Monday 18 December 2023

Today is Monday the 18th of December, in the third week of Advent.

The community of Taizé sing Wait for the Lord.
‘Wait for the Lord, his day is near. Wait for the Lord, be strong, take heart.’

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew.

Matthew 1: 18-24

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:

‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
 and they shall name him Emmanuel’,

which means, ‘God is with us.’ When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife…

Is there a better-known passage of Scripture than this? How many times have we heard it at an Advent Service, or seen parts of it on a Christmas card? Familiarity might inoculate me from the wonder of it.

The whole account of the conception and birth of Jesus is affirming something astounding: God is doing something new and wonderful here. Jesus will be Emmanuel – God with us . . .

Consider the problems the world always faces, back then as well as today . . . the multitude of problems of sin and suffering in all their various forms . . . Do you feel that God is doing enough to respond? . . .

Here, today, is God’s response. It is Jesus: God with us, God incarnate, Word made Flesh, Saviour. And he comes as a vulnerable human baby! Here today is God’s response . . .

Consider this child growing in the womb of his young mother. See him there, about to arrive in the world, waiting to be born . . .

As you listen again, let this gospel of love and hope console you . . .

Sit with Mary in this last week of her pregnancy. As she waits for Jesus, sit beside her . . .

O Wisdom
Lord and Ruler
Root of Jesse
Key of David
Rising Sun
King of the Nations
Emmanuel
Come, Lord Jesus