Following Where He Leads

Matthew 2:13-23 “Following Where He Leads”

Friends in Faith and Christ,

In 1943 – the middle of World War II – Bing Crosby recorded the popular song, “I’ll Be Home for Christmas … if only in my dreams.” I learned this week that the song was not written to be understood the way many of us think about it – it was not about families gathered around the food-laden table. No, it was written by Kim Gannon to honor the soldiers who were overseas fighting for our country even though their hearts and thoughts were with family back at home. How they yearned for the war to end so that they could return to their homes, loved ones, and friends.

What we sometimes sing, we also think and feel in our hearts: who of us do not want to be with family and loved ones this time of year? To see smiling faces that reflect love, acceptance, and goodwill?

And, yes, there is silliness, as there always is, about traveling at Christmas. An unnamed husband told his friend that he promised his wife that he would take here anywhere she wanted to go at Christmas for two weeks. She beamed with joy at the thought! Her husband taped a map on the refrigerator with cardboard behind to protect it, handed her a dart and said, “Go for it! Wherever the dart lands we go for two weeks.” Unfortunately for both of them, her aim was so bad that they are spending two weeks behind the refrigerator – just where the dart landed!

(1) Today’s Holy Gospel tells us that Joseph and Mary journeyed from their home in Nazareth to Bethlehem to be with family and give birth to their precious child – God’s beloved Son. Bethlehem was home for them – where Ruth and Boaz lived, where King David, another lineage relative tended flocks in the field. The beloved place about which we sing: “O Little Town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie.” It was home, the place to be.

(2) Unfortunately for Mary and Joseph – as for us – circumstances changes and wishes do not always become reality. Let me illustrate with this: the United States Department of Transportation reports that this season airlines are estimated to carry 54 million passengers, 2.8 million each day, 60,000 tons of cargo each day of the holiday season, and more than 49,000 flights each day. Impressive statistics! But … approximately 3,000 flights each day will be cancelled for a variety of reasons. Not everyone will reach the desired destination. Not everyone will be able to go home.

(3) But, far from ending the season with disappointment or discouragement, see the hand of the Heavenly Father guiding us according to His plan. For Joseph, Mary, and Jesus it meant traveling south into Egypt to avoid King Herod’s treachery in a tyrannical slaughter to find and murder Jesus, the newborn king angels, shepherds, and wise men worshipped, before several years later traveling north to be with waiting family and friends in Nazareth.

(4) Our constant challenge – and it is truly a challenge, sometimes an agonizing challenge - is to allow God to guide us – even when His plan is not our plan. It is living by faith with the conviction that His will is perfect and better than our will. And, yes, living y faith and allowing God to guide us can be much easier said than done. Person after person, page after page of Scripture reminds us of someone who turned away from God to go their own way. It is our nature – our sinful nature – just as Isaiah wrote in prophecy, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way.”

(5) How does that happen? Think of it this way: Chuck Lawless, a popular evangelist, has shared that the day after Christmas, Charlie’s ten-year-old neighbor boy, Jacob, knocked at the door and asked Chuck’s wife, Pam, “Can Mr. Chuck come out and play?” Pam turned to a surprised husband with an inquiring look. Chuck, not wanting to disappoint the little guy with his obvious new gifts, agreed to go outside. Jacob was pumped because he had just received a new whiffle ball and bat. “Here’s what we do, Mr. Chuck. I’ll stand back here, you throw the ball, and I’ll hit it.” Chuck threw the first pitch, Jake swung, and missed the ball by a foot. Chuck threw the second pitch, and Jake missed again. The third pitch was no better – Jake missed worse than ever. By this point, he was exasperated, not at himself, but at Chuck. He picked up the ball, fired it back to him, and yelled in his young voice, “Mr. Chuck, you’re doin’ it wrong!” “What do you mean that I’m doing it wrong, Jake?” He answered with a loud, determined voice, “Mr. Chuck, you’re supposed to be throwing the ball where I’m swinging the bat!”