Sunday 15th December, 2024: Luke 3 7-18
Then John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit, then, in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” The crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” John replied, “Whoever has two tunics should share with him who has none, and whoever has food should do the same.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?” “Collect no more than you are authorized,” he answered. Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” “Do not take money by force or false accusation,” he said. “Be content with your wages.” The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John could be the Christ. John answered all of them: “I baptize you with water but One more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.c He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in His hand to clear His threshing floor and to gather the wheat into His barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. With these and many other exhortations, John proclaimed the good news to the people. But when he rebuked Herod thetetrarch regarding his brother’s wife Herodias and all the evils he had done, Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.
John the Baptist knew his job was to tell people that Jesus, the Messiah, was coming and they needed to get ready for this. We too in this Advent season are encouraged to take time to look at our own lives and think whether we are doing what God wants us to do – whether we are in fact following his ways so that other people can see Him through our actions. Do we indulge in excesses, when half the world is starving? Do we hope that someone else will look after the vulnerable people in our society? Do we fill our time so fully with our own plans that there is none left for God?
Can we take some time now to ask God to show us where and how we need to respond to his challenges and make time for other people.
Sunday 22nd December, 2024: Luke 1 39-45
In those days Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah, 0where she entered the home of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why am I so honoured, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord’s word to her will be fulfilled.”
Cousins Mary and Elizabeth, both expecting babies, spent time together while waiting for the births and Elizabeth recognised that Mary was carrying the hope of Israel, the much looked-for Messiah. Her insight was God-given and she didn’t hesitate to say what she knew to be true.
We too are called to share our faith with others – by the way we live our lives, and by being aware of the needs of those around us and responding when we can do so. We have met so many people who have helped us in our faith journey, pointing to way to Jesus. Can we do the same for other people?
Is there someone particular you feel has encouraged you or, by their example, has led you to a deeper understanding and faith in God’s love. Can we give thanks for these “witnesses” in our lives, and try to do the same for others?
Sunday 29th December, 2024: Luke 2 41-52
Every year His parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. And when He was twelve years old, they went up according to the custom of the Feast. When those days were over and they were returning home, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but His parents were unaware He had stayed. Assuming He was in their company, they travelled on for a day before they began to look for Him among their relatives and friends. 45When they could not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for Him. Finally, after three days they found Him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were astounded at His understanding and His answers. When His parents saw Him, they were astonished. “Child, why have You done this to us?” His mother asked. “Your father and I have been anxiously searching for You.” “Why were you looking for Me?” He asked. “Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s househ?” But they did not understand the statement He was making to them. Then He went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But His mother treasured up all these things in her heart. 52And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
Mary and Joseph must have been frantic when they realised their son Jesus wasn’t, as they expected, with family or friends – but had been left behind. Yet when they found him, even more surprisingly he was in the Temple listening to the teachers. Mary couldn’t understand what he was doing or why – but something told her it was important, and she went on thinking about it long after they had returned home.
As we approach the end of this year and look forward to the start of another, can we too look back and recall moments which have puzzled us – and perhaps with hindsight, we can see the hand of God in our lives. Those coincidences which ‘just happened’ – might these be part of God’s plan? And for the future, can we be more aware of times when God is trying to nudge us, lead us, support us – and give joyful thanks.
On behalf of St. Maargaret’s Church here in Lowestoft
we wish you a joyful Christmas and a peaceful New Year