Words for Worship

Ministry Today

Matthew 2.1-12

 

The unmarked executive jet

sank quickly down

on to the runway

and immediately reversed

its engines.

 

The landing surface

was so uneven

that the plane

swerved dramatically

before reaching

a walking pace.

 

Under the careful gaze

of armed watchtowers

it parked amongst

the jet fighters

and military Cargo planes.

 

The moment the door

was opened,

the ice cold air

stung the 3 VIPs

who emerged

into the grey day

of a troubled city –

a place that

if I named

you would immediately

associate

with the nightly news reports;

harrowing stories of terrorism,

shoot outs

and refugees –

always the refuges.

 

However, our travellers

had little time

to look round

at the squads of soldiers

and their armoured vehicles

who kept the air base

relatively safe.

 

Because, they were

unceremoniously

hustled into

3 sleek black land cruisers

by local body guards

who then crammed in

beside them

with their sub-machine guns

at the ready.

 

The convoy moved off

at very high speed,

out of the defended perimeter

and down the wide boulevards

of a once thriving city

now near deserted

except for

the odd burned out car.

 

The vehicles slowed

on entering the main square

which showed signs

of a recent demonstration

but by which faction

no one knew nor cared.  

 

It was then

they arrived

at a beaten up block of flats

mostly unoccupied

and boarded up.

 

The guards went first

before almost pushing

the United Nations officials

up stairs

covered in garbage

and occasionally much worse.  

 

The apartment

if that is what it could be called

was freezing

with no heat or light

and the wind whistled

through broken windows.

 

But in the middle of the floor

there was almost

an oasis of warmth.

 

For it was there

that the young couple sat

and with a baby;

the very child

that the 3 high representatives

had come for.  

 

Indeed, at the sight

they forgot

their Armani suits

and knelt down

in wonder.

 

Suddenly, in the distance

an explosion was heard

and the guards’ radios

crackled into life.

 

We must go –

no longer safe here

one shouted.

 

The permanent nervousness

was close now

to panic.

 

Guns were being pointed out

windows

and the land cruisers

started up

and circled like covered wagons.

 

Quickly the wise men

of the west

rose

and showed the family

heir gifts;

three of the most precious objects

on the face

of this planet –

three passports

to the United States of America.

 

The man made to take them –

but the mother

pulled his arm back.

 

He was born here

and here he will stay

she said

in broken English.

 

There was no time for argument –

the body guards

where literally carrying

their charges down

the stinking staircase

and throwing them

into the four tracks.

 

Overhead

a helicopter gun ship clattered,

its spot light

searing the gloom.

 

The 3 were silent

on the journey back

through the first flurry of snow

and towards

the airfield

that was now

angrily spitting fighters

into the air

like a dying fire.

 

Even after their plane

took off

so violently

to avoid anti-aircraft missiles,

the group was silent.

 

Then one said –

why didn’t they come with us –

why stay

in that godforsaken place?

 

The oldest watching

the darkening mountains

passing below,

thought for a moment

and then said

ever so quietly –

it isn’t without God now!

 

Mercifully we do not live

in that city

wherever it might be.

 

Yet are times

in all our lives

when we feel

that we are living

through a God forsaken place;

a moment

when nothing

much worse can happen.

 

 It might we at home;

it might be at work or school;

it might be in a relationship

or it could be a personal matter.  

 

Whatever it is –

it seems dark and hopeless.

 

And that brings me

to the really good news

of Christmas.

 

Of course, it’s pretty well hidden

under the layers

of presents,

food and drink.  

 

But the crucial Christmas truth

is that

no happening

in our life

is truly without God.

 

And if you don’t believe me –

why did God risk

coming down to earth –

why was he born

in the slums of Bethlehem –

why was his country

one stage removed

from the Iraq, Burma

or Darfur of our today?

 

 

And the reason is –

he born for the bad times,

the miserable times

and the God forsaken times.

 

He was born

as a human

to make these times survivable –

he lived through troubles

so that we can walk

through such times

a bit taller –

he still lives

so that we can

even master unhappy times

and make the best of them.

 

 

Yet we say that’s Ok

but I would never fly

in a glider

without checking things out

first–

how can I check out

what your saying.

 

Well, we just need

to look

at the real gift

that the Wise men

brought Jesus –

it wasn’t really,

the gold, frankincense and myrrh.

 

No – what they brought

to help out

the child

was themselves;

themselves as friends.

 

Caring friends

whose presents would tell him,

when he was old enough

to understand,

that he would suffer

the bad times

but he would not just weather them

but win through

to the golden ones.

 

And that is what friends are for.

 

Friends like those that Luke has.

 

For a few months back,

he was diagnosed

with a life threatening disease

that required

his treatment

with powerful drugs.

So potent indeed

that he knew

he would loose

all his hair.

 

Not only worried

by his illness

he was doubly fearful

of what would happen

at school

when people saw

his bald head.

 

But then

he found that

his friends really cared.

 

And I mean really cared.

 

Because when he turned up

at school

the first day

he felt able

he found eight of his best friends

had had their heads shaved too.  

 

That made all the difference.

 

Suddenly Luke’s dark place

didn’t seem quite as bad.  

 

And I am pleased to tell you

Luke is winning through

with his skinhead pals.

 

So whatever place

we find ourselves;

whatever

the darkness

and whatever our hopelessness,

let us not

at least

say we are God forsaken.

 

For the good news

of Christmas is

he is always there.

 

And if you don’t believe me –

remember the wise men’s real gift.  

 

Just check Jesus out,

just look around

and then just see him

beside you

in your friends.  

 

Amen

 

Let us now

bind ourselves anew

to each other

in the responsibilities of friendship

as our new cadets

come forward

for their loyal oath.  

 

Indeed, I would ask all members

of the Air Training Corps

to renew their promise

in the spirit of friendship

by rising and standing

in their places.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wise Men’s Eyes