December 11th 2011

Last Sunday, taking our theme from the BAS collect, we thought about being confident before him. This week we are waiting in awe and wonder.  For many generations, the people of Israel had been waiting for the promised Messiah to be born. Every woman who became pregnant faced the possibility that perhaps her child was the one that they were waiting for.

Then it happened. The angel Gabriel appeared to a young girl, probably a teenager and announced that she, Mary of Nazareth was the one. She is filled with awe and wonder. She travels to visit her pregnant cousin Elizabeth and greets her with that wonderful hymn or canticle, The Magnificat. She first expresses the wonder and joy that she, a young insignificant girl is the chosen one of God. She is full of awe and wonder as she realizes the significance of what is about to happen. Her depth of understanding penetrates far deeper
into the truth than many of the mature followers of Jesus did later on.

Can we, this Christmas season, become immersed in awe and wonder as we prepare for the coming of the Christ child? This does not mean that we have to be very solemn and circumspect. It means that we try to experience real joy and happiness. Let us enter into the merriment and joy of the season. Let us enjoy the music, the decorations, the parties, the food. God gave us all these things and the capacity to enjoy them. Let us approach the Christmas festivities with joy as we contemplate the wonder of God’s love for us when he joined us here on earth as a little babe.

God bless you merry gentlefolk

Let nothing you dismay

Remember Christ our Saviour 

Was born on Christmas Day