Words for Worship
Ministry Today
Matthew 1.18-22
Homecoming can always be
a hit or miss affair.
And certainly,
for Joseph,
that visit
to his old hometown
was a disaster
from the start.
Of course, it had been
no pleasure jaunt,
for it was on
government business
designed to increase
their tax take.
Well – he thought
it could be worse.
For there must be
plenty of cousins
who remember me
from when
I was a kid.
But when he did pitch up
on their doorstep
with
an obviously pregnant wife
in tow –
the clan were a dead loss.
They didn’t have
A spare bedroom
or even bed settee
on offer.
All they did was
to direct
the tired out couple
down the street
to a cheap motel,
and not one of
the uncles
even offered
to pick up the bill.
When they got there,
they didn't notice
that
the NO VACANCIES sign
was lit,
so they ended up
sleeping
in a storeroom
for the bar.
Then things went
from bad to worse.
For then
these shepherds
knocked on the door
saying
they were prompted
to come into town
by an angel.
They also claimed
that had come
to see
the world’s mighty saviour
who was
Joseph’s newborn baby.
But did they bring a gift?
Did they heck
OK there was no warning,
and TESCO’s
was closed,
but at least
they could have
pass the hat,
and furtively stuck
a wad of fivers
in Joseph's hand
to buy something nice
for the little guy.
But there is
no evidence of that,
or of any gift
sent later
with one of those
small cards.
What happened was
that the shepherd folk
went back
to where they came from
praising God
for the most momentous event
of their lives.
Yet when it came
to a baby gift,
the whole crowd of them
was a total washout.
Then to cap it all
a group of
real weirdoes
appeared at the motel.
They claimed
to be wise men
and that
a travelling star
had led them
to the baby.
But on the gift front,
they did little better
than the shepherds.
Oh yes they brought gifts
to be sure,
but not
the usual Mothercare
baby stuff.
There's gold fit for a king,
the sort of incense burnt
in Jewish temples,
and myrrh
to preserve a corpse.
All this appeared
to the wise men
to be deeply symbolic,
and points to
Jesus as king
and God and sacrifice.
Yet as maternity gifts go,
these were not
the most useful
for a young family
on a budget.
In fact, its pretty obvious
that these geeks
were more familiar
with astronomy
than they were
with cuddly toys.
Maybe these were
the first baby gifts
they have
ever had to picked out.
To sum up –
no hometown hospitality –
Empty-handed shepherds –
Magi that arrive
with oddball presents.
Yes, on the face of it
the whole homecoming
was shambles!
However, it was not.
Because that journey
to Bethlehem
was probably
the most important
homecoming of all time.
However, even
some 2000 years later
the gifts
that were brought
or lack of them
can define our reaction
to Christmas.
For we can join
the small group
who can find
no room for Christ
and this time of the year.
The whole affair is
To them
no more than
a commercial bonanza
and blitz of
food and drink.
Or we could be like
the shepherds
who come
and admire the spirit
of generosity, hospitality
and peace that
this festival generates.
But having worshipped it,
we walk away
without making
a contribution.
Or indeed
we could be like
the Kings
and give as best we can.
Yet even this way
of celebrating Christmas
puts us
in a fankle!
In fact, we can feel
doomed
before we begin.
Because the Father in heaven
has given
the perfect gift
in Jesus.
For this Jesus
is God-with-us
and like God
in every way.
Jesus is the gift,
not of something different from God,
but the gift of God's own self,
he divine truth
told in a human life.
And so it is easy to feel
we are welcoming
this ultimate gift
with our own
less-than-perfect gifts.
Indeed, we sense
we are honouring
the Christ child
with a present
that is "a day late
and is pound short.”
And so we string up
the dodgy lights
at the risk
of breaking our necks.
We hot up
the left over
Christmas pies and turkey
for boxing day guests.
We wrap up
the presents
in paper
that is cut too short.
And we sing
the carols off-key
even if
with happy hearts.
But you know
that does really matter
at all.
For Christ was born
for the inhospitable,
the unimaginative
and even those
who are a bit off the wall.
Put another way
he was born
for you and me.
And therefore
whatever we bring,
he accepts
in the spirit
it is given.
Of course he sees
the young child's
handmade tree ornament
as splendidly naïve
yet loves it.
He sees
the frail old lady's
determination
to get to church
on Christmas Eve
and loves her for it.
And He sees
our tiny charitable givings
to those
in almost immeasurable need.
And despite them
being so small
and the demand so vast;
he hugely blesses us
for them.
For in the end,
all that we do
will always be
painfully little.
Nevertheless God
always welcomes
the small gifts
we give
And the reason is
that God became
in Jesus
a little gift at Bethlehem:
God became
a tiny human form
nestling
in his mother's arm;
and look what grew out
of that tiny-ness
Now one day,
Dave decided
to go hill walking.
And as he admired
the scenery
as he climbed higher
he began to think
about God.
"God? Are you really there?"
Dave suddenly said out loud.
To his astonishment
a voice came
from the clouds. "
Yes, Dave –
What can I do
for you?"
Seizing the opportunity,
Dave asked,
"God? What is a million years
like to you?"
Knowing that Dave
could not understand
the concept of infinity,
God responded
in a manner
to which
he could relate.
"A million years to me,
is like a minute."
"Oh," said Dave.
"Well, then,
what's a million pounds
like to you?"
"A million pounds to me
is like a penny."
"Wow!" remarked Dave,
getting an idea.
"You're so generous...
can I have
one of your pennies?"
God replied,
"Sure thing - in just a minute."
Well, I suspect
few of us
this Christmas
will be giving
to Christ
a million pounds
in a minute
or even a year.
But to God
that doesn’t matter
at all.
Rather he happily welcomes
whatever small thing
we do for him.
For when we come
to the manger
with our inexpensive present
or quickly chosen gift
or can of food
for the poor;
the man
who was once
the child of Bethlehem
raises his arms
to welcome us.
When we try
even fleetingly
to be generous
and hospitable
and forgiving
because this is Christmas,
Jesus accepts
these small gifts
because
he finds beauty in them,
and rejoices
in that beauty.
And when we offer
a helping hand
or just remember
someone no one else has
or say
a brief word of belief,
he welcomes
our little gift
because he recognizes it
as a sign
that his joy
has touched us.
Because, he knows
that in each –
we have put aside
all the failures
of homecomings past
and made
our homecoming now –
a present fit
for a wee baby.
Amen
Offering
HYMN………….
Christmas Gifts