Algorithm advertising is clearly effective... I succumbed to the lure of a personalised  'Catmas' jumper (which is really a cheap sweatshirt with a printed design).  It's fun, and you only live once, so why not...?!

Today I have an actual day off... that is, a day off, when nothing from church or vicar school is allowed to sneak in and steal time from me.

So, I took myself off to see 'Paddington in Peru' and it did not disappoint - though I feared that it would.

It's a bit cheesy, and far-fetched, and definitely feel good, but it, very gently, explores some themes around 'belonging' and 'home', about value and worth, about choices and maybe even redemption.

Like others of similar genre, it borrows shamelessly from other well-known stories, be that 'The Sound of Music' (nun with guitar - Olivia Colman as a singing Mother Superior) or Indiana Jones.  There is even one of the nuns from Nonatus House apparently doing an overseas placement (okay, it's the same person playing a nun in a different story).  What's not to like!

I loved it, it made me laugh out loud, and it even, in places, brought a tear to my eye.

It's a very long time since my late friend A and I went to see 'Paddington' in Glasgow as joint birthday treat, which we loved, and then Paddington 2, which we loved even more.  I think that A would have enjoyed Paddington in Peru too.

If you get the chance to see it, then it's worth the money, and if you don't then look out for it on TV at some point in the future.

Numbers 32: 22 – 35

God was angry that Balaam was going with the Moabite leaders, and as Balaam was riding along on his donkey, accompanied by his two servants, the angel of the Lord stood in the road to bar his way. When the donkey saw the angel standing there holding a sword, it left the road and turned into the fields. Balaam beat the donkey and brought it back onto the road. Then the angel stood where the road narrowed between two vineyards and had a stone wall on each side. When the donkey saw the angel, it moved over against the wall and crushed Balaam's foot against it. Again Balaam beat the donkey. Once more the angel moved ahead; he stood in a narrow place where there was no room at all to pass on either side. This time, when the donkey saw the angel, it lay down. Balaam lost his temper and began to beat the donkey with his stick. Then the Lord gave the donkey the power of speech, and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you? Why have you beaten me these three times?”

Balaam answered, “Because you have made a fool of me! If I had a sword, I would kill you.”

The donkey replied, “Am I not the same donkey on which you have ridden all your life? Have I ever treated you like this before?”

“No,” he answered.

Then the Lord let Balaam see the angel standing there with his sword; and Balaam threw himself face downward on the ground. The angel demanded, “Why have you beaten your donkey three times like this? I have come to bar your way, because you should not be making this journey. But your donkey saw me and turned aside three times. If it hadn't, I would have killed you and spared the donkey.”

Balaam replied, “I have sinned. I did not know that you were standing in the road to oppose me; but now if you think it is wrong for me to go on, I will return home.”

But the angel said, “Go on with these men, but say only what I tell you to say.” So Balaam went on with them.

Picture

A painting by Rembrant van Rijn inspired by this story

Prayer

Can donkeys really talk? Probably not – but the scriptures speak of star that sing, trees that clap, rocks that might cry out and a creation that groans.

God of all creation, so often we humans see ourselves as superior to the rest of creation, and so fail to hear the voices of animals, the clapping of trees, or the cries of the earth itself.  Grant to us the humility to see ourselves as part of your creation, and to love it as you do.  We pray for all who work in agriculture and horticulture, for scientists and engineers, researchers and entrepreneurs, that as they consider complex questions, they might hear the voices of donkeys and th songs of stars. Amen.

1 Kings 19: 1 – 9

King Ahab told his wife Jezebel everything that Elijah had done and how he had put all the prophets of Baal to death. She sent a message to Elijah: “May the gods strike me dead if by this time tomorrow I don't do the same thing to you that you did to the prophets.”  Elijah was afraid and fled for his life; he took his servant and went to Beersheba in Judah.

Leaving the servant there, Elijah walked a whole day into the wilderness. He stopped and sat down in the shade of a tree and wished he would die. “It's too much, Lord,” he prayed. “Take away my life; I might as well be dead!”

He lay down under the tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said, “Wake up and eat.” He looked around and saw a loaf of bread and a jar of water near his head. He ate and drank, and lay down again. The Lord's angel returned and woke him up a second time, saying, “Get up and eat, or the trip will be too much for you.” Elijah got up, ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to walk forty days to Sinai, the holy mountain. There he went into a cave to spend the night.

Picture

Artwork inspired by this story

Prayer

The story of Elijah is one that resonates with many people – a man who is burned out, depressed, possibly even a man with thoughts of ending his life who encounters God in unexpected ways.  The prayer this evening names that potential in our own lives, and those of people we love.

God of the quiet whisper, the still voice – even the sound of silence – we come to you in our world-weariness, fatigue and tiredness, and we bring with us any we know for whom this physically dark season is emotionally or spiritually dark.  We thank you for the quiet angels who offer simple, practical gifts, whose presence makes the moment lighter.  And we thank you that it is sometimes when you seem furthest away, that we discover you in unexpected ways.  Amen.    

Genesis 32: 22 – 32

Jacob took his two wives, his two concubines, and his eleven children, and crossed the Jabbok River. After he had sent them across, he also sent across all that he owned, but he stayed behind, alone.

Then a man came and wrestled with him until just before daybreak. When the man saw that he was not winning the struggle, he hit Jacob on the hip, and it was thrown out of joint. The man said, “Let me go; daylight is coming.”

“I won't, unless you bless me,” Jacob answered.

 “What is your name?” the man asked.

“Jacob,” he answered.

The man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob. You have struggled with God and with men, and you have won; so your name will be Israel.”

Jacob said, “Now tell me your name.”

But he answered, “Why do you want to know my name?” Then he blessed Jacob.

Jacob said, “I have seen God face-to-face, and I am still alive”; so he named the place Peniel. The sun rose as Jacob was leaving Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip

Picture

Today’s painting is by the artist Gaughin, and is inspired by this story

Prayer

I have long loved the idea of ‘limping with the Lord’ – the consequence of having wrestled with God, or with God’s angel, and then walking into the future with God.

God of Jacob, who not only allows, but seems to appreciate our wrestling with who you are, and what your require of us, help us in this Advent journey to have the courage to ask our questions, voice our concerns and to do the work of grappling with ideas, so that, as we limp towards Christmas, may do so assured of your accompaniment and blessing.  Amen.