The following Bible passage, reflection, prayer and action are taken from Surefish's Daily Readings, which can be found here

Arise! Shine!

To us a child is born

Something to read

A child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Isaiah 9:6-7 (NRSV)

Something to think about

Once again the words of Isaiah inhabit four time zones at the same moment.

In relation to his message to the king, Ahaz of Judah, Isaiah still had hope that the throne of David (established three centuries before) could generate monarchs who would govern skillfully and champion the oppressed. Ahaz clearly was not such a ruler (he had led people into catastrophe) but his son Hezekiah trusted God and under him the people rallied.

However, we also recognise in Isaiah’s words a description of Jesus: wonderful (in the Bible it means supernatural) in his wisdom, divine and eternal (with the paradox of being both a son and a father - newborn and yet ancient), and the one who brings peace (which in Hebrew implies thriving, as well as being calm).

The third time zone is the one to which both Isaiah and the Christian church look forward, when justice will be established and upheld forevermore in the final intervention of God in human affairs to create heaven - the destiny for which he created the world.

And what of the present day? Let us pray for a government in this country which upholds the values Isaiah preached. Let us recognise in Jesus an authority against whom all the leaders of the world can be judged. And let us not lose sight of God’s plan for a kingdom of perfect peace and justice, even in the messy and mundane realities of this decade.

Something to do

Today is World AIDS Day. Look back at the Bible passage that speaks of the promise that a newborn child brings and weep for the children living with HIV. Look back at the words about government and pray for those whose decisions impact upon those who live with the virus. Look back at the words about peace and mentally stand alongside those who bear the complex burdens of the epidemic. Then wear a red ribbon today defiantly and with hope.

Something to pray

King of kings, we pray for those upon whose shoulders rests the government of this country. Give them the courage to do what is right, not merely what is popular. Restore in them a passion for doing good, not merely for looking good. And so that all citizens may thrive in a fair and peaceful land, give them a zeal matched only by the Lord of hosts. Amen.

Today in history

Pope Leo X died of malaria today in 1521. When made a Cardinal at the age of 13, he had already been wearing a tonsure for five years. He was the Pope who excommunicated Martin Luther, and he remained to the end blissfully unaware that the Protestant movement had any significance at all.

Today in 1955 Rosa Parks refused to give her bus seat to a white passenger in Montgomery, Alabama, and was arrested, kickstarting the civil rights movement.

The first Jesuit missionary in England, Edmund Campion, was hanged, drawn and quartered today in 1581, for his alleged part in plotting against Elizabeth I.

Jeremiah Clarke, the composer and church musician committed suicide today in 1707. He was depressed at his lack of success as a composer, and since his best known piece has spent 300 years being called “Purcell’s Trumpet Voluntary”, you can see his point.

Image of the day

Anastasia, age 33, who lives with her daughter Esther in St. Elizabeth Christian Community, Zambia, and is HIV-positive. Christian Aid/David Rose

Advent Calendar:
December 1

The word ‘December’ comes from Latin and means tenth month. Time to open the first window on your advent calendar – you could buy a Fairtrade chocolate one, or make your own paper, chocolate, fabric or felt advent calendar, or an advent paper chain.

Advent tip of the day:
Saving pounds on presents

Save money this Christmas by buying only one present per person. If all your family agree, randomly assign one name to each person and set a cash limit.

Now go shopping, it’ll take no time at all and costs you so much less than last year. If your family want to follow the traditional route and buy presents for all, why not - convince them to set a sensible maximum price per gift – affordable to all the family. And don’t forget to stick to it!

Present Aid gift idea – school shoes for £14

Present Aid – gifts that count. Help a HIV-positive child in Zambia get to school by buying them a pair of school shoes – sometimes access to education is as simple as that. If you want to hand over a gift on Christmas Day, add in a Christian Aid Calendar (or get one free if you spend over £40). Use the link to go to the Present Aid site and then search for the gift you want to give.

Amazon gift idea – digital camera

Capture everything this Christmas with the Fine Pix S1500fd digital camera with zoom – don’t forget the rechargeable batteries. Use the links to buy the gift and raise money for Christian Aid as well.

Eco gift idea – Extracts Fairtrade Mini Body Butter Collection

Pamper someone with the Extracts Fairtrade Mini Body Butter Collection – little pots of fairtrade indulgence. Use the link to buy the gift and raise money for Christian Aid as well.