(Luke 2: 1-14)

The story of the troops in the First World War ceasing hostilities on Christmas Day 1915 is famous.  Modern re-tellings of the Truce finish with the soldiers returning to their trenches and fighting again the next day.  In many areas the peace lasted much longer, sometimes up to a period of some weeks.  What is less well documented about these spontaneous times is the reaction of the authorities to what was seen as fraternisation with the enemy.

The public at home were thrilled.  Throughout January 1915 numerous local and other national newspapers in Britain printed letter after letter from people who had taken part.  They printed photographs under eye-catching headlines (‘Extraordinary Unofficial Armistice’).  At the Front, commanders on both sides ordered the troops to restart hostilities under penalty of a court martial.  Generals on both sides declared this spontaneous peace-making to be treasonous.  Padre Adams, minister of the West United Free Church, who celebrated a communion service with both British and German was sent home in disgrace.  In subsequent years of the War, troops were relocated to make sure that something similar would not happen again.  The War was to continue through another three Christmases with millions more killed.

If we look at the Christmas truce without taking into consideration the reaction of the authorities then 90 years later it can seem like something akin to a fairy tale – something that happened then but is not going to happen now.  If we draw in the wider context then we can see the event as illustrative of issues that are equally as germane now as they were then – if people/we are confronted by a truth that is powerful and real then we can’t react with hostility and defensiveness.  We all have something of the dark side within us.

It is the same with the Christmas story.  If the story of Jesus’ birth is taken out of context and we don’t recognise how threatened Herod was and how angry the Jews were to become, then it also appears to be like a fairy story.  Something that happened then but would not happen now.  It is only when we see the darkness, pride, stubbornness and blindness in the people at the time that we can recognise it in our own hears.  The truce was especially warm along a thirty-mile line  around the Belgian town of Ypres.  Not everyone though approved.  One Australian soldier billeted near Ypres complained.

May the joy of the angels, the faith of the shepherds, the love of Mary and the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all this Christmas