This week's news 

We’re all too conscious of the terrible destructiveness of the ways of the world this week: an outwardly directed rage in the killing of little children in Newtown, Connecticut, and an inwardly directed grief causing a nurse to take her own life after she had been deceived by hoax callers. 

We know about rage. We have already been singing carols with reminders of Herod’s terrible anger – ‘All the little boys he killed at Beth’lem in his fury.’ How the carol drags out the singing of that word ‘fury’!

God can overturn the angry, destructive ways of the world and good can triumph. The celebrations of Sports Personality of the Year last Sunday evening made this abundantly clear.
Dave Brailsford, coach of the year, had promised to win the Tour de France with a ‘clean’ team. It was only after this year’s victory that the extent of Lance Armstrong’s use of drugs was fully revealed. The entire team had been poisoned, physically, in drug taking, and also spiritually and morally by their deception.  What Brailsford has achieved with Team Sky has redeemed the entire sport.
Bradley Wiggins symbolises this turn round. His own father was a cyclist and was involved with drugs. Bradley has been central to making the sport clean. 
The ceremony celebrated the games makers and the military who made such a contribution to the atmosphere of the Olympics, making the event secure without heavy handedness. Everyone involved took a pleasure and a pride in helpfulness. Who would have thought that these humble people playing their part would be so vital to the success? Yet everyone who went to the Olympics appreciated their contribution.
The team award went to both the British Olympic and Paralympic teams; an equal recognition for the achievement of disabled people whom the world might so easily write off.
Paralympic triumph was celebrated in the story of Martine Wright. Surely this is the greatest reversal against all the odds after the 7.7 bombings.
Against all the predictions of doom about the Olympics, such as that of Russell Brand  and American presidential contender Mitt Romney, the event was a triumph, appropriately marked by Lord Coe’s award.
Danny Boyle’s Olympic Opening Ceremony turned over all expectations  and we hear that the its creator has declined a knighthood. He had celebrated ordinary people, including real nurses in the NHS, and rejected an award that would have made him ‘unequal’. 

Reflection

‘All generations will call me blessed,’ says Mary (Luke 1.48). On the face of it, this could seem an unlikely thing for an unmarried mother of humble background to say. Joseph (Matthew 1.18-19) could see the potential scandal. Making this a blessing will require the active engagement of both Mary and Joseph. 

There can be times when we want to complain, or we feel frustrated and angry about what has happened to us. We might even, as Christmas approaches and we find a reason to feel we have missed out on the joy of the season, or personal circumstances make us dwell on sadness or loss, feel unable to join in. It would be so easy for resentment to turn to rage, spoken or unspoken, regrets to turn to envy, sadnesses reduce us to self pity.

If we are to turn the situation round, we need Mary’s example. We could begin by counting our blessings. We could list all the things for which we are thankful. They may include memories of a loved one no longer with us. Yes, we miss them, because what was shared was such a blessing. This needs to spur us on to being a blessing to others.

Prayer

Psalm 80, which has echoes of Psalm 23, has the refrain ‘Restore us O God. Let your light shine, that we may be saved.’

Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,
you who lead Joseph like a flock!
Restore us O God.
Let your light shine, that we may be saved.

When we are consumed by selfishness or bitterness:
Restore us O God.
Let your light shine, that we may be saved.

When we feel overlooked or ignored, not valued or taken for granted:
Restore us O God.
Let your light shine, that we may be saved.

When we are resentful or angry:
Restore us O God.
Let your light shine, that we may be saved.

When we are wounded or feel that we cannot forgive:
Restore us O God.
Let your light shine, that we may be saved.

Heal our sadness, heal our anger, heal our hardness of heart:
Restore us O God.
Let your light shine, that we may be saved.

May we know your blessing, and make us mindful of your blessings to us:
Restore us O God.
Let your light shine, that we may be saved.

Knowing your forgiveness, may we forgive ourselves and forgive others:
Restore us O God.
Let your light shine, that we may be saved.

May we be a blessing to others, and bless you by our lives:
Restore us O God.
Let your light shine, that we may be saved.

Questions

The blessings of the Beatitudes (Matthew 5.1-12 and Luke 6.20-23) reveal how situations can be transformed by seeing them as God would have them. Some of the blessings may seem unlikely, but God is to be found here.

• How can we be a blessing?
• Who particularly needs our blessing?

Action

Much as we long to, we are not in a position to change the world order over night. But by altering our own perspective, we can slowly but surely make a difference. Reviews of what happened during the year will fill the pages of the press and our screens during these last few days of 2012. As you look through them, bless God for all that has been good.  You might look out, too, for an ordinary person whose work has made a difference to a project, and bless them for their contribution.

Young People

Think of times when you have felt angry, or have sulked, or have been resentful or unforgiving. 

What can restore you to being loving and caring?

Tom Ambrose lives in Cambridge.

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