Notes from St. Mary’s
Ready or Not!
Well, I moved to Barrowford in November 2024, and it’s been a really busy year. But in and amongst the busyness I’m glad God called me here and I’m grateful for the welcome I’ve had from the community. I’m still finding my way to most places by satnav but gradually working out where places are. Nothing could have prepared me for the changes that have taken place in my life this last year.
And being prepared (or preparing to be prepared) is what Advent is about. It’s a season of getting ready and anticipation. In truth, we are never prepared, and Christmas happens anyway. Whether or not the tree is decorated, or the turkey bought, or the cards written (though with each year I wonder why I am writing cards…), Christmas will still come. And for some of us it means excitement, for some it means dread and for some it could really be done to be avoided because we would rather not see some family members… But it happens anyway regardless of how we prepare.
This year the church will be reflecting on Matthew’s gospel. Matthew starts his good news (gospel means good news) with a big list of names. These names trace the history of the Old Testament and culminate with Jesus’ birth. Matthew is making a huge claim. He is claiming that all history and all these people were in some way preparation for the moment when Jesus was born.
In the list of names there are people who were successful, and adject failures, people who had muddled along, and people you would have done well to avoid. The list of names in Jesus’ family tree doesn’t shy away from some uncomfortable truths and some people who you wouldn’t want around your Christmas dinner table. Mathew asserts that in the birth of Jesus, which the world wasn’t ready for, is the one in whom we are offered a fresh start and a new beginning. All the hurt and failure of the past, all those false starts and unfulfilled longings, all the shame that we carry with us. These are like a long list (like the names in Jesus’ family tree) which weigh us down and hold us back. But into all of that lived reality steps Jesus and he brings with him a new start which we can all have if we give him our hurts, failures, success, fears and shame.
At the end of Matthew’s gospel Jesus promises to return. Since then, the world has been waiting. All history is again building towards that day when Jesus will come again and make all things new. My invitation this Advent is to not let your past prevent you from stepping into the new life, the fresh start that Jesus brings.
I look forward to seeing you in Church this Christmas.
Happy Christmas