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A reflection and prayer to start the day with the Rt Revd Mary Stallard, Assistant Bishop in Bangor.

Good morning.

Chris Rea鈥檚 鈥淒riving home for Christmas鈥� seems to me to put a rather cheerful gloss on what can be a challenging aspect of the season. Christmas travel in our household is at the best of times complex and stressful, with family members scattered across the UK, and everyone having competing schedules. This year holiday travel seems even more difficult, with plans having to take account of the possibility of industrial action on the rail network or elsewhere. There are always big expectations at Christmas that friends and families will try to visit each other, especially now this is possible again, and despite the challenges of winter weather. However, most of our travel woes are as nothing compared to sisters and brothers elsewhere: we鈥檙e conscious at this time of the plight of so many refugees and asylum-seekers, looking for respite from situations of unrest, threat, or conflict. We鈥檝e been hearing increasingly also of those displaced or forced to leave their homes, because of the impact of climate change.

For such people travel is a much more urgent and risky process than I have ever experienced.
And the Christmas story speaks directly into this reality: the accounts of the birth of Jesus are peppered with stories of perilous journeys: At the centre are the holy family who depend on the welcome they receive from strangers, far from their home. Ultimately the story is about a God who comes to us, accepting uncertainty and danger in an act of complete self-giving. A God who takes the risk of being born amongst us, showing us the joy of costly love.

God our hope, we remember how in Jesus you come into our lives in a new way. Fill us with courage in all the journeys we undertake. Open our hearts to receive your presence, and help us to be signs of your welcome to others. Amen