As the festive season approaches, for many it’s a time to look back, reflect, and ponder the year’s highlights. This year, the Cambridge Dictionary crowned “manifest” as the 2024 word of the year. Words are full of evolving meanings and traditions. In the 14th century, the English poet Geoffrey Chaucer spelled it as manyfest, meaning ‘easily noticed or obvious.’
Today, it has grown to mean something much deeper—a belief in imagining and achieving your goals through faith and intention.
Christmas itself feels like a manifestation—of love, hope, and joy. Yet, even during this season of light, we sometimes falter: choosing the wrong present, prioritising ourselves over others, or letting tasks slip through our fingers. But Christmas also brings a beautiful reminder: in the prayer Jesus gave us, that we can find a way forward.
The Lord’s Prayer is a gift, not just showing us how to pray but guiding us in how to live. Next year, I’ll embark on a journey—a Lord’s Prayer tour through the cathedrals of northern England—sharing its profound message. And as I reflect this Christmas, I marvel at the timeless wisdom of its words:
“Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven…”
Interestingly, earlier versions of the Book of Common Prayer phrased it as “in earth as it is in heaven”—a subtle shift. Regardless, the message remains the same: it calls us to align our lives with divine love and to reflect God’s kingdom on earth, in the choices we make every day.
And what about our relationship with creation? The prayer gently reminds us, “Give us this day our daily bread.” This isn’t a call for excess or indulgence but for simplicity and gratitude. Perhaps this Christmas, we resist the urge for strawberries flown across the globe and instead embrace what’s local, simple, and sustainable—living more humbly in harmony with the planet.
Over the years, we’ve encountered words like pandemic, perseverance, Goblin mode, and Rizz taking cultural centre stage. Yet, Christmas reminds us of the quiet power of ordinariness. There is brightness in the small, meaningful acts—sharing a meal, offering a kind word, or joining others in song.
I pray that we let the peace of Christ manifest in our lives and share it with all we meet. May His light guide us to love, generosity, and joy.
Wishing you a blessed and joyful Christmas.
To find a service at a church near to where you live, visit www.achurchnearyou.com
