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25 December 2007
Word on the Web
Luke 2: 4-7
So Joseph left Nazareth, a town in Galilee, and went to the town of Bethlehem in Judea, known as the town of David. Joseph went there because he was from the family of David. Joseph registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was now pregnant. While they were in Bethlehem, the time came for Mary to have the baby, and she gave birth to her first son. Because there were no rooms left in the inn, she wrapped the baby with pieces of cloth and laid him in a box where animals are fed.
My Granny had a friend who lived to the age of one hundred and three. At her hundredth birthday party, she stood and gave an eloquent speech on the secrets on living to one hundred. Her first point was 'never lose your sense of wonder'.
We have just read about the birth of the Son of God. This Christmas Day let us take a moment to simply 'wonder'. Wonder at the incarnation itself - 'God contracted to a span incomprehensibly made man' (Charles Wesley). But wonder at the circumstances of the incarnation - the shame of pregnancy out of marriage, the blood and pain of childbirth, the unhygienic animal shed, no room for him, the pungent smell of animals. This is how great David's greater Son chose to enter the world. Wonder at the humility in the heart of God. Wonder at his passion to identify with the last and least of humanity. But most of all just look at the beautiful new born baby and wonder that 'The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight'.
We come to you Jesus, you are gentle and humble in heart. Enlarge our hearts to take in the wonder of the nativity. Move us through familiarity to worship. We lay our deepest hopes and fears in your humble hands this Christmas day. Amen.
Written by Sam Chaplin
Word on the Web
Luke 2: 4-7
So Joseph left Nazareth, a town in Galilee, and went to the town of Bethlehem in Judea, known as the town of David. Joseph went there because he was from the family of David. Joseph registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was now pregnant. While they were in Bethlehem, the time came for Mary to have the baby, and she gave birth to her first son. Because there were no rooms left in the inn, she wrapped the baby with pieces of cloth and laid him in a box where animals are fed.
My Granny had a friend who lived to the age of one hundred and three. At her hundredth birthday party, she stood and gave an eloquent speech on the secrets on living to one hundred. Her first point was 'never lose your sense of wonder'.
We have just read about the birth of the Son of God. This Christmas Day let us take a moment to simply 'wonder'. Wonder at the incarnation itself - 'God contracted to a span incomprehensibly made man' (Charles Wesley). But wonder at the circumstances of the incarnation - the shame of pregnancy out of marriage, the blood and pain of childbirth, the unhygienic animal shed, no room for him, the pungent smell of animals. This is how great David's greater Son chose to enter the world. Wonder at the humility in the heart of God. Wonder at his passion to identify with the last and least of humanity. But most of all just look at the beautiful new born baby and wonder that 'The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight'.
We come to you Jesus, you are gentle and humble in heart. Enlarge our hearts to take in the wonder of the nativity. Move us through familiarity to worship. We lay our deepest hopes and fears in your humble hands this Christmas day. Amen.
Written by Sam Chaplin
