T'was the week before Christmas
Readings: Isaiah 7:10-17; Matthew 1:18-25 It’s one week to go until Christmas. In the words of Corporal Jones; Don’t Panic!! In the last minute rush when we suddenly get a card or a present from someone we haven’t provided for, or when we might be forced into sudden changes of plans; it is easy to forget that the Christmas that we celebrate these days bears little in relation to the first Christmas. In other words we say we remember the birth of Jesus, but really we run about buying presents and have we done this, have we done that?? Our readings today from Isaiah and the Gospel of Matthew contain some points that if we take the time to look at them with a fresh set of eyes, may help in leading us to a deeper and more meaningful understanding of the so-called Christmas Story. I’ll come back to the manner in which we call it a story later, but just for the moment, that phrase, how does it make you feel? Do you feel uncomfortable wit...