Today’s Advent Reflection is from David Walker
Jumping for Joy
Luke 1:39-45
At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea,
40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth.
41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!
43 But why am I so favoured, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfil his promises to her!”
Reflection
If the passage above were to have been made as a film, it would have been made as a prequel to the major blockbuster: The Birth of Jesus Christ, and might have had the title: Jumping for Joy, and it would have been introduced by an American voiceover proclaiming that we mustn’t miss this new movie.
But a story of two mothers-to-be, excitedly discussing their impending motherhood, is a scene of anticipation and love, and one which has been enacted everyday throughout the ages, right up to the present. So, what would be new about that?
What makes it new is the essential ingredient not mentioned in the text above; the back-story; the Angels. God’s messengers, heralds, God’s ambassadors call them what you will. They are always there in the background. Helping and guiding. Portents of good things to come.
It could be perceived that angels exist only in the Bible. They are locked in a biblical time- capsule, so to speak. They couldn’t possibly exist today. Or could they?
To me, angels are nudgers; providing that little nudge in the right direction; that spark which results in that Eureka! moment. Producing comprehension and resolutions to problems and issues every single day; or being there for us when a life-changing catastrophe is avoided. How often have you heard the phrase: they must have a guardian angel? They probably have.
Exactly one year ago, during Advent 2019, we would have been frenetically trying to cram in to a short amount of time a multitude of activities. Christmas shopping – what a nightmare! Parking! Being here and there, for this or that reason, trying to keep a lid on the stress-levels. Who’s going to whom for Christmas? Are we reciprocating at New Year? The list goes on and on so that, eventually, and in the words of Anthony Newley (if you’re younger than forty, Google him), we scream, Stop the World I Want to Get Off! I suppose we ought to be careful what we wish for. Because quietly, surreptitiously, a serial-killer virus set about doing just that- stopping the world.
Where are the angels now? Answer: all around. They are in the Health Service, nudging those doctors and nurses to do another shift, because they are needed. Encouraging us to donate more. More money, more food, more help.
I was at the foodbank recently and standing in the doorway was a young mum waiting patiently. She was well dressed, her toddler daughter was playing in the smart SUV which was parked behind my car. It only occurred to me, as I was leaving and I saw her carrying two bags of food to her car, why she was there. It’s highly likely that twelve months ago she would have been donating to the foodbank, not being a recipient of it.
That’s both the angelic act of guardianship and the encouraging angelic nudge given to help one another. How often have we heard about the selflessness of others helping to ensure those isolated and in fear of going out have been given provisions to keep them well fed? Angels every one of them.
And now, against the most unlikely odds, our scientists around the world have produced a vaccine to combat the virus. Not by chance, but by doggedly trying to understand and produce a solution. I wonder how many doctors, scientists, nurses and engineers eventually had that Eureka! moment in the quiet of the night? And where did it come from?
As I come to the end of my scenario for ‘Jumping for Joy’ which like most films these days leaves us with an element of uncertainty - are there angels? That’s how I’m going to finish, but not before paying homage to the best angel movie of all time – in my opinion, anyway – It’s a Wonderful Life in which the angel Clarence has to do some ‘nudging’ and ‘guarding’ to get his wings.
So, when you next come to St Michaels looking for ‘JOY’, writ large under the East Window, remember it’s not only St Michael, it’s… and ALL ANGELS, as well.
Merry Christmas.