Reflect

We are at the only time of the year when Churches take a look at the events surrounding the birth of Christ. Such a significant event yet we only ‘reflect’ on it once a year.

Mary and Joseph both have different experiences and feelings as to what is about to happen to them. However, one thing they have in common is the fact that they both reflect. Joseph - before Jesus is born and Mary - after He is born. They both reflect, ponder, consider, what is happening to them.

Matthew 1:20 “But as he (Joseph) considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream,…do not fear”

Luke 2:19 “But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.”

This season can often be a time to reflect on our lives. Within a few days another year draws to a close. Maybe some of us look back on it and wonder where the time has gone, if we missed opportunities. Or perhaps how did I get through another year with such a heavy burden to carry.

The things that were happening to Mary and Joseph would turn out to be something that would change the world forever. This would be the moment when time would change from Before Christ BC to Anno Domino AD. I often wonder about the extent of Mary’s understanding concerning this child. Did she truly know who He was? The beautiful song ‘Mary did you know?’ asks these same questions.

Standing at the foot of the cross watching her Son suffer and die must have been an excruciating moment of questioning. Jesus’ words…‘Behold your Son’ (John 19:26) must have reverberated in her soul like something out of a horror movie. Again she must have pondered what the angel had said some 33 years before.

“And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Luke 2:30-33

Her son was Jesus, Yeshua which literally means the Lord saves or the Lord is salvation. Before his announcement, the angel Gabriel reassured her to ‘not be afraid’.

We all have moments in our lives that we mark as life changing events. Whether it be marriage, the birth of a child, a divorce, the death of a loved one.

How do we deal with these events, especially the surprising or traumatic ones?

Mary and Joseph were engaged to be married with much to look forward to, when suddenly out of the blue their lives were turned upside down with the announcement that Mary would give birth to a son, the Messiah, the Saviour of the world.

Maybe your life has been turned upside down. Ours was back in April 2022. It’s been 20 months since that horrific day. We’ve had time to reflect and look back on the worst times of our lives.

But, as we reflect we can see how the Lord has brought us this far.

We can truly acknowledge that without Him we would not be here.

As we reflect we are so thankful that Nathanael is alive and healing.

What would life look and feel like without him being around?

As we reflect, we know that God still has a plan and a future for us all. Just because Nathanael has disabilities doesn’t mean that the Lord won’t use him or isn’t using him.

As we reflect, our hearts long more and more for eternity when we will ALL be made whole. Jesus is coming back to make all things as He wants them to be. As we reflect we thank God for the great salvation He has brought in sending Jesus - the baby born to Mary and Joseph, in the feeding trough in Bethlehem.

Maybe it’s time for you to reflect. Take some time out to consider some of things that have happened to you this past year or so, painful as that may be. Take time to ponder and consider how God has dealt with you in His grace and mercy. Maybe we need to hear the words spoken to Mary ‘Do not be afraid’, or the words spoken to Joseph ‘Do not fear’.

‘Ponder anew what the Almighty can do, If with His love He befriend thee’. These words are taken from the great hymn, Praise to the Lord the Almighty.

Prayer - Father, thank You that we can take time to reflect and see Your hand on our lives. It’s not always been the way we wanted it to be. But You have been faithful to us even when we haven’t been faithful to You. Thank You Lord, for using the humble Mary and Joseph to bring about the Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.