As I walked in to Sunday School at the last minute, as is my custom, my friend Bill assigned me a seat: “You’re to sit between Millie & Marcia, so we can have a thorn between the roses. All roses need thorns.” This sounded like a fine topic for further perusal–and so it shall be, this Sunday after Christmas! These days of Christmas are my favorites: the immediacy of glitz and tinsel have ceased on Christmas Eve, the frenzy has subsided and families can bask in the glow of the tree and remember those who gave them each ornament in years past…. Here at the bottom of the year we prepare to slide into January’s hibernation; but only after a last round of merry-making. Sunday’s worship reflects this diversity, honoring the wonder of the ChristChild AND acknowledging that the paths from the manger are expected to be thorny.
The Old Testament reading, Isaiah 63:7-9, seems at first glance to be peaceful and pastoral: “In [God’s] love and in his pity [God] redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.” And so it is! Yet the Lector should also read the surrounding verses to recognize the disgust of the Lord at the shallow fidelity of the people, and the darkness which brings us terror even as we have known Divine deliverance.
The writer of the Letter to the Hebrews rambles along (2:10-18), but does lift up the concept of the Suffering Servant, here equated with Jesus. Only through his own death does Jesus destroy the slavery of those who fear death! “Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.” Thorns for the Rose.
Matthew’s Gospel remembrance (2:13-23) tells of the Flight to Eqypt: Joseph, warned of Herod’s paranoia in a dream, immediately packs up Mary & Jesus to get out of Dodge quickly. None too soon, either, for royal troops soon come to slaughter all the infants and toddlers in and around Bethlehem! (Here sing “the Coventry Carol”) Already Jesus is bringing a two-edged sword to the House of Israel. Even after the Tyrant’s death, Joseph (being warned in another dream) moved to the Gallilean hinterland.
We have a very old and tough rosebush at the corner where the back porch joins to the house. Left without trimming, its stems would grow several feet during the spring and summer! A trellis and some bungee cords keep it more or less upright, for it’s very topheavy. Through the summer, it bears literally hundreds of deep crimson flowers, and is a source of joy to all. Did I mention that it has thorns? Big ones. May your days be merry and bright–but watch where you grab ‘hold….
God Bless Us, Every One! Horace Brown King
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