Advent calendar 2020

Advent 8 - Sunday 6th December 2020

Matthew 1:18-24

Joseph Accepts Jesus as His Son

This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.

A parent’s dilemma

Gone are the days when it was easy to know what name to give to a child.  In the past, in Scotland, children would often be named according to a simple set of rules:

    1st son named after father's father
    2nd son named after mother's father
    3rd son named after father
    1st daughter named after mother's mother
    2nd daughter named after father's mother
    3rd daughter named after mother

That tradition has long gone and many parents will relate the struggles they went through to find the right names for their new baby. The top names in Scotland in 2019 were Jack and Olivia.  Now babies are also being given quite unusual names like Arrow, Awesome, Birdie, Bluebell or Buzz.

There was no dilemma about what to call the baby which Mary was carrying. It was not to be a family name.  Joseph’s father was called Jacob.  No the baby would be called Jesus which is the Greek version of the old Hebrew name Joshua which means "God saves".  His very name pointed to God’s plan for the baby as did the other name which the Angel told Joseph to use, Immanuel, "God with us".

The hymn “Do not be afraid” (CH4 191) was written by Gerard Markland in 2010 for the baptism of the daughter of  Andrew and Kathryn Radley at St Peter and St Paul's Church, Uplyme in Devon.

As you read the words reflect on the line “I have called you by your name; you are mine.”

Do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you.
I have called you by your name; you are mine.

When you walk through the waters,
I'll be with you;
you will never sink beneath the waves.

When the fire is burning all around you,
you will never be consumed by the flames.

When the fear of loneliness is looming,
then remember I am at your side.

When you dwell in the exile of a stranger,
remember you are precious in my eyes.

You are mine, O my child, I am your Father,
and I love you with a perfect love.

Blessing

The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you,
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face towards you
and give you peace.

Fred Coutts

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