Messy lives

Laura Digan December 24, 2022 0 0

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Hebrews 1: 1-12 (NRSVA)

1 Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. 3 He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

5 For to which of the angels did God ever say,

‘You are my Son;
    today I have begotten you’?

Or again,

‘I will be his Father,
    and he will be my Son’?

6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,

‘Let all God’s angels worship him.’

7 Of the angels he says,

‘He makes his angels winds,
    and his servants flames of fire.’

8 But of the Son he says,

‘Your throne, O God, is for ever and ever,
    and the righteous sceptre is the sceptre of your kingdom.
9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has anointed you
    with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.’

10 And,

‘In the beginning, Lord, you founded the earth,
    and the heavens are the work of your hands;
11 they will perish, but you remain;
    they will all wear out like clothing;
12 like a cloak you will roll them up,
    and like clothing they will be changed.
But you are the same,
    and your years will never end.’

When I worked for a major department store it used to really bother me that when we had a visit from a senior manager that the store management team would make sure that everywhere in the store had been thoroughly cleaned and we were highlighting all our achievements. They would also bring extra staff in to make sure that all the floors were fully manned. They wanted to make the branch look the best for the senior management. Now I can understand why they wanted to do this but I always thought that it was wrong to give a false impression. I always thought it might be better long term if the senior management saw what the branch was actually like, the areas that were short staffed, the areas in which we were struggling. Because only then would they give us the proper support we needed. Instead they left thinking that all was great. 

I’ve said repeatedly this week that life is messy. Our God knows this. We don’t need to pretend with our God that our lives are perfect, that we have it all together. 

Our God knows life is messy. 

And he came to join us in this messy life, in the form of a baby. In the form of his son Jesus. Our God came to experience all that it means to be human, the joy, the laughter, the struggle and the pain. 

We don’t ever need to hide anything from our God because he knows. 

PRAYER:

Eternal God

This Christmas Eve we wait in anticipation 

We wait again for you

We wait knowing that you understand what it is like to be human

We wait knowing that we are loved

We wait and give you our thanks and our praise

Amen