Sunday 22nd December – Advent 4A

MATTHEW 1:18-25
Mary
betrothed
pregnant
grist for the gossip grannies:
to be shunned and shamed.
Yet life formed
and silently grew
with hope.

Joseph
dreaming
faithful
at risk of ridicule
accepted his role as husband –
and father to the boy Jesus
Emmanuel
God-with-us.

Hope
expectation
uncertainty
dawn’s image of birth
light in our darkness but not as we expected
light that we are called to bring
to birth
each day.
        © Jeff Shrowder, 2013.
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