MESSAGE: Journeying with Jesus
A New Year’s Day walk to wake up the weary senses is a lovely tradition to undertake. This year during the Christmas season which is wrapping up today on the Twelfth Night (tomorrow is Epiphany and the celebration of the visit of the Magi), even with the rubbish weather and slippery ice, we have gone for a few walks together as a family and with friends.
The journey of 2025 is only a few days old, but for us in the church year is already into its second month after beginning at the start of advent. Each year we wait for the coming of the Christ child and often pack it all away within hours or days, and then next week we welcome the grown man Jesus at his baptism at the River Jordan.
There were many miles and many years that transpired between the birth and the ministry of Jesus. Mary treasured the experiences and the visitors words in her heart knowing full well who she was raising from infant to boyhood to young man. Mary and Joseph and their community journeyed with Jesus as he grew (and thanks to Luke’s gospel account in chapter 2 we have Jesus as a boy of about 12 in the temple being left behind by his parents).
This year, if and when we follow the Revised Common Lectionary, we will journey with Jesus and the gospel writer of Luke with a bit of the gospel of John thrown in as well. While in worship on Sunday’s we often read a few verses from the gospels or other book of the bible, it is helpful as well to read through the whole of books from beginning to end though for some of the longer ones maybe not in one sitting. Luke’s Gospel is one such book that is enjoyable and easy enough to read from start to finish in a few hours spread out over the course of a few days or weeks. If you would like to join me in reading one chapter of Luke each day for the rest of January, please fell free to either use your own bible or pick up a copy of the Scottish Bible Society’s ‘The Light Inside’ magazine-like copy of the gospel of Luke.
I know our bible reading today is not from Luke but instead from Matthew. I didn’t forget, but the connections between Luke and Matthew when we read and tell the narratives around Jesus’s birth come out when we sit for a time, or maybe even take ONE gospel’s words for a walk over a period of time. Don’t worry I hope in future to get us reading through each gospel in turn.
In Matthew’s gospel today we hear of the visitors from the East, the Magi, the Wise Ones, and the ceremonial precious gifts they brought. We also hear of the dream warning Joseph of King Herod’s plot and the need to flee to Egypt for safety. Mary and Joseph journey with Jesus and for Jesus’s safety to another place and eventually return home to Nazareth.
Each of us is on a journey to and with Jesus. One day when our earthly life comes to an end, those who believe in Jesus as Lord and Saviour hope to be with Jesus in what is to come, but also we pray that throughout our earthly days we journey following Jesus as the Way. The gift of a journey is you are changed along the way, the location changes (figuratively and actually) but also who you are changes over the course of the journey, the process. Our conversations along the way, our experiences, our triumphs and struggles, they change us. I pray that as a community of faith as we journey together in this year to and with Jesus we are changed for the better, together, that while we walk and talk we learn and grow together.
I do not doubt the journey will be filled with many challenges and questions along the way, but I am also certain laughter and comfort will nourish us as we go.
So, in the walking, talking, sharing a cuppa, meeting up and bringing questions, let us seek Jesus, God with us, our Lord and Saviour who gives us life in all its fullness as we go from this moment and this place to where God is calling us to serve, love and flourish as his faithful and beloved children. And you know what, for good measure, let’s invite some friends and neighbours along for the journey so they too can hear of Jesus and maybe even meet him on the Way.
Prayers of intercession
Dear loving God, we remember the wise men and their gifts.
As we think of gold, we thank you
for all that we have, for our possessions,
for the money in bank accounts and in our purses and wallets;
and we pray
for those who have gone into debt in order to celebrate Christmas,
for those whose income is insecure as a result of the Covid pandemic,
and for those who cant afford adequately to heat their homes.
Lord of light:
Bring hope into the darkness.
Dear loving God, we remember the wise men and their gifts.
As we think of frankincense, we thank you
for our church and for all places of worship,
for those who help us find peace in our hearts,
for those who enable us to know your holiness;
and we pray
for our churches and the churches of our community
that they may build upon all their advent and Christmas mission activities,
for retreat houses and special places of peace,
and all who speak words of holiness into our society.
Lord of light:
Bring hope into the darkness.
Dear loving God, we remember the wise men and their gifts.
As we think of myrrh, we thank you
for the death and resurrection of Jesus,
for those who care for the dying and the bereaved,
for those who offer counselling and support;
and we pray
for those who grieve lost time and lost opportunities,
for those who are suffering from Covid,
and for all who mourn loved ones at this time.
Lord of light:
Bring hope into the darkness.
May the wisdom of the wise men inspire us to continue to seek your light and love, and to offer you our gifts and resources that you may use us to build your kingdom.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.
A prayer for all ages together
God of journeys,
as the wise men followed the star:
We will follow too.
As the wise men kept going on their journey:
We will keep on going too.
As the wise men saw the light in the dark:
We will look for your light too.
As the wise men found Jesus:
We have found Jesus too.
As the wise men followed the star:
We will follow Jesus.
Amen.