‘CHRIST is born’- we have heard it sung by a thousand choirs. It no longer shocks us. Instead, we relax into the innocence of childhood: carols, tinsel, mince pies. We forget that ‘Christ’, meaning ‘Messiah’, signalled revolution.

Many Jews were expecting an heir to King David. Empowered by God, he would defeat the Romans and restore Israel to faith and political independence.There had already been would-be Messiahs, military rebels. One or two even minted coins proclaiming ‘the Redemption of Israel’. The Roman quickly crushed them.

In the Temple, Simeon hailed baby Jesus as Christ, the salvation of God, and ‘the glory of Israel’. Yet this boy lived quietly in an unimportant village. Stories were later invented about him: he could make clay pigeons fly or stretch logs for Joseph’s woodwork. Thoughtful Christians refused such fantasies. In fact, Jesus was rejected by the locals because he seemed so normal. ‘Isn’t he just the carpenter?’ they asked.

This Messiah did not lead an army. His followers were fishermen, his enemies were sickness and sin. The Kingdom of God which he preached was reconciliation. Another political Messiah stirring up the irritating little kingdom of Israel, could have been wiped out. The Spirit of God, working patiently through ordinary, gentle, lives, could not. Power politics might have short-term success. In the long run its violence and lies would be defeated by the merciful, the peace-makers, the poor in spirit.

Perhaps we can trust our childhood instincts after all: Christmas is truly about innocence. If so, our carols are far more revolutionary than we think.

Sr Margaret Atkins, Canoness of the Order of St Augustine, Boarbank Hall, Grange-over-Sands