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Gospel Lesson for the
Week
December 30, 2007
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First Sunday after Christmas Day
Please
read:
Read also:
Now after they 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 saw that
he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and
killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or
under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. Then was
fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah:
"A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel
weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no
more."
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."
--- Matthew 2:13-23
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Cosmic
Drama
.
Just when it seemed that
everything was going well,
the Baby born,
the skies alive with angel
song,
the shepherds taking a
well deserved break
to visit the Child and
lift their voice in praise,
and after a time, scholars
and royalty,
visiting and bringing rich
gifts
to lay before the newborn
King;
Just when it seemed
that the Day of the Lord
had finally dawned,
along comes Herod,
malicious and mad,
spewing his murderous
venom,
and taking it out on the
innocents.
Thus it seems always with
power --
violence and
paranoia running hand in hand --
striking out at the poor
and innocent.
But the story doesn’t end
there.
God has a bigger idea, a
better plan,
and so, dream inspired,
Joseph
and his little family head
off to Egypt
until Herod is dead and
the danger past.
Then Egypt with its
Sphinx and pyramids
gives way to
Nazareth,
nestled in the hills of
Galilee,
where a boy can grow and
play and learn,
and listen for the voice
of God,
and let the Spirit take
root in his heart.
Someday, from this little
town
he will go forth a man,
ready for the road that
leads to Calvary,
where the story is
repeated:
Fierce anger and power
putting to death the good
and pure,
only to find in the end,
their plot is foiled,
their purpose blunted
by the gracious hand of
God.
The cosmic drama ever shall repeat;
Good reigns in triumph; evil tastes defeat.
--- rvc
*** D I S C L A I M E R ***
The Weekly Lessons are based on the lectionary
texts for the week – usually the Gospel lesson. They are not designed as a
formal commentary. Rather, they are the personal reflections and original
compositions of The Relay Online editor, Rev. Robin Van
Cleef, and offer a jumping off point, using the scriptures as triggers to
thought, imagination, and (we hope) empowerment. As you read them, let your own
imagination play, and let the Spirit speak to you, leading you where it will.
The Gospel Lessons reflected on this site may not be copied, reproduced or
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