The Bank of England (to the left), sometimes called the Old Lady of Threadneedle Street, is where the economy is stitched safely together! Today’s modern City towers above. Opposite is The Royal Exchange. The original building was ceremonially opened as a center of commerce in 1570 by Queen Elizabeth I. The Duke of Wellington’s Waterloo memorial statue completes this scene of fame, fortune and financial prudence.

Finding the True Riches

The City is where fortunes are made. But though money serves a useful purpose for us all, it comes with responsibilities to use it well not forgetting the needs of others and we can’t take money with us when we die. We need to find our true riches elsewhere.

In the ever popular BBC programme Antiques Roadshow one regular item involves one of the experts challenging Fiona Bruce, the programme presenter, and the watching spectators to value three antique objects into Good – Better – Best. Sometimes the results are surprising with the most humble looking object proving to be the really valuable one.

The skillful antiques collector spotting the real bargain is willing to pay good money to buy the object. The Bible speaks of  a merchant looking for fine pearls. Finding the one of great value, he went away, sold everything he had and bought it. Where can we find that pearl?

The world’s richest treasure is not in the busy City with its wealth and power, but in the simplicity of that first Christmas. A poor couple, strangers in a far off place, with nowhere to stay. A birth hardly noticed but for a few local working folk and three travellers from a distant land. But that was the way Divine Love pitched his tent and, as a stranger, lived among us:

‘The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.’

John 1:14

The Mystery of Christmas

He appeared in the flesh,
    was vindicated by the Spirit,
was seen by angels,
    was preached among the nations,
was believed on in the world,
    was taken up in glory.

1 Timothy 3:16

The author of these striking words was in process of writing to his friends when suddenly he is inspired with a wisdom not his own. Here is a great mystery, the greatest ever. Here is the Pearl of great price. His name is Wonderful.

The door that needs to be opened

It’s easy to observe the traditional Christmas ceremonies but miss the real meaning. A door needs to be opened, a response needs to be made:

How hard to hear the things I think I know,
To peel aside the thin familiar film
That wraps and seals your secret just below:
An undiscovered good, a hidden realm,
A kingdom of reversal, where the poor
Are rich in blessing and the tragic rich
Still struggle, trapped in trappings at the door
They never opened, Life just out of reach….

From ‘He who has ears to hear let him hear.’ In Malcolm Guite’s Parables and Paradox

When opened this door leads to something wonderful:

‘the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.’

Colossians 1:27

Have a Wonder-filled, Christ-centered Christmas.

— Richard