This coming Sunday will see many churches enjoying their carol services. Everywhere, notwithstanding COVID worries, people will be looking forward to what Christmas means to them. For Christians there is the bonus of the celebration of the wondrous event of God incarnate, the arrival of the Christ-child.
I wonder how the cousins Mary and Elizabeth felt when they met before their babies were born? Like many expectant mothers it feels likely that they balanced that mix of excitement and trepidation felt by all of us before anything life changing and new.
Childbirth is risky and painful for any mother; indeed, that is an understatement. Despite the associated risks it remains the case that millions of babies are born safely and every day countless families are rewarded, and their lives enhanced by the arrival of a new life.
Mary and Elizabeth, we are told, knew their babies would grow to be special people but I am doubtful that the promise of the future role of their offspring will have done anything to diminish their natural fear associated with those great expectations.
Does the latter part of advent instil the tension in us that, because of the juxtaposition of fear of the unknown and great hope, is capable of re-energising and inspiring a person? In other words, are we suitably excited about the imminence of Christmas or is it all a bit too same-ish for us?
If there is a risk of lack of energy and over familiarity, then it is not too late to go back again over all that the prophets were saying and re-visit the messages of Advent in time to revitalise faith before next week
A prayer
Loving and eternal God, God of prophesy and delivery, help us never to take for granted the things we do routinely but to greet every new day with eager expectation. We pray you will remind us that your love is new every morning and no Christmas is the same as another. We pray, for the sake of Jesus Christ, the source of anticipation and hope, of delight and joy. Amen.