Friday January 1, 2021

As I enter into this time of prayer and reflection, I pause to be still; to breathe slowly; to recenter my scattered senses upon the presence of God.

Lord, please help me to be still and listen for what you have to say to me in these quiet moments.

When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night, and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

Matthew 2:13-15

Wait!  First Mary was unmarried and pregnant.  Then Joseph and Mary had to go to Bethlehem right as she is due.  Jesus is born in a stable and within 24 hours they must travel to Egypt.  Egypt is in the opposite direction of Nazareth.  This country couldn’t have looked kindly upon Hebrews after their last visit.  Oh!  Did I mention they left family, home, and business to dwell in a place with a foreign tongue and customs?  There was no means of support, business, or place to live.  The disruption in their lives was enormous.

This past year has been a year of disruption.  All the norms have been broken or threatened.  Routine is an illusion!  For all the joy that is Christmas, to live Christmas, the Incarnation, the Atonement, and the Resurrection are cosmic disruptions in our lives!  How do we react?  Do we react with anger, denial, or lament or do we react with faith and obedience?  

The great disruption of Christmas is great news!  It is a possibility, an opportunity to trust in God and experience God’s presence in ways we cannot see.  So it is with our daily living.  Disruption will happen, but rejoice!  There is a possibility of great hope in our future just as it occurred in Mary and Joseph’s.

How has the disruption of God enabled you to live in faith during 2020?

How will you react to this disruption in 2021?

When you are finished with your time of reflection, close out this time with this prayer. 

Lord, may the Holy Family’s reaction to life’s disruption be our guide to the disruption of 2021 and all of life’s disruptions.  May we be as faithful, trusting and obedient as they were.  

In Christ’s love.  Amen.