Christmas 2 Year A

Lections: Jer. 31:7-14; Ps. 84; Eph. 1:3-6,15-19a; Matt. 2:13-15,19-23

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O God, Our Rock and Our Redeemer. Amen.

Good morning, St. Paul’s! As always, it is a blessing to break open the Word with you this morning, our final day of Christmas celebrations.

In our Gospel passage today, we encounter a unique moment in the story of Jesus, when his parents take him and flee to Egypt to escape the murderous wrath of King Herod. It is unique not just because Matthew’s Gospel is the only source we have for this particular episode, but also because it provides a rare glimpse of what Jesus’s life was like as a child.

Of the Father’s love begotten, ere the world began to be, he is Alpha and Omega, he the source, the ending he, of the things that are, that have been, and that future years shall see, evermore and evermore.

This first verse of my favorite Christmas hymn is one continuous sentence. A single sentence that contains all that we need to know, at least on this night, at this particular time; a sentence that harbors the seed of every possibility, every hope, and yes, even every sorrow, as they are all held in the arms of God.

There is a line in a favorite hymn of mine that causes me to stumble a bit. The hymn “The Angel Gabriel from heaven came” tells the story of Mary’s discovery that she is to be God-bearer for the world.

But there’s that line “Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head.’”  The problem? Mary has never struck me as anything meek or mild.

Just before the passage we heard this morning from Matthew, Jesus is talking with his disciples about what sounds like the end of the world.  

In this morning’s reading, Jesus anticipates their question.  He certainly anticipates mine. “When, Jesus?” When will all of this happen?  They want to be ready. I want to be ready. They want to be prepared. I want to be prepared

Ready for what, though?  Prepared for what?

Last Sunday we heard from Jeff the story of Harriet Tubman, the woman who, after escaping slavery herself, went back to the south time and time again to lead over three hundred slaves to freedom in the north. In the current movie, “Harriet,” Tubman gives voice to the grief and commitment inside her, saying,

What those still enslaved are goin’ through right now! I have heard their groans and sighs, and seen their tears, and I would give every drop of blood in my veins to free ‘em! So I ain’t givin’ up!

Few plot points in movies and plays get to me emotionally like those in which the persecuted stand up and say “no.”

The strength and courage that comes from their desperation and hope connects to something deep in the core of my soul.  

This week I went to see the movie “Harriet.”  Based on the story of Harriet Tubman and her heroic work as a conductor for the underground railroad, this movie was full of moments of fierce desperation and hope.