The Collect:

Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.Amen.

Scripture:

Jeremiah 31:7-14

Ephesians 1:3-6, 15-19

Matthew 2:13-23

Luke 2:41-52

Matthew 2:1-12

Psalm 84

Homily:

Happy New Year! I hope and pray that 2022 is an awesome year for you.

So we have gone through Christmas and then into the New Year.

We have had weeks of Christmas songs, and the story of Christmas centered on the birth of Jesus.

Many of those songs and stories had references to Angels.

We know there was an angel that visited Mary, an angel that visited Joseph, and an angel that visited the shepherds.

then Jesus was born and we know the story of the Magi visiting

But there is another mention of an angel that we overlook or pass over because well Christmas is over....right?

In our Lectionary reading for this week we read about another visit by an angel.

Matthew 2:13-15 is the story about an of the Lord suddenly the bible says appearing to Joseph in a dream telling him to get up and take his family to Egypt because Herod is trying to kill Jesus.

Scholars tell us that Jesus and his parents stayed in Egypt for almost 3 and a half years,

and it was another angel that suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph and said take your family back to Israel because those who wanted to kill Jesus are dead.

Did you ever wonder why God had to guide Joseph with an angel in a dream not once but 3 times?

We find in the Bible stories of people who heard from God and talked directly with God, and some that needed angels and others heard from God through other people.

Why? Well ,different people need different ways to hear from God.

Today most people will tell you that they hear from God while reading the Bible.

Others will tell you they heard from God while praying,

Others will tell you they heard from the Holy Spirit.

Others will say they felt God during worship and felt God impress upon them something during worship.

But if you said that you talk with God people will look at you like you are crazy.

but why?

Well it is scary to hear that form some people but it shouldn't be.

Why don't we hear about people hearing from Angels but we hear about people claiming to be saved by angels?

Most scholars will tell you that is because of the Bible and the holy spirit speaking through the Bible. But I think we have just stopped expecting God to speak any other way.

Maybe God is telling you something in a dream. Maybe your dreams are full of angels telling you things, and guiding you, but you don't pay attention because you don't expect to hear from God that way.

Maybe we need to learn to listen

This week may you begin to train yourself to hear from God.

Grace and Peace!

Benediction

Lord may we have ears to hear you,

eyes that see you,

hearts that beat for you

feet that run to you

hands that work for you

lives that are lived for you

Father grant us the strength, mercy, and grace to make these so.

All glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit

Amen