Psalm 119:105-106; 129-130
Matthew 2:1-12
The Gate of the Year
I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:
"Give me a light, that I may tread safely into the
unknown!"
And he replied:
"Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the
Hand of God.
That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known
way."
Minnie Louise Haskins
1876 - 1957
In December 1939 the
world was in darkness; lights went out all over Europe as the world descended
into war. There seemed to be little to hope for, little to cheer, little to be
glad about.
Into that dark night
there came an urgent need for a message of light and hope, and King George VI
used this poem to begin his Christmas Speech.
Those of you who were in
church over Christmas, either at Watchnight or on Christmas morn, will know I
made reference to Light. The light that came into the world and the darkness
that could never overcome it.
The Queen made exactly
the same reference on Christmas afternoon.
As had her father; the
Queen affirmed again the faith that will not let darkness take over.
Even when we are at our
lowest
Even when it seems that
the world has gone mad
Even when darkness
penetrates every corner of humanity
Even then
God is there.
Now. Don’t get me wrong!
There are days when we
will not see any light; literal or spiritual.
There will be days when
we do feel overwhelmed by it all, that the darkness has taken over and light
will never return.
That’s what I really love
about this poem – give me a light, the poet asks, so that I may go safely…
trust in God comes the reply.
The psalmist understood
it too: your word is a lamp for my path. It doesn’t light up the whole region,
just that part of the path we tread.
Trust.
Hope.
Light.
All need patience and
time.
And the most patient
characters in the bible can be left waiting for a very long time indeed; a lifetime
in some cases; some never see the promises fulfilled, but that doesn’t make
them doubt any the more.
Then we have these wise
visitors; the strangers who came from a foreign land bringing impractical and
inappropriate gifts; stirring up an already paranoid and jealous king who lives
in a tenuous state constantly uncertain of what will happen next.
That was not so wise!
Yet, they trusted the
light.
They followed it, through
the darkness of their journeying until they finally reached their goal.
Not the king in his
palace, but a poor family, in borrowed accommodation, disturbed and confused
themselves by all the attention.
The travellers had trekked
far and long to reach their destination.
Knowing against all
common logic that something wondrous had happened.
A new king, not of their
tribe’ or race, or faith, or culture.
But a new king
nevertheless.
Born into poverty.
Born into danger.
Born in unusual,
mysterious circumstances.
The star led them; guided
them; inspired them.
We have all now received
our own stars for this year.
It may be a word you are
unsure of.
It maybe one you are
delighted to receive.
It may sit,
uncomfortably, challenging you in ways you did not expect.
It may already be
stirring you; making you think; moving you to action.
Whatever it does;
whatever it says, I pray it will bring you, new hope this year, and new light in
the darkness.
Like those wise men, all
those years ago, may your star lead you; guide you; inspire you.
Remember the psalmist: “Your
word is a lamp to guide me…”
Your word
Your star
As we all stand at the
gate of this New Year, "Go out into the darkness and put your hand into
the Hand of God.
That shall be to you
better than light and safer than a known way."
Amen
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| STARwords ready to go... if you're reading this blog, and weren't able to get your own word today, please ask in the comments below, and I will draw one for you |
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