Glory to Christ who is preached among the nations, and believed on in the world.
~ See 1 Timothy 3.16
A small family of political refugees, displaced by imperial decree, found themselves in their ancestral homeland. The blustering emperor, trapped inside his dreams of greatness did not know them, they were too small to even register in his mind. Unnoticed by the powers of this world, they were carried to a place where they had deep roots. The woman, Mary, carried within her womb the eternal Wisdom of God. It is no accident that Mary is depicted in the gospels, on more than one occassion, wondering, and pondering in heart. (Luke 1.29, 2.19, 52) The Virgin Mary ~ the one who says "Yes," to God~ is the symbol of a faith which gives birth to wisdom and insight. Faith seeking understanding will become one of the hallmarks of Christian thought. At her side is Joseph, a just man, whose actions are guided by a blend of mercy and justice. Unbeknownst to the emperor, these two help bring into the world the way, the truth, and the life of God. They share with us a message, and his name is Jesus.
At the centre of the Holy Family is the Son of God, the Son of Mary, and it is through Him that we are adopted into the Family of God. Mary and Joseph are the first keepers of the Holy Mystery of God's will to gather up all things in Christ and make them new. They bring a message of hope and redemption into the world, and this message draws people to himself. First the shepherds, then the wise men come searching for the light of the world.
Please join us in worshipping, together with the magi of old times, the true King of Creation ~ Jesus Christ . The Rev. Joshua, together with Bethany will be hosting a service of Evening Prayer this Sunday - January 3, 2021 over Facebook Live at 7:00 PM (EST) We will share together the Scriptures, the stories and songs of our faith, and lift our hearts and voices in prayer before our Maker, Sustainer, Redeemer, and Friend. The order of service can be found in the PDF attachment below. Families with young children are welcome to print off the first page for a colouring activity.
God bless you!
Image: Detail of the Three Kings from The Adoration of the Magi, tapestry, wool and silk on cotton warp, 101 Manchester Metropolitan University Designed by Edward Burne Jones with details by William Morris and John Henry Dearle. Accessed on Wikimedia