Luke 2:4-5 “So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.”
Today is the day that the government had originally agreed to lift the Covid restrictions for 5 days over the Christmas period. This was all changed 4 days ago. There is great anxiety about the increasing rates of Covid infections. Both Politicians and Scientists are advising people to be even more cautious, to only travel if they really need to, and to consider the health of our loved ones. There will be many people who have made the difficult decision not to travel, and to spend Christmas apart from family, for possibly the first time.
Joseph and Mary had to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem, some 70 miles to the south. Popular culture has painted an image of them travelling on a donkey – (that favourite character of the school Nativity.) However they travelled, it would have taken them several days, and for Mary particularly, being 9 months pregnant, it would have been an uncomfortable journey. They would most likely have been on the road, on this day all those years ago.
We pray for all those who are travelling, that they will arrive safely. We pray for those who have decided not to travel this year, who may be spending Christmas alone. We pray that they and their loved ones may be able to be together soon. We pray for those who are struggling on “rough terrain”, for those who have no home, for those who are far from their home. Lord Jesus, “we can’t wait to be with you”, come to us soon this Christmas time.
AMEN
Advent 23: (based on TinyAdventPoems produced by Engage Worship)