Advent 2 Sunday is reflecting the Old Testament prophecies and how Jesus' arrival was foretold. The last book of the Old Testament is Malachi and then we turn a page and there we are in the Gospel of Matthew. Between the two were 500 years of silence; twenty five generations were born, lived and died waiting for a messiah.
Then distant rumblings became a roar. The waiting was over. This time was now.
An angel visited a young unmarried girl and soon after she conceived a child by the Holy Spirit. Her baby was born in Bethlehem as the prophecy had foretold. A heavenly host alerted local shepherds and wise men from the east followed the night sky to his side. The baby's arrival was not well received by the reigning monarch, Herod, who unleashed a terrible slaughter of male infants in the vain attempt to eliminate his competition. Jesus escaped, a refugee in Egypt with his Mother, Mary and her husband Joseph. The rest, as they say, is history.
If ever a man could be said to bear the weight of the world on his shoulders, it was Jesus. Jesus was strong enough to bear the weight, because in the greatest mystery of all time, he was both man and God.
A prayerful reflection:
Loving Lord, sometimes the dark is so dense I cannot see a single reason to be hopeful. I know there is no darkness you cannot penetrate, Thank you that you have promised you are with me and your word is to be trusted. Sometimes I do not allow the watching and waiting time, healing will come in your time and the best time for me. The light and dawn of the morning always follows the darkest nights. Be with me on my journey to the manger. Thank you for holding and carrying me forward. AMEN
with love and prayers Revd Sara
