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| Peter Brueghel the Elder, Journey of the Magi in the snow. |
I really enjoyed Rev'd Dr Sam Well's Epiphany Meditation
on the BBC Daily Service (see above). I adapted it for use in
church on Epiphany and invited the congregation to move around the church
between the places of Nazareth, Bethlehem and Egypt (located metaphorically in the building), thinking about what they
represented in the life of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. At the same time, we thought
about our own journeys, and how they related to the themes present in Jesus'.
For a map of the Holy Land - visit this page:
The Christmas and Epiphany
stories involve journeying. In what ways can Mary, Joseph and Jesus’ journeys
between Nazareth, Bethlehem and Egypt help us understand our journeys in life?
Nazareth: home, nurture, growth, safety, secure,
known.
Bethlehem: mystery, encounter,
surprise, miracles, potential suffering.
Egypt:
exile, difference, refuge, excluded, welcomed.
Where is or has been your Nazareth? - a place of
nurture, growth and comfort?
Where is or has been your Bethlehem? – a place of encounter,
mystery, potential suffering and surprise?
Where is or has been your Egypt? – a place of exile, difference,
exclusion and welcome?
What place do you think you need to be in now to help you grow in
your relationship with God?
Have you been stuck somewhere too long?
Where might you need to visit?
Do we get to choose?
Biblical
References
Luke 2:1-7, The Birth of Jesus
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that
all the world should be registered. This
was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.
All went to their own towns to be
registered. Joseph also went from
the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called
Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David.
He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was
expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her
child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of
cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the
inn.
Luke 2:39-40
When they had finished everything required by the law of the
Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and
the favour of God was upon him.
Matthew Chapter 2
The Visit of the Wise Men
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem
of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is
the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its
rising, and have come to pay him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was frightened,
and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and
scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.
They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the
prophet:
‘And you, Bethlehem,
in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd my people Israel.’”
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd my people Israel.’”
Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from
them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem,
saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him,
bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” When they had heard
the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had
seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they
were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary
his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their
treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And
having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own
country by another road.
The Escape to Egypt
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.”
The Massacre of the Infants
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,
wailing and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children;
she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.”
she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.”
The Return from Egypt
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.”
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