In what must've been a bewildering and dark time for Joseph - Mary, his betrothed was with child, a sure sign of her unfaithfulness - he remained ever faithful to God and thus was able to hear Him speak.
Incredible, unimaginable news brought via a special mode of communication.
That a child, Immanuel, God-with-us, was to be born as a gift to the world. And he, Joseph, to be father, protector and guardian to this akan datang* baby, to tend to this child who would grow up to be the salvation of the world.
The infancy narrative is a story re-told every year for over the last 2000 years that it's easy to take its beauty and significance for granted.
So easy to let the commercialism of the season take centrestage and lose the sense of wonder at the miracle of love being birthed right in front of our eyes.
With all the running around I've been doing these last few weeks, I haven't had much time to reflect this Advent. To give proper homage to the ultimate gift that God is bestowing.
So it's nice to have a lazy Sunday to rest and ruminate. (Am done with all my usual Christmas festivities and just looking forward to taking off on Christmas afternoon for Phuket with Mum.)
What's reflection-worthy to me today is how even as we sleep, the Spirit of God is at work within us. That through our dreams, in those unconscious moments, He can speak to us.
I recently watched the movie Stepmom again and the dying mother was assuring her son that she would live on inside his heart and while this was not as good as her being there, there was a special place where they could meet - in his dreams.
Likewise, we are sometimes given the opportunity to meet Jesus and listen to Him in our dreams.
So don't be too quick to dismiss dreams as flights of fancy or unconscious yearnings/unfulfilled desires within us.
Sometimes, they can be messages of hope that transcribe into concrete events that change lives radically.
* coming soon
No comments:
Post a Comment