Sunday 11 Dec, wk16 - 'ready, willing, able'...WMRBW

Our readings on Sunday were:
Micah 5:2-5a and Matthew 1:1-18 to 2:15.

Through the use of reflective imagination we heard Joseph's story,
some gathered thoughts from the Wise Men, and listened to what King Herod had to say. These short reflections were later gathered together for a brief homily...

Three weeks of Advent waiting, watching, and wondering.
Week One – and we wondered:
‘are we ready?’
Week Two – and we wondered:
‘are we willing?’
This week, Week Three, perhaps our wondering moves us to ask:
‘are we able?’
Joseph, when confronted with difficult news, also wondered: what should he do?
How could he move from betrothal, to marriage with Mary, given her ‘condition’?
What would people think?
It was just not the ‘done thing’.
Names mattered:
if he married her, and it got out that he was not the father
Joseph’s name would count for nothing.
Rather than being named as someone ‘respectable’ his name,
along with his family’s, would be mud.
He’d already determined to break off the relationship – but he was a decent man,
so he was preparing to break things off quietly, so as not to bring attention,
not to bring scandal upon Mary and her family.
And then, something changes.
Overturning the weight of societal expectations,
the burden of culture, and appropriate behaviour,
Joseph suddenly changes course.
He’s ready to wait and watch and prepare with Mary for the longed-for Messiah.
He’s willing to say ‘yes’ to God, and let go of his need for a ‘good reputation’.
He finds himself able to break out of the confines that he’s been boxed in to
by society, culture, and religious law – this, in order to do what is right.
In the process of saying ‘yes’ to God, Joseph discovers he need not be afraid
and, in doing so, finds an inner strength and peace to be a part of God’s rescue story.

Three weeks, and in this third week, three wise men:
kings? astrologers? priests?
Wealthy, influential, and wondering:
ready to look for signs that show them that there’s more to life than wealth and power.
Willing to seek for deeper meaning and to journey into the unknown,
on a voyage of promise and discovery.
And, on encountering that for which they have sought so long, and so hard...
they, like Joseph, find themselves able to forget about reputation:
they bend the knee to the child before them,
seeing in him the hope of all people;
the one who will bring peace, not a sword.

Three weeks, and three different kinds of king:
Herod –  the despot in Jerusalem:
the ultimate conspiracy theorist who sees plots and enemies everywhere.
Herod, whose reign is one of terror and revenge;
who has no qualms in disposing of family members, or small children,
to keep the power he so desperately craves.
A king who serves only himself.
Then there are the wise men – open to new things,
prepared to put aside their power for a time
when they come upon that for which they’ve been searching:
the child who will be king of kings, the prince of peace,
whose kingdom will never end,
and who will be named ‘Immanuel’ – God with us...
a king who lives in the service of others,
ready, willing, and able
to give his all and to teach us how to live in love, and service,
to God and to each other...

As we move toward Christmas, on this third week of Advent:
so our Advent question expands:
are you ready, willing, and able to follow the One born in the stable?

Let’s pray:
Joseph said, ‘Yes' -
in spite of his shock at Mary's news,
     the scandal it would cause,
     the damage it could do to his business.
What would we have done?
...
Joseph said, ‘Yes' -
which meant accepting Mary into his home,
     providing for Jesus' needs,
     welcoming God into his life.
What would we have done?
...
Joseph said, ‘Yes' -
to God breaking into his life,
     changing his focus and direction,
     bringing joy undreamt-of.
What are we doing?
...
Advent God,
forgive us for undue concern
with our plans and reputations,
worrying about what others will think.
Be our companion in our quest for fulfilment,
guiding our thoughts
and releasing our imaginations.
Lead us once more to the manger in Bethlehem,
preparing us to accept your gift of love.
Make us ready to receive you afresh
in this Advent season.
Break down our excuses and reluctance
and breathe freshness and enthusiasm into our living for and with you. Amen.