There he is, the small boy in the manger. The small boy, who is God. The small boy who is the biggest gift ever given: the Son of God. I think of the words in Hebrews 1:3.
God´s son has all the brightness of God´s own glory and is like him in every way. By his own mighty word, he holds the universe together. It is indeed the biggest gift ever given to mankind, but also something for us to live by. And in our own worlds and lives try to hold our own universes together, to honour God.
There and then he was yet another boy born into a world of fear, poverty and persecution. Because someone with power felt threatened by something he believed to be a danger to him.
Now, 2000 years later, unfortunately the story repeats it self’s, over and over again. But the children being born into our world are not God, they are children of God. Being loved by God is a good thing, but as prison chaplains we all know that the love of God is not always the strongest power within a human being. And that people doesn´t always honour God in their actions. If that was the case, our world would have been a completely different place!
Our work as prison chaplains is to bring the light of the Gospel into the hearts of those who seeks it. Inside as well as outside the prison walls all over the world. Small deeds can make a big change. Maybe not this Christmas, but for us to bring light, hope and love where it is most needed. That might be the gift that makes the biggest change for an inmate who have lost hope a long time ago. And some darkness has changed into light.
Let´s not forget, that sometimes it is the other way around.
I remember one Christmas when our service was finished and me and the musician left the room and one of the candles felt, leaving stearin all over the threshold, the door and the wall. It was the last service for the day, and we really wanted to get home. But there we were, kneeling trying to clean up the mess we made. Then one of the inmates came, kneeled with us saying: Go home, I will be here for a very long time. So, I have time to clean it up.
I asked him if it really was okay, he answered that it was his Christmas gift to us.
I sometimes think of him when I think about how much small things might matter. It is the Gospel, however without words. Inmates comforting other inmates, giving another inmate a telephone card for him or her to be able to call his or her children or simply a hug or a hand on a shoulder. Small things, that might make big changes. It is the love of God, from one person to another. It is the peace of love in a harsh and maybe even violent environment. It is trying to help one and other to “keep the universe together”.
2000 years ago, the three wise men had to follow a star to find God. We get to follow our hearts and give light, hope and love where it is much needed.
I wish all of you a blessed Christmas.
May God bless you and your loves ones and give you peace.
Marie-Louise Norozi
President of IPCA