Proper Prayers for Epiphany A (6 January 2020)

The Feast of the Epiphany may be celebrated on the Sunday before Epiphany or on the day itself.  These prayers may be used on Sunday, 5 January 2020.

Proper Prayers for RCL Christmas 2

Isaiah 60.1-6; Psalm 72.1-7, 10-14; Ephesians 3.1-12; Matthew 2.1-12

Collect of the Day

Eternal God, who by a star led wise men/the magi to the worship of your Son.  Guide by your light the nations of the earth, that/so that the whole world may know your glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.  [1]

or

O God, on this day you revealed your Son to the nations by the leading of a star.  Lead us now by faith to know your presence in our lives, and bring us at last to the full vision of your glory, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.  [2]

or

Almighty and ever-living God, you revealed the incarnation of your Son by the brilliant shining of a star.  Shine the light of your justice always in our hearts and over all lands, and accept our lives as the treasure we offer in your praise and for your service, through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.  [2]

or

Everlasting God, the radiance of all faithful people, you brought the nations to the brightness of your rising.  Fill the world with your glory, and show yourself to all the world through him who is the true light and the bright morning star, your Son, Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.  [2]

or

Creator of the heavens, who led the Magi by a star to worship the Christ-child:  guide and sustain us, so that we may find our journey’s end in Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.  [3]

or

Lord God of the nations, we have seen the star of your glory rising in splendour.  The radiance of your incarnate Word pierces the darkness that covers the earth and signals the dawn of peace and justice.  Make radiant the lives of your people with that same brightness, and beckon all nations to walk as one in your light.  We ask this through Jesus Christ, your Word made flesh, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, in the splendour of eternal light, God for ever and ever.  Amen.  [4]

or

Shepherd of Israel and Light of all Nations, made known in the gifts of those who call to other names and walk on different ways:  may unjust powers and the hatred within us be dismayed by your friendship and dethroned by your love; through Jesus Christ, the open arms of grace.  Amen.  [5]

or

O God of light and peace, whose glory, shining in the child of Bethlehem, still draws the nations to yourself:  dispel the darkness that shrouds our path, that/so that we may come to kneel before Christ in true worship, offer him our hearts and souls, and return from his presence to live as he has taught; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.  Amen.  [6 alt.]

or

Radiant Morning Star, you are both guidance and mystery.  Visit our rest with disturbing dreams, and our journeys with strange companions.  Grace us with the hospitality to open our hearts and homes to visitors filled with unfamiliar wisdom bearing profound and unusual gifts; for with Christ and the Holy Spirit you live and reign, God for ever and ever.  Amen.  [6 alt.]

or

Bright Morning Star, your light has come, and the birth of Jesus has overwhelmed us with joy.  Like the magi of long ago, may we be drawn to you and offer you such gifts as we are able; for with Christ and the Holy Spirit you live and reign, God for ever and ever.  Amen.  [6]

Prayer over the Gifts

Gracious God, accept the offering of your Church, the hearts of your people joined in praise and thanksgiving, in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord.  Amen.  [1]

or

Good and loving God, we rejoice in the birth of Jesus, who came among the poor to bring the riches of your grace.  As you have blessed us with your gifts, let them be blessing for others.  With the trees of the field, with all earth and heaven, we shout for joy at the coming of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.  [2]

Preface

Blessed are you, gracious God, creator of heaven and earth; you have revealed your eternal plan of salvation, and have shown your Son Jesus Christ to be the light of all peoples.  Therefore with angels and archangels we raise our voices in joyful praise to proclaim the glory of your name.  [1]

or

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God, through our Saviour Jesus Christ.  By the leading of a star he was shown forth to all nations; in the waters of the Jordan you proclaimed him your beloved Son, and in the miracle of water turned to wine he revealed your glory.  And so, with all the choirs of angels, with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:  [2]

The Breaking of the Bread

We break the bread of life, and that life is the light of the world.

God here among us, light in the midst of us, bring us to light and life.  [1]

Prayer after Communion

God of all the nations of the earth, guide us with your light.  Help us to recognize Christ as he comes to us in this eucharist and in our neighbours.  May we welcome him with love, for he is Lord now and for ever.  Amen.  [1]

or

Radiant God, with our eyes we have seen your salvation, and in this meal we have feasted on your grace.  May your Word take flesh in us, that/so that we may be your holy people, revealing your glory made known to us in Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord.  Amen.  [2]

Blessing

May the God of infinite goodness scatter the darkness of sin and brighten your hearts with holiness; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always.  Amen.  [1]

or

May the God of infinite goodness scatter the darkness of sin and brighten your hearts with holiness; and the blessing of God almighty, the Author of creation, the Word of redemption and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always.  Amen.  [1 alt.]

or

May the God of infinite goodness scatter the darkness of sin and brighten your hearts with holiness; and the blessing of God almighty, the Source of all being, the Word of redemption and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always.  Amen.  [1 alt.]

or

May the God of infinite goodness scatter the darkness of sin and brighten your hearts with holiness; and the blessing of God almighty, the Holy One of Israel, the Word of God incarnate and the Power of the Most High, be among you and remain with you always.  Amen.  [1 alt.]

or

May the Holy One of Israel, who led the magi by the shining of a star to find the Christ, the Light from Light, lead you also, in your pilgrimage, to find the Lord; and the blessing of God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always.  Amen.  [7 alt.]

or

May the Holy One of Israel, who led the magi by the shining of a star to find the Christ, the Light from Light, lead you also, in your pilgrimage, to find the Lord; and the blessing of God, the Author of creation, the Word of redemption and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always.  Amen.  [7 alt.]

or

May the God of the prophets, who led the magi by the shining of a star to find the Christ, the Light from Light, lead you also, in your pilgrimage, to find the Lord; and the blessing of God, the Holy One of Israel, the Word of God incarnate and the Power of the Most High, be among you and remain with you always.  Amen.  [7 alt.]

or

May the Holy One of Israel, who led the magi by the shining of a star to find the Christ, the Light from Light, lead you also, in your pilgrimage, to find the Lord; and the blessing of God, the Father, the Author of creation, the Word of redemption and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always.  Amen.  [7 alt.]

Notes

[1]        The Book of Alternative Services 1985

[2]       Evangelical Lutheran Worship 2006

[2a]     Evangelical Lutheran Worship:  Leaders Desk Edition 2006

[3]       Alternative Collects for Years A, B & C of the RCL and Seasonal Prayers over the Gifts and after Communion 2019

[4]        Opening Prayers:  Collects in Contemporary Language 1997

[5]        Prayers for an Inclusive Church 2009

[6]        Revised Common Lectionary Prayers 2002

[7]        Book of Occasional Services 2003

N.B.  Text in italics are possible alternatives suggested by the Ven. Richard Geoffrey Leggett, Ph.D.

Proper Prayers for the 2nd Sunday after Christmas (5 January 2020)

For those congregations not keeping Epiphany on 5 January 2020.

Proper Prayers for RCL Christmas 2

Jeremiah 31.7-14 or Sirach 24.1-12; Psalm 147.12-20 (BAS 147.13-21) or Wisdom 10.15-21 (as a canticle); Ephesians 1.3.14; John 1.(1-9), 10-18

Collect of the Day

God of power and life, the glory of all who believe in you, fill the world with your splendour and show the nations the light of your truth; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.  [1]

or

Almighty God, you have filled all the earth with the light of your incarnate Word.  By your grace empower us to reflect your light in all that we do, through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.  [2]

or

O God our redeemer, you created light that we might live, and you illumine our world with your beloved Son.  By your Spirit comfort us in all darkness, and turn us toward the light of Jesus Christ our Saviour, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.  [2]

or

Almighty God, you have filled all the earth with the light of your incarnate Word.  By your grace empower us to reflect your image in all that we do, through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.  [3]

or

Gracious God, you have redeemed us through Jesus Christ, the first-born of all creation, whose birth we celebrate in the child of Bethlehem.  Grant us every spiritual blessing, so that we may live as your adopted children and witness to your glory with praise and thanksgiving, now and for ever.  Amen.  [3]

or

God most high, your only Son embraced the weakness of our flesh to give us the power to become your children; your eternal Word chose to well among us, that/so that  we might live in your presence.  Grant us a spirit of wisdom to know how rich is the glory you have made our own, and how great the hope to which we are called in Jesus Christ, your Word made flesh, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, in the splendour of eternal  light, God for ever and ever.  Amen.  [4]

or

Hidden God, who made the face of Moses shine with the gift of your friendship:  teach us the law of love, carried by breath of spirit and planted in hearts of flesh that/so that we might be children again and world restored to you; through Jesus Christ, the Glory of God.  Amen.  [5]

Prayer over the Gifts

Source of love and life, receive all we offer you this day, and through the coming of your Son, help us to see in others him who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.  [1]

or

Good and loving God, we rejoice in the birth of Jesus, who came among the poor to bring the riches of your grace.  As you have blessed us with your gifts, let them be blessing for others.  With the trees of the field, with all earth and heaven, we shout for joy at the coming of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.  [2]

Preface

Blessed are you, gracious God, creator of heaven and earth; we give you thanks and praise through Jesus Christ our Lord, who in the mystery of his incarnation was made perfect man of the flesh of the Virgin Mary his mother; in him we have seen a new and radiant vision of your glory.  Therefore with all the angels of heaven, we lift our voices and sing our joyful hymn of praise to proclaim the glory of your name.  [1]

or

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God, through our Saviour Jesus Christ.  In the wonder and mystery of the Word made flesh you have opened the eyes of faith to a new and radiant vision of your glory, that beholding the God made visible, we may be drawn to love the God whom we cannot see.  And so, with all the choirs of angels, with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:  [2]

The Breaking of the Bread

We break the bread of life, and that life is the light of the world.

God here among us, light in the midst of us, bring us to light and life.  [1]

Prayer after Communion

Light eternal, you have nourished us in the mystery of the body and blood of your Son.  By your grace keep us ever faithful to your word, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.  [1]

or

Radiant God, with our eyes we have seen your salvation, and in this meal we have feasted on your grace.  May your Word take flesh in us, that/so that we may be your holy people, revealing your glory made known to us in Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord.  Amen.  [2]

Blessing

May the God of infinite goodness scatter the darkness of sin and brighten your hearts with holiness; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always.  Amen.  [1]

or

May the God of infinite goodness scatter the darkness of sin and brighten your hearts with holiness; and the blessing of God almighty, the Author of creation, the Word of redemption and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always.  Amen.  [1 alt.]

or

May the God of infinite goodness scatter the darkness of sin and brighten your hearts with holiness; and the blessing of God almighty, the Source of all being, the Word of redemption and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always.  Amen.  [1 alt.]

or

May the God of infinite goodness scatter the darkness of sin and brighten your hearts with holiness; and the blessing of God almighty, the Holy One of Israel, the Word of God incarnate and the Power of the Most High, be among you and remain with you always.  Amen.  [1 alt.]

or

May Christ, who by his Incarnation gathered into one things earthly and heavenly, fill you with his joy and peace; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always.  Amen.  [7]

or

May Christ, who by his Incarnation gathered into one things earthly and heavenly, fill you with his joy and peace; and the blessing of God almighty, the Author of creation, the Word of redemption and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always.  Amen.  [7 alt.]

or

May Christ, who by his Incarnation gathered into one things earthly and heavenly, fill you with his joy and peace; and the blessing of God almighty, the Holy One of Israel, the Word of God incarnate and the Power of the Most High, be among you and remain with you always.  Amen.  [7 alt.]

or

May Christ, who by his Incarnation gathered into one things earthly and heavenly, fill you with his joy and peace; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Author of creation, the Word of redemption and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always.  Amen.  [7 alt.]

Notes

[1]        The Book of Alternative Services 1985

[2]       Evangelical Lutheran Worship 2006

[2a]     Evangelical Lutheran Worship:  Leaders Desk Edition 2006

[3]       Alternative Collects for Years A, B & C of the RCL and Seasonal Prayers over the Gifts and after Communion 2019

[4]        Opening Prayers:  Collects in Contemporary Language 1997

[5]        Prayers for an Inclusive Church 2009

[6]        Revised Common Lectionary Prayers 2002

[7]        Book of Occasional Services 2003

N.B.  Text in italics are possible alternatives suggested by the Ven. Richard Geoffrey Leggett, Ph.D.

Proper Prayers for the 1st Sunday after Christmas (Year A: 29 December 2019)

Proper Prayers for RCL Christmas 1A

Isaiah 63.7-9; Psalm 148; Hebrews 2.10-18; Matthew 2.13-23

Collect of the Day

Almighty God, you have shed upon us the new light of your incarnate Word.  May this light, enkindled in our hearts, shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.  [1]

or

O Lord God, you know that cannot place our trust in our own powers.  As you protected the infant Jesus, so defend us and all the needy from harm and adversity, through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.  [2]

or

Loving God, guardian of our homes, when you entrusted your Son to the care of Mary and Joseph, you did not spare them the pains that touch the life of every family.  Teach us to rely on your word, that/so that in our trials as in our joys we may be clothed in gentleness and patience and united in love.  Make us ever thankful for the blessings you give us through Jesus Christ, your Word made flesh, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, in the splendour of eternal light, God for ever and ever.  Amen.  [4]

or

God of the refugees, sharing the exile road with all who flee the violence that enslaves and kills:  as your Son sought asylum in a foreign land make us ready to welcome the refugee and receive from her a new language of life and hope; through Jesus Christ, Rachel’s child.  Amen.  [5]

or

Praise is our cry, O Holy One of Israel, for you have come among us and borne our burdens.  Give us open hearts, that/so that we might embrace our suffering sisters and brothers, and welcome Jesus in the hospitality we show to exiles; through Jesus Christ, your Word made flesh, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, in the splendour of eternal light, God for ever and ever.  Amen.  [6]

Prayer over the Gifts

God of light, in the birth of your Son/Jesus we see your glory.  May we who share in this mystery grow daily in your love.  This we ask in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord/Jesus, the Word made flesh.  Amen.  [1]

or

Good and loving God, we rejoice in the birth of Jesus, who came among the poor to bring the riches of your grace.  As you have blessed us with your gifts, let them be blessing for others.  With the trees of the field, with all earth and heaven, we shout for joy at the coming of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.  [2]

Preface

Blessed are you, gracious God, creator of heaven and earth; we give you thanks and praise through Jesus Christ our Lord, who in the mystery of his incarnation was made perfect man of the flesh of the Virgin Mary his mother; in him we have seen a new and radiant vision of your glory.  Therefore with all the angels of heaven, we lift our voices and sing our joyful hymn of praise to proclaim the glory of your name.  [1]

or

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God, through our Saviour Jesus Christ.  In the wonder and mystery of the Word made flesh you have opened the eyes of faith to a new and radiant vision of your glory, that beholding the God made visible, we may be drawn to love the God whom we cannot see.  And so, with all the choirs of angels, with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:  [2]

The Breaking of the Bread

We break the bread of life, and that life is the light of the world.

God here among us, light in the midst of us, bring us to light and life.  [1]

Prayer after Communion

Faithful God, we thank you for feeing us with this heavenly banquet.  Help us always to hear the prophet’s call to turn our hearts to you; in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord.  Amen.  [1]

or

Radiant God, with our eyes we have seen your salvation, and in this meal we have feasted on your grace.  May your Word take flesh in us, that/so that we may be your holy people, revealing your glory made known to us in Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord.  Amen.  [2]

Blessing

May the God of infinite goodness scatter the darkness of sin and brighten your hearts with holiness; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always.  Amen.  [1]

or

May the God of infinite goodness scatter the darkness of sin and brighten your hearts with holiness; and the blessing of God almighty, the Author of creation, the Word of redemption and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always.  Amen.  [1 alt.]

or

May the God of infinite goodness scatter the darkness of sin and brighten your hearts with holiness; and the blessing of God almighty, the Source of all being, the Word of redemption and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always.  Amen.  [1 alt.]

or

May the God of infinite goodness scatter the darkness of sin and brighten your hearts with holiness; and the blessing of God almighty, the Holy One of Israel, the Word of God incarnate and the Power of the Most High, be among you and remain with you always.  Amen.  [1 alt.]

Notes

[1]        The Book of Alternative Services 1985

[2]       Evangelical Lutheran Worship 2006

[2a]     Evangelical Lutheran Worship:  Leaders Desk Edition 2006

[3]      Alternative Collects for Years A, B & C of the RCL and Seasonal Prayers over the Gifts and after Communion 2019

[4]        Opening Prayers:  Collects in Contemporary Language 1997

[5]        Prayers for an Inclusive Church 2009

[6]        Revised Common Lectionary Prayers 2002

[7]        Book of Occasional Services 2003

N.B.  Text in italics are possible alternatives suggested by the Ven. Richard Geoffrey Leggett, Ph.D.

Do You Live in Hope? Reflections on Christmas Eve 2019

Do You Live in Hope?

Reflections on Christmas Eve

The Ven. Richard Geoffrey Leggett

24 December 2019

Holy Trinity Anglican Cathedral

New Westminster BC

            My professor of Hebrew Bible, the late Fr. Joseph Hunt, told us a story of a late night train trip he took while he was still a monk of the Abbey of Mount Angel in Oregon.  He was travelling back to the West Coast from Chicago and, when he boarded the train and entered his compartment, he discovered his companion was an Orthodox Jewish rabbi.  The rabbi was equally surprised to see that he was about to spend a long trip with a Benedictine monk whose identity was unmistakable since Fr. Hunt was wearing his monastic habit.

            The two men made some pleasant sounds to one another as the train left the station.  Both men produced their prayer books and began to recite their night prayers in silence.  The silence, Fr. Hunt told us, lasted a long time.  When a Benedictine tells you the silence lasted a long time, then you know that you and I would have experienced it as an eternity.  They finished their prayers and then tried to have some conversation, but they soon lapsed back into silence.  After another long silence, the rabbi looked at Fr. Hunt and asked, ‘Do you live in hope?’  Fr. Hunt answered, ‘Yes, I live in hope.’  For the rest of their journey together the two men of faith talked about their hope in the coming of God’s promised reign of justice and peace.

            Do you live in hope?  This is the question I think slumbers in the hearts and minds of every human being.  At various times, some of them ritual such as tonight, some situational such as personal or communal crises, this question awakens from its slumber and commands our full attention.

            Many people are drawn to the story we tell tonight because they realize that there is something worth believing, worth falling head over heels in love with, in the mystery of this night.  Even if we are here because of family custom or nostalgia or some other reason, we are drawn here because we want to live in hope.  And this is what tonight offers us, hope in a future worth believing in, worth falling in love with, worth committing our lives to.

            The mystery of this night is more than the familiar hope engendered by the birth of any child, whether in a hospital, a home or a refugee camp.  What we encounter tonight is the embodiment of our hope that the challenges of our lives, or our communities and of our world are not how the world is now and ever shall be.

            From the unknowable beginnings of human self-awareness, God has been at work creating communities of help, of hope and of home.  These communities, past, present and future, dare to offer an alternative vision to the status quo and even dare to resist, not by coercion or violence but by doing justice, by loving our neighbours steadfastly and by walking humbly with God and with all our sisters and brothers, of every faith or none, near and far, known and not yet known.

            To be a disciple of the Child whose birth we celebrate tonight is to live for a world in which ‘goodness is stronger than evil; love is stronger than hate; light is stronger than darkness; life is stronger than death’. [1]  Living in this hope is not some naïve, warm feeling that blinds us to the realities of the present.  Living in this hope means committing ourselves, our souls and bodies, our minds and strengths, to working for this world, the world as God means it to be.

            Living in this hope is not easy.  We are often disappointed and perhaps even discouraged.  We are sustained by the stories of God’s holy ones who came before us and by the witness of the many holy ones, some who are religious believers and many who are not, who share this hope and work for it.  We are sustained by communities such as this one who raise us up when we stumble, who forgive us when we fall short and who whisper words of encouragement and wisdom when we are disheartened and uncertain.

            In the days to come we shall return to the rail compartments of our daily lives as the busyness of Christmas and the new year passes.  In those compartments we shall surely find familiar and not-so-familiar travelling companions.  Some of them may seem weary.  They will ask us, in one way or another, ‘Do you live in hope?’  May our answer be, ‘Yes, I live in hope.  Let me share my hope with you and you yours with me, so that we and all God’s children may be free and the earth come nearer to the dream we share.’

---

[1] Desmond Tutu as published in Evangelical Lutheran Worship 2006, Hymn #721.

God Interrupts Our Regularly-Scheduled Program (Advent 4, 22 December 2019)

God Interrupts Our Regularly-Scheduled Program

Reflections on Matthew 1.18-25

RCL Advent 4A

22 December 2019

Holy Trinity Anglican Cathedral

New Westminster BC

            On Tuesday of this past week I had three appointments scheduled in Vancouver neatly arranged at 9.00, 12.00 and 17.00 and conveniently located within easy driving distance of the Synod Office, my final destination for the day.  So I packed my backpack and went off to my first appointment at Broadway and Heather near VGH.  Since I had some time between appointments, I went to the Synod Office to do some work.

            There is a small unused work space at the Synod Office that I frequently use when I am between meetings in Vancouver for any extended period of time.  I call it my ‘Niche of Necessity’.  On Tuesday, however, someone had decided to use it to store a number of boxes, thus making it impossible for me to work there.  So I set myself up at a table in the Trendle Lounge where I thought that I would be uninterrupted.

            However, one of my colleagues, a private person of few words, saw me.  He pulled up a chair and, for the next forty-five minutes or so, he and I chatted about a particular church matter and then his most recent medical experience.  My planned work remained untouched.

            My colleague had recently learned that his heart wasn’t as healthy as he thought it was.  He had been brought to consider the fragility of our lives and to realize that the future, as he had imagined it, might be somewhat different.  Since I’ve been a cardiac patient for thirteen years, I knew what he was experiencing.  There is not a day that goes by when I am not reminded that my life depends upon a tiny piece of medical technology embedded in my left main coronary artery.

            We all know how the ‘regularly-scheduled program’ of our lives can be interrupted by a ‘special announcement’.  Perhaps, like my colleague, it is a message about our health.  Perhaps, like me, you’ve planned out the day carefully and someone or something decides to demand your attention.  I was reminded, after my colleague had left and I was packing up my things to go to my next appointment, that interruptions are not always what they seem to be to us at the moment.

            Henri Nouwen, a well-known Roman Catholic writer and pastoral theologian, served for a while as a chaplain at Yale University.  One day a friend walked by Henri’s open door and noticed he was holding his head in his hands.  When his friend asked him if there were anything wrong, Henri said, ‘I keep getting interrupted and cannot do my ministry.’  ‘Henri,’ his friend responded, ‘did you ever consider that your interruptions are your ministry?’

            Mary probably did not plan on becoming the mother of the Messiah, particularly since it involved bearing a child whose father was not the man to whom she was engaged.  Her ‘regularly-scheduled program’ was most definitely interrupted by a ‘special message’ that cost her a great deal and put her on a road she could not have imagined.

            Joseph had a plan to become a respectable family man, married to a young woman from a good family who would bear him sons to take up their father’s business.  Even in first-century Palestine a skilled trade such as carpentry was the ticket to a good future.  Discovering his fiancée was pregnant with someone else’s child must have been a shock, but imagine for a moment having a dream that tells you whose child it is and what your role is to be in shaping the future.  Talk about an interruption!

            And whether people believe Jesus to be the Messiah or not, we cannot deny that the story of his birth as well as his teaching and life come as a profound interruption to the ‘regularly-scheduled program’ of human history.  That ‘regularly-scheduled program’ does not always turn out well, regardless of what century we’re looking at.  Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, the American poet, wrote a poem as he was rushing to see his son who had been wounded in a battled during the American Civil War.

I heard the bells on Christmas day

Their old familiar carols play,

And wild and sweet the words repeat

Of peace on earth, goodwill to men. [1]

Longfellow, recently widowed and the single parent of six children, cannot help but write

And in despair I bowed my head:

“There is no peace on earth,” I said,

“For hate is strong, and mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good will to men.” [2]

But then his melancholy is interrupted and God’s special message breaks through:

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;

The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,

With peace on earth, good will to men.” [3]

            Human history is interrupted by the special message of Emmanuel, ‘God is with us’.  What an extraordinary interruption this is.  It doesn’t matter whether you believe it or not, Matthew simply claims that in Jesus, born of Mary, raised by Joseph, God is with us, even more importantly, God is for us.

            As we draw near to the Christmas feast, who doesn’t want to believe this.  Not do we only want to believe it, we want to experience it first-hand.  We want to know that God is with us, God is for us, just as surely as we can see and touch each other gathered in the Cathedral this morning.  We want to see God’s power at work in remedying the many ills of our world.

            But we have to admit that God’s presence among us, within us and beyond us, is elusive.  Sometimes I feel like saying to God, ‘Why do you give the sceptics so much ammunition?  Would it be too much to ask for even a small sign, perhaps something dramatic?  Peace in the Middle East would be nice.  Nudging some local elected officials and developers to take the risk to build a few more non-market housing units wouldn’t be a bad idea?’

            And then, as I am caught up in this ‘regularly-scheduled program’ of whinging, God does interrupt me with a ‘special message’:  ‘Do you not realize that every human being whose life has been touched by Jesus of Nazareth now shares in his ministry.  Remember when he said that his disciples would do greater things than he if they believed in him and committed themselves to the same ministry? [4]  Well, kiddo, this is your moment!  You’re my Emmanuel  in this place and in this time.’

            On Tuesday my colleague needed an Emmanuel and there I was.  Our neighbours need an Emmanuel and here we are.  God has this annoying habit of using flesh and blood such as ours to break into the ‘regularly-scheduled program’ of the world to bring a ‘special message’ of reconciliation and healing, of service and community, of peace and justice.

            Be prepared to be interrupted by the needs and concerns of our everyday world.  Be ready to interrupt our world’s ‘regularly-scheduled program’ with the good news that God is with us, that God is for us.  That cute little Baby has escaped the manger, my friends, and has set us loose on an unsuspecting but desperately needy world.

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[1] www.hymnary.org/text/i_heard_the_bells_on_christmas_day accessed on 20 December 2019.

[2] www.hymnary.org/text/i_heard_the_bells_on_christmas_day accessed on 20 December 2019.

[3] www.hymnary.org/text/i_heard_the_bells_on_christmas_day accessed on 20 December 2019.

[4] John 14.12.