“Do not underestimate Christmas” – Bishop Steven
Last Updated on Tuesday, 18 January 2011 08:28
The Bishop of Sheffield, Dr Steven Croft, warns against underestimating the message and meaning of Christmas in his Midnight Mass Christmas Sermon at Sheffield Cathedral (24th/25th December 2010).
Dr Croft insists, throughout the address, that “Everyone, except the very wise, underestimates at Christmas.”
The power and significance of the birth of Jesus are seen in the life, teaching death and resurrection of someone “whose stories are told all over the world “ and who “provides the way for all people everywhere to be forgiven, to be reconciled to God, to begin again”.
Dr Croft tells his congregation: “At Christmas we underestimate ourselves. We place too small a value on our own lives and the lives of others. Like a short sighted person who removes their glasses, we miss all of the potential and value of what it means to be human and of how special we are.”
The Bishop warns that atheism makes the great mistake of reducing “the world only to what can be seen or tested and touched. To be an atheist is to underestimate the world and to underestimate your fellow men and women.”
Dr Croft urges those of little or no faith: “Be open this Christmas to that spiritual dimension and see the whole of your life enriched.”
With distinct reference to the economic challenges facing the region Dr Croft issues an upbeat message whilst confronting head on the reality of future difficulties: “We face many challenges in the coming year in our world, in our country and in our own lives. The New Year will bring difficult choices and many challenges as policies change and spending cuts bite. As ever, the north is likely to face more of those challenges than the south. The communities we serve in South and East Yorkshire are likely to face more than their fair share of difficulty and set backs. Many of our families, friends and neighbours will be anxious about the future.”
He adds: “As we move forward in this climate, we need every resource we can muster. It is vital that our communities rediscover their Christian roots and their Christian perspective in a deep and powerful and renewing way. We need a new openness to the spiritual dimension of life.”
The Diocese of Sheffield is called to grow a sustainable network of Christ-like, lively and diverse Christian communities in every place which are effective in making disciples and in seeking to transform our society and God’s world.
