Tears and dreams are the voice of God. Whether we listen to them is largely how deeply we feel our faith and how much we trust God to take care of our needs. God will not simply change our lives and all that life sends our way. He uses our problems and trials as ways to proclaim the gospel, to bring hope to its highest level of triumph, and to let grace shine into the world. The Christ child was no ordinary child; He was sent into our distressed, broken, and sinful world to bring light and hope where there is darkness and hate.
After the wise men left the manger, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream, and said, “Arise, Joseph, take your child and his mother to Egypt. Remain there until I say that you are safe from Herod, who is searching for Jesus to destroy Him.” Joseph did as he was told and took his family to Egypt. They stayed there until Herod died.
When Herod realized that he had been tricked by the wise men, he angrily ordered the killing of every male child, two years old and younger. It is said there was loud wailing and lamentations as mothers all over Bethlehem cried for their young children. They refused to be consoled as their tears filled the rivers to flooding stages.
After Herod died, an angel appeared to Joseph in a new dream, and said, “Arise, Joseph, and take your child and his mother to Israel, for Herod is dead.” They traveled to Israel to find that Herod’s son, Archelaus, was ruling over Judea in place of his father. Joseph became very afraid and wanted to flee again, but to where? After another warning from an angel in a third dream, Joseph took his family to Galilee, where he made a home in the town of Nazareth. According to the prophets, Jesus would be called the Nazorean, and He was sent to save and redeem the broken world.
Our joy this Sunday after Christmas seems to fill every church and cathedral around the world, but we must realize that sin runs rampant in our negative, materialistic world, even as we proclaim Christ as the Messiah. God used the nails of the cross to redeem our sins; we use duck tape, thinking we are in control of our lives.
The only thing that will bring us closer to our heavenly Father is a strong faith, a faith that says, “I can do nothing without God.” To that end, may we all pray in gratitude for the hope, light, and grace that Emmanuel has brought to the world. May He be in our tears and our dreams as we love as only He could, and may we put peace at the forefront of our actions and thoughts, so that His light continues to shine on us. As we pray “The Lord’s Prayer” today, “Thy will be done.”
Anna Hartt
