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In touch

Up-to-the-minute jumping-off points for sermons, linking the reading to the latest news and global issues

Greetings and blessings

The power of greeting as a means of God’s blessing (Luke 1.39-45).

Context

• The Formula One World Championship was decided in controversial fashion but World Champion, Max Verstappen, shared the messages of congratulations he was sent after the race by his defeated rival Lewis Hamilton.
• The Government voted on Tuesday (14 Dec) to adopt Plan B measures to restrict the spread of the new Omicron variant of Covid albeit with large-scale disagreement within the Tory party on the best way forward.
• Discussions between Iran and the West about Iran’s nuclear development are continuing with both sides trading criticisms and shifting blame.
• On Strictly Come Dancing, deaf actress, Rose Ayling-Ellis and her partner Giovanni reached next Saturday’s final. The pair have mixed spoken communication with British Sign Language on the show and Giovanni has spoken about learning BSL in order to better communicate with Rose.

 

Reflection and ideas for a sermon, talk or conversation

• Mary was an unmarried, pregnant girl as she went to find her older cousin, Elizabeth. The Jewish law is clear on the penalty for adultery which is death by stoning. She must have been anxious to the point of real fear about how people would react to her pregnancy. Elizabeth was named by Gabriel as evidence that God could do what the angel had announced to her and so, as she felt her body changing, this was where Mary went to seek support. She only had the angel’s word for Elizabeth’s sharing of her experience and must have been so worried as she arrived there. What a relief it must have been for her greeting to be met with Elizabeth’s blessing and affirmation. Indeed, Elizabeth’s greeting is followed by Mary’s famous song of praise to God, the Magnificat. So often we meet people who are anxious and stressed out by the situations that they face. When we greet them with a positive welcome and a focus on what is good around us, we can lift them into a place where they can understand and receive something more of God’s amazing love and provision for them.
• The Formula One world championship was decided on Sunday in controversial fashion. In order for the race to finish with drivers racing – as opposed to behind a safety car – race leader Lewis Hamilton was left on old tyres and unable to prevent his rival, Max Verstappen, from overtaking him and winning the race and the world championship. This must have been hugely disappointing and frustrating for Hamilton but his responses when out of his car of congratulating his rival both publicly and in private messages showed a grace and maturity that have only elevated him in many people’s eyes. Oftentimes, we find ourselves on the receiving end of poor treatment by others, whether family members acting selfishly or a driver cutting us up on the road. Our response, and especially the words that we use, will say much about how God’s grace is with us and in us.
• The newly announced ‘Plan B’ restrictions to prevent the spread of Covid will have disheartened many. In this week’s Gospel reading, when Mary is confused and anxious, it is an older family member she seeks out for sanctuary. The rising anxiety over Covid makes it even more important to know where we can go for support. The church is often described as being like a family and, at a time like this, we need to both ask for support and to be prepared to offer it.
• European nations are negotiating with Iran over Iran’s nuclear programme and the sanctions currently levelled against it. The tit-for-tat nature of the press releases and briefings shows how words can have such a huge impact on other people – with equally significant consequences for other people.
• Rose Ayling-Ellis has made a real impression on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, making it to the final with her partner Giovanni. Her use of British Sign Language is a reminder of the many different languages in use within the UK and the impact it has when someone makes an effort even to learn a few words and phrases as her partner, Giovanni has. What languages do the people that you meet regularly speak? Are there phrases you could learn in order to greet them in their preferred language? How might this show them that they are welcomed and included in God’s kingdom as they are?

 

Questions for discussion

• How do you prefer to be greeted? What impact has Covid had on how you interact with friends and family? With strangers in the street?
• Have you ever greeted someone positively who was expecting you to be angry with them? What was the situation and what impact did your greeting have on the situation?
• Mary is described by Elizabeth as ‘highly favoured’. Given that there was apparently no material difference between Mary’s life and those enjoyed by her peer group, what do you think it means to be one of those who God has blessed?

Steve Taylor is joint-vicar of St James Alperton (CofE) near Wembley. He shares the job with his wife, Ali, and shares his house with their two daughters, two cats, and some fish.

 

 

Check-in

Connecting faith with everyday, real-life issues for young people

“Bless You!”

The words floated down from an empty window as I stood in an empty street recovering from what might have been a record number of sneezes in a row. It is nearly impossible when someone gives off an explosive “ATISCHOO” not instinctively to respond with a blessing.

Well, at least it was, perhaps now, with daily news on the spread of the Omicron variant, when we hear someone sneezing or coughing we are more likely to quickly work out if they are masked and more than two metres away while tossing them a lateral flow test.

When life gets difficult, we instinctively think of ourselves instead of others. It is hard not to. Yet the Bible is full of examples of God and his servants being a blessing to others when times were tough. In the Gospel passage this week we read how a pregnant Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth. This would not have been an easy time for Mary; a pregnant teenager in a small town would have faced a lot of gossip in those days. When Elizabeth saw her, she proclaimed, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!” It obviously encouraged Mary because she responded by singing a song of praise to God. What’s more, Elizabeth didn’t just bless Mary with words, but with actions too - letting her stay with her for three months.

It would appear that there is another challenging Christmas in front of us but, as we try to navigate it safely and sensibly, may we also be challenged to bless people through our words and actions.

Chris Neilands runs Play it by Ear drama company which helps people connect with the Bible and explore some of the big questions of faith through performances and workshops.

 

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