn baby. We want to feel the touch of love all around us, to know the love of family and friends. We want to be held and hugged and gazed upon with love. We wish to be children newborn, to experience love towards ourselves in our very helplessness and weakness. We do not want to be under the adult pressure of having to earn the love of others. 'Unless you become like little children,' Jesus said, 'you will never enter the kingdom of Heaven'. He became a little child for us, born a baby at Bethlehem. Christmas is the time for us to become children again. Every newborn baby tells us who we are - children of God. The Birth of Jesus tells us most of all - we are sisters and brothers in Christ. It is a joy for all. A baby is born for us, and we are all reborn. Glory to God in heaven. Peace to the people on earth. May the love of God in a tender child restore the child in us. May the peace of God in a tender child restore the peace in us. May the happiness of God in a tender child bring happiness to us all. Father John Blacker |