The View from Bolton Street
Dear Parish Family,
For the final day of the Christmas season, there are three options for the gospel reading. One of those texts will be used this Sunday on the final day of Christmas, the 2nd text will be used when we celebrate the Epiphany on January 12th, and the 3rd text selection I present to you here from Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23:
After the wise men had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him." Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, "Out of Egypt I have called my son."
When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child's life are dead." Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee. There he made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, "He will be called a Nazorean."
I wonder what it was like for Joseph—did they leave immediately? How long did they travel to reach safety in Egypt? How did Joseph support his family once they got there? These are what I consider to be “rabbit hole” questions. They distract me from looking at Joseph and seeing what I can learn from his story.
The narrative that survives is scant, but for me, the important pieces are there: Joseph experienced a visitation by an angel. Again. Remember, we are told earlier in Matthew’s narrative that when Joseph discovered Mary to be pregnant and considered quietly canceling the betrothal an angel told him not to be afraid to marry her—the child was conceived by the holy spirit.
And notice that there is a third visitation by an angel while Joseph slept: the announcement that Herod had died and it was safe to return to Israel. Clearly, Joseph was a man who trusted the counsel of angels.
Would I know the counsel of an angel if I were to receive it? I hope so. Maybe that’s why the angels consistently visited Joseph while he slept, free from other distractions. Consider these lines from the New Zealand Prayer Book Night Prayer (based upon Psalm 127):
It is but lost labour that we haste to rise up early and so late take rest, and eat the bread of anxiety. For those beloved of God are given gifts even while they sleep.
This story of Joseph and his obedience to God’s counsel through angels should prompt us all to ask ourselves whether or not we would recognize God’s counsel delivered through angels and respond to accordingly. It may not always be a matter of life and death, but I believe that God does speak to us even while we sleep. Whether or not we will respond to such counsel is always our choice.
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And now two announcements!
There is snow expected for Monday, so we will postpone the Epiphany party. Fortunately, Epiphany is celebrated for an entire season. We will announce the alternative date and time shortly.
COVID numbers are up post-Christmas travel, so please be mindful, especially if you are a person at risk for complications from respiratory infections. If you feel at all ill, join us on Zoom instead of in person for church.
Don’t forget! Wrestling with the Word (Bible study) begins this Sunday at 9:10 AM in the upper parish hall.
Love to all,
Pan +
