Looking around our world we see

Hundreds dead and thousands displaced by storms in The Philippines... Violence and suppression in Syria, Egypt and elsewhere... The ongoing crisis in Eurozone countries... Anxiety over future relations with North Korea...

And here

The poorest, most vulnerable sections of our society suffering from the current recession, with cuts to their income, job losses, or bewildering changes as to how benefits will be delivered, while the perpetrators of the problem continue to receive large bonuses... The Leveson inquiry into journalistic standards revealing lives ruined by phone hacking, invasions of privacy and underhand methods in pursuit of a "good story"...

AND THIS IS THE WORLD INTO WHICH GOD CHOOSES TO COME... The Word was made flesh, and lived among us, and we saw his glory, the glory that is his as the only Son of God, full of grace and truth

May we open our eyes and our hearts to the presence of God within and amongst us, now at Christmas and in the year to come.