In her Christmas Day sermon at Gloucester Cathedral, The Rt Revd Rachel Treweek, Bishop of Gloucester, explored the intertwined themes of certainty and mystery. In a world filled with turmoil and uncertainty, she acknowledged a deep human yearning for both clarity and wonder.
Drawing on the Christmas message delivered by angels—“Do not be afraid”—Bishop Rachel highlighted how the mystery of God taking human form in Jesus Christ embodies the unwavering certainty of divine love, hope, and mercy. Even amid great darkness, she reminded us, a single flicker of light shines stronger.
The Bishop encouraged everyone to lift their eyes beyond the noise and distraction of daily life, to truly listen for the angels’ song—an ancient call to peace, unity, and trust.
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Reflecting on the year past, Bishop Rachel noted the pervasive yearning for certainty as people everywhere face anxiety and crises. Yet alongside this is a longing for mystery—a desire to connect with something beyond the visible world, as seen in popular culture’s fascination with mysticism and angels.
Angels appear repeatedly around Christmas—in cards, decorations, children’s costumes, and streetlights—but to encounter their true message requires us to look beyond surface images and embrace their deeper meaning.
She acknowledged the overwhelming noise enveloping us all: political unrest, social media turmoil, protests, personal anxieties, and global conflicts. Yet, similar noise existed during the first Christmas, with Mary and Joseph facing uncertainty and fear in occupied Bethlehem.
The angelic proclamation “Do not be afraid” was a message of certainty amid that uncertainty. These mysterious messengers declared the unchanging glory and love of God, revealed through Jesus Christ.
Bishop Rachel shared her recent visit to Bethlehem and the South Hebron hills, where despite hardship and fear, she witnessed enduring hope and love—a reflection of the angels’ promise even in troubled times. She called for all who suffer—from communities facing trauma to those experiencing discrimination and fear—to hear the angels’ reassuring words.
The Christmas child in the manger holds together the mysteries of God’s love and the certainty of hope, justice, and mercy. Even where darkness seems to prevail, the smallest light remains stronger. God’s presence is limitless, and the angel’s song continues to echo through the world.
Bishop Rachel also invoked Botticelli’s early 16th-century painting “Mystical Nativity,” created in a time of political strife. In it, angels dance joyfully among all peoples and creatures, driving away darkness with the certainty of God’s love and forgiveness.
“Do not be afraid,” the angels dance, “good news has come that cannot be undone.” The child who was born, crucified, and raised is the ultimate mystery of love conquering death, a promise that all will be made new.
In a world deeply divided by fear, blame, and hostility, Bishop Rachel urged us to learn the angels’ language of inclusion and peace. She recalled a joyous, inclusive celebration at Hempsted church where children and young people danced together in worship—an example of unity transcending division.
As Christmas carols remind us of the angels’ timeless message, Bishop Rachel encouraged quieting the noise and opening hearts to their song of hope and reconciliation.
This Christmas, no matter your story or the noise around you, she invites all to listen to the mysterious yet certain voice of the angels.
Happy Christmas!