My friend Julia Sheffield came across this driftwood as she walked along the beach. It was artistically arranged with accompanying flotsam arranged by nature in the guise of the sea artist!
It inspired her to write a poem which I am pleased to share with you.
Often, nature surprises and delights us with its remarkable and breathtaking creativity. This is a case in point. Equally we can go around with blinkers on and miss out on what creation has to show us. In a different context but with the same meaning, Francis Thompson, in his poem. In no strange land, wrote the line, ‘Tis ye, tis your estrangéd faces who miss the many splendoured thing.‘
They fled by night. Sculpture by Josefina de Vasconcellous, Carmel Priory, Lake District. Photo by Mr. G
Yesterday I shared worship with the folk at St Mary, Little Hallingbury, on the edge of Hatfield Forest.There I met three newcomers in the congregation. They are young men who are refugees from Iran. They are Christian converts and hope to be baptized in the New Year.
Yesterday’s Gospel was the Annunciation to Joseph. It is that part of St Matthew which comes after the genealogy – that strange but amazing introduction to Matthew’s version of the Gospel, which takes us through the family tree of God’s people, stretching back to Abraham, the Father of the Nations. Abraham, links the three religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. He also provides a link to King David and then to Joseph.
Joseph is vital to God’s plan for the salvation of the world and so it was important that his doubts about marrying Mary, who was by then with child, were addressed. Matthew therefore reported on the visit by an Angel, probably Gabriel. (Matthew 1: 18 – 25)
The significance of Joseph and his link with the three Iranian men I met yesterday, comes a little later in the Christmas narrative.
After the birth of Jesus we are presented with the suffering of the Holy Innocents and the death edict pronounced by King Herod the puppet king, collaborator to the Roman Occupiers. In Matthew Chapter 2 we are told of the visit of the Magi, the Wise men. Searching, they said for the one who had been born ‘king of the Jews’ they met Herod who fearfully jealous ordered the death of all children under the age of 2.
Once again, an angel came to Joseph and this led to him taking an action which places him central to Jesus’s story. Often destined to be regarded as the ‘man in the background’, Joseph had a vital part to play in the mission of God to bring salvation to the world. He was there to protect, overshadow and care for God’s Holy Jesus.
He was to take him with Mary to safety in Egypt.
One of my favourite artists is Josefina de Vasconcellos, who was a sculptor. Her Christian name is the feminine form of Joseph. She carved a number of Crib seasons in which Joseph is enfolding Mary and the babe, in a posture of loving protection. But there is another of her statues that speaks to me of the depth of Joseph’s care. It is called, They fled by night, and you can see it in Cartmel Priory in the Lake District. It is of the flight by the Holy Family into Egypt
In Josephina’s sculpture, The Holy Family are in mid-journey and it is night. Mary is exhausted and lies back drained of all energy. Joseph supports her, cradling her in his arms. He is protecting her with love and care. Meanwhile, the child is spread over her legs, his face forward, full of energy which comes from the security of being in the care of loving parents. He seems eager to go on and embrace his future and all that it will bring.
But for a moment, poised in space and time, Joseph holds his beloved ones in rest and care as he takes them away from danger and ministers to their needs.
As I think about this sculpture and the Gospel it portrays I think particularly of one startling truth which has a deeply contemporary meaning.The moment that Josefina captures in They fled by night’ is of Jesus as a ‘Refugee’. He is fleeing the danger and the tyranny being wrought in his homeland. It is the first time that Jesus was cast in the role of an outcast. Of all the people of history and in our modern times, he knew totally what it meant to be travelling away from danger, homeless and with no certainty of what life had in store for him at that moment.
For Josefina, her statue was more than capturing a moment of Gospel story. It was of seeing that as representing the plight of all refugees. Yesterday we considered what that meant in a week where yet more of God’s children drowned in the English Channel being duped by traffickers who promised them safety. Just a few minutes ago it was ruled by Judges that His Majesty’s Government can ship unwanted refugees to Rwanda passing the ‘problem’ to others.
This context, part of a huge migration of people across the earth, brings home to us a truth that millions are living in uncertainty, fear and despair. For every one of them and for those of us responsible for their care, we need to hold on to this truth – Jesus was a Refugee.!
That raises a huge question. As I talked with the three men from Iran yesterday, who were being watched over and loved by local Christians, what is my responsibility and yours. Joseph willingly accepted his. If we don’t do the same then what are we saying to God? What are we saying about God.
Because rejecting refugees means we are in danger of turning our backs on one who in Josefina’s Sculptured words, fled by night.
[Mr G]
Prayer for Migrants, Refugees and Asylum Seekers
God, no one is stranger to you, and no one is ever far from your loving care. In your kindness watch over migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, those separated from their loved ones, those who are lost, and those who have been exiled from their homes by violence and war. Bring them safely to the place where they long to be, and help us always to show your kindness to strangers and those in need. We ask this through Christ our Lord, who was also a refugee and migrant and who travelled to another land searching for a home and safety.
In just over two weeks time we will join the rest of the United Kingdom and possibly some other neighbourhood nations in preparing to celebrate New Year.
As the moment approaches there will be, in some places a Count-Down’. Seven…Six…Five…Four…Three…Two…One… and then a brief second before everyone erupts with excitement; joy; and doubtless, as in most years, hope.
Perhaps this coming year, more than any other in recent memory, Hope will be a stronger desire than at any other time. Maybe some will be thinking that 2023 can’t be worse than this year! That probably needs a lot more hope than we might feel!
The Church has its own version of a Countdown. During the week leading up to Christmas, from December 17th there is an ancient custom of reciting what are known as the Advent Antiphons. They have been known since the 8th century.
They mark the final week of the Advent Season and each begins with O (a note of praise).There are 7 of them:
Wisdom (O Sapientia); Ruler of the House of Israel (O Adonai); Root of Jesse (O Radix Jesse) – referring to our Lord as being of the House of King David and therefore the rightful ruler of God’s people; Key of David (O Clavis David); Rising Dawn (O Oriens) reminding us that the birth of Jesus is the dawn of the new age of the New Testament; King of the Nations (O Rex), foretelling that Jesus is for all people, not just Jews; O Emmanuel—God with us, reminding us that Jesus was born as one of us to save us from within our humanity.
I understand that in Latin the initial letters form an acrostic which when read backwards means Tomorrow I will come. This captures the mood of expectation which is rightly part of the Advent watch of Christians as we move towards the great celebration of Christmas.
They have their origin in Old Testament Scripture, particularly, from the Prophet Isaiah. They are scriptural sentences which top and tail the reciting of a canticle at Evening prayer, which we know of as The Magnificat – the song sung by the Blessed Virgin Mary during her visit to her Cousin Elizabeth – as they share the joyful if rather stupendous news that they are both pregnant with rather unexpected babies – Elizabeth with John the Baptist and Mary, of course, with Jesus.
Today, they are mostly sung at Evensong in these last days of Advent but they can also be a springboard for personal prayer as we move towards the renewed celebration of the Christ-child.
The ‘O Antiphons’ are little aids to our thinking and praying during Advent. It is so easy to lose the power of this season to prepare us for the Christ-Child at Christmas that we need all the help we can get! As the Festive time approaches we shall become more and more embroiled in all the other preparations. The Antiphons can help to keep us focussed on what is really important in this pre-Christmas season—which is to prepare us spiritually for Christ to be re-born again in our hearts and lives.
Here is a version of the prayers.
December 17“O Sapientia…” O Wisdom, who came from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from end to end and ordering all things mightily and sweetly: come, and teach us the way of prudence. Amen.
December 18“O Adonai…” O Lord and ruler of the House of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the flame of the burning bush and gave him the law on Sinai: come, and redeem us with outstretched arms. Amen.
December 19“O Radix Jesse…” O Root of Jesse, that stands for an ensign of the people, before whom the kings keep silence and unto whom the Gentiles shall make supplication: come, to deliver us, and tarry not. Amen.
December 20“O Clavis David…” O Key of David and Sceptre of the House of Israel, who opens and no man shuts, who shuts and no man opens: come, and bring forth the captive from his prison, he who sits in darkness and in the shadow of death. Amen.
December 21“O Oriens…” O Morning Star, brightness of light eternal, and Sun of Justice: come and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. Amen.
December 22“O Rex…” O King of the Nations, and their desired One, the Cornerstone that makes both one: come, and deliver man, whom you formed out of the dust of the earth. Amen.
December 23“O Emmanuel…” O Emmanuel, God with us, Our King and Lawgiver, the expected of the nations and their Saviour: come to save us, O Lord our God. Amen.
Why not pray each one slowly during this time before Christmas? It will take very little time but it will root you into the meaning of this special time before Christmas as you await the joy of the Christ-child.
Another way of meditating on the Advent Antiphons is in the singing of the Hymn, O come, O come, Emmanuel. Each of the 7 verses takes one of the antiphons as its theme.
But the hymn begins and ends with the most important antiphon – O Emmanuel, God with us.
O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel.
O come, O Wisdom from on high, who ordered all things mightily; to us the path of knowledge show and teach us in its ways to go. Rejoice! Rejoice! …
O come, O come, great Lord of might, who to your tribes on Sinai’s height in ancient times did give the law in cloud and majesty and awe. Rejoice! Rejoice! …
O come, O Branch of Jesse’s stem, unto your own and rescue them! From depths of hell your people save, and give them victory o’er the grave. Rejoice! Rejoice! …
O come, O Key of David, come and open wide our heavenly home. Make safe for us the heavenward road and bar the way to death’s abode. Rejoice! Rejoice! …
O come, O Bright and Morning Star, and bring us comfort from afar! Dispel the shadows of the night and turn our darkness into light. Rejoice! Rejoice! …
O come, O King of nations, bind in one the hearts of all mankind. Bid all our sad divisions cease and be yourself our King of Peace. Rejoice! Rejoice! …
O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! …
Mr G's Ponderings 