Advent Reflections | Day 4 | Wednesday 4th December

4th December

The First Nowell

‘To seek for a king was their intent, And to follow that star wheresoever it went.’

Written by Phil Wadsworth

A straight-forward and clear Christmas story, all laid out in carols and countless retellings:  Three kings of Orient, from different lands or continents, followed a star to find the baby Jesus.  Arriving at the stable in Bethlehem they presented gifts (the symbolism of which is spelt out).  They had dealings with, and defied, King Herod.  We know their names – Balthazar, Caspar, and Melchior – and perhaps the story of a fourth king, Artaban.

A cursory reading of Matthew’s Gospel removes some of the apparent clarity; some modern theologians remove more.  They were ‘wise men’, not kings.  Their names, and the story of Artaban, are legends, not biblical.  Why did Herod have boys up to two years of age killed?  Note Matthew 2:11 (“going into the house they saw the child with Mary His mother”).  Some modern scholars still take a fairly literal view but others have arrived at the conclusion that the account is of three astrologers (probably Zoroastrian priests) from Persia, who visited Jesus when He was a toddler back at His home in Nazareth.

Then there’s astrology – surely forbidden?  Deuteronomy 18:10-14, often taken to forbid it, only mentions ‘astrology’ in certain translations.  Astrology’s mentioned positively in Psalm 19:1-4, furthers God’s purposes in Daniel 1:20 and 2:10 (where ‘magicians’ translates ‘magi’), and Jesus Himself says to look for signs in sun, moon, and stars (Luke 21:25).  The ‘wise men’ (‘magi’) used it – though they probably were ‘alerted’ at the time of Jesus’ birth, then after preparation and a long journey arrived much later. 

All this doesn’t mean we can’t learn from and by inspired by the story of the Magi, though.  They were alert to God moving in and through Creation, and to the Incarnation.  They heard God’s call to them, individually.  Rather than thinking that call was inconvenient, unspecific, could wait, they immediately gave up privileged lives and set out on a long, hazardous journey, doing what God wanted.  When they found Jesus they recognised Him, gave Him the best of what they had, and worshipped Him.  Two thousand years later we can learn much, and take example from, the essential, inner meaning of the story of the Magi.

Advent Reflections | Day 3 | Tuesday 3rd December

3rd December

Hark, the Herald Angels sing

‘Mild he lays His glory by, born that we may no longer die.’

Written by Janet Ketteringham

The lyrics of this carol were written by Charles Wesley and George Whitefield in 1739 and is based on two verses in the Gospel of Luke chapter 2 … Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace to His people on earth.”

Then, to fit these lyrics, about a hundred years later William Cummings adapted a Mendelssohn cantata and we were gifted a great and beloved Christmas carol, sung with joy and gusto around the world each Christmas.

And lyrics give us a vivid image of glory, majesty, joy, a party in heaven – this King, this Saviour will redeem mankind, will renew creation, will bring peace to earth. And how will this be done? With panoply? With show? With arms? With might?

Wesley writes in the third verse the line Mild, He lays His glory by and we realise that Christ on earth really is a vulnerable, ordinary baby. He will be a son, a boy, a young man, a teacher, the greatest teacher the world has known. But never an emperor, never a president, never a king on earth.

Mild – Wesley’s great and perfect descriptive word. Mild: the huge wealth and power and status God Come To Earth could command all put aside, all simply and totally rejected. His focus is making us realise and commit to loving God and loving our neighbour. There would be no giving out favours to mates, no choosing palaces to swan about in, no ordering folk to kneel and bow, but showing, healing and teaching, however exasperating and pig-headed people are.

Mild, He lays His glory by. The greatest gift of all.

Advent Reflections | Day 2 | Monday 2nd December

2nd December

O Little town of Bethlehem

“The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight”

Written by Ann Howe

The Carol sets the image of the Bethlehem we celebrate at Christmas. Small, quiet and lit by the moon and stars. A village like place, where we learn from the writings of saints Matthew and Luke, that was busy with visitors from neighbouring towns registering their lineage to King David, who was also born and crowned there.

The streets are dark and narrow and we get the impression of it suddenly being lit by angels glorifying God and a sense of joyous celebration at the birth of the Holy Child, born in a lowly manger. Shepherds arrive with their sheep and some days later Wise Men from the East arrive to worship the infant, bringing gifts.

In 1993 I had a dream fulfilled of visiting Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Just for a day. It was at the ending of the first Israeli - Palestinian Conflict. We travelled from Haifa to Jerusalem in a coach along arid land and saw the tanks left by the road side after the war.

It was Whit Sunday and all the other religions were celebrating Festivals according to their particular Faiths: Jewish, Muslim, Greek Orthodox and Christian. Crowds thronging the streets as illustrated in the Carol.

I could not associate the image I had of Bethlehem with what I was witnessing. The multiple white houses on the undulating landscape, the wide square in the Centre, the Church of the Nativity, the shops selling souvenirs, even one a diamond centre! All the visitors thronging around for treasure

That day destroyed my image of the Bethlehem I had dreamed of, but it thrills me to realise that Our Lord had walked where I was now walking and “the hopes and fears of all the years” are STILL “met in thee tonight.”

Advent Reflections | Day 1 | Sunday 1st December

1st December

O Holy Night

‘A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices. For yonder breaks, a new and glorious morn’

Written by Frances Beards

Advent provides a time for reflection as we wait for Christmas Eve, and the subsequent ‘new and glorious morn’. O Holy Night has been voted the nation’s favourite carol for several consecutive years, and the line I am considering reminds us of the hope we can have of a better world, a world with God’s love. Although the words of the carol were written in 1843, the image of a ‘weary world’ longing for a change is still very real today. When the world seems overwhelmed with weariness, corrupt and damaged beyond anything we can imagine being able to improve; when we see the effects of conflict, injustice and poverty in our communities, and our lack of respect for creation, hope for change and a new life can seem out of reach.

At Christmas we celebrate God’s gift of His Son, Jesus, and this gift is our hope. We have the hope of redemption and new life through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. This redemption is surely the ‘new and glorious morn’ which provides us with a ‘thrill of hope’, causing the ‘weary world’ to ‘rejoice’.

The image of Christmas Eve, a peaceful night with light shining from beyond the stars, allows us to feel the tenderness and love of God’s gift. We are touched by the God who shares in the joys and sufferings of creation. It’s a reminder that God can use us to restore a world ruled by justice, mercy and peace, following the example of Jesus in our lives, not only at Christmas but throughout the year.