When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. In Bethlehem in Judea, they replied, for this is what the prophet has written: But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.
Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.
Matthew 2: 3-8
To view the reflection on video via YouTube click on the image, or read it below…
Was this really what Herod intended- to worship Jesus? Why was he disturbed? Well he was Herod the Great, King of the Jews – but he had no right to this title and many Jews despised him for it. If Jesus really was the rightful heir, then no way would he let that happen. Prophets had said the arrival of the Messiah was soon, so Herod was alert, ready to take action. His plan was to kill Jesus.
The Jews were uniquely a people of remembrance and anticipation. They were connected to stories of God’s acts in the past and believed His promises for the future. Not a bad principle for us too! We know from Scripture that when God is working out His purpose through His people, he is not about to let the malign plans of others get in the way. What hope this gives us! He will use any means to achieve our good and His glory. We can trust Him even when we are up against hard times.
Have you ever felt under pressure from circumstances beyond your control? Ever faced a situation with dread? Ever wondered how God might appear for you? Back in the 80s, we were in that position and I will never forget the evening. It was early June, yet the sky went black and a thunderstorm began with torrential rain. We were arriving at a critical meeting in fear and trepidation. As we ran across the road to the venue, a man under an umbrella was outside; he turned towards us and said: God told me to be here to show His love for you. It was an angel!! Well actually it was a dear man well known to people in our church, who had somehow heard of our plight and weathered the storm to encourage us. I cried – and I was already soaked – but I was borne up in a remarkable way through the awful meeting that night.
God knows what we need – and often it is His people who respond to His prompting, who deliver on His promise that He will not leave us or forsake us. I look back with deep gratitude on our angel!
Just like the Jews, God calls us to remember who we are and what we are to be. We are destined to a better way of life – not just for us but for all with whom we share the world. We are people of Hope. A sure and certain hope, a hope that breeds confidence because ‘he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion.’
The Wise Men had no doubt they would find the new-born king and with this hope they mounted their camels and headed off to find him. And so it is with us, facing the relentless onslaught of the corona virus; it is our biblical hope that enables us to weather this storm. That baby, through His life and death, came to be our Hope. Our faith is in Him. Jesus will never fail us.
Daily Share
The ‘daily share’ is a hint each day for how you could share some hope in your life, today.
Could you be an angel to someone else – to encourage them, support them, remind them of God’s love, bring them new hope? Jesus says: Whatever you do for these brothers of mine, you do for me.
Hazel Gaydon
Hazel is a retired teacher, trainer, trustee and adviser. She has 2 sons, 2 daughters and 11 grandchildren. She is a singer, writer and student of culinary medicine and how to enjoy later years.
John Norris is an aspiring part time metal sculptor from Hurstpierpoint. He bought a welder in December 2018 and started tinkering in his spare time. He dreams of one day being able to make a full time career out of metal sculpting. The pieces on display at the Lewes Art Wave festival are still some of his very first creations!
Martina is an artist and theology student with a background in professional photography and this is her second time exhibiting at TRINITY. Her photographic work this year considers how experiencing the world through digital media has changed our perception of it, while her community sculpture project invites to look inward and explore themes of holiness and wholeness.
Sarah is an award-winning Illustrator, author and painter. With an illustration career spanning 18 years, Sarah has illustrated for many clients including Kew Gardens, IKEA and The Guardian. Her staple work comes from illustrating funny children’s books. Her latest book CHARLIE CHANGES INTO A CHICKEN is the best selling debut middle grade book of 2019.
Suzanne is a semi-abstract, contemporary landscape painter and a teacher. She is inspired by the land, sea and big skies. She paints in oils and mixed-media from memory and experience, and her work is developed using artistic intuition. She says ‘my greatest loves are atmospheric weather and fleeting light and this I try to capture in my work, through my own emotional response.
Jo Marks is a British figurative artist. Using graphic lines, her chalk and charcoal drawings are developed from a fascination with the human form.
Her unedited marks reflect the energy and urgency with which the subject was observed. Whether these marks are intuitively abstract or more true to life, they always express an authentic understanding of form.
While Jo tries to reflect this sense of dichotomy in her carefully balanced compositions, she also aims to ensure her work brings a sense of peace. “Knowing when to stop is a huge challenge, I never want to over-bake my pieces but instead reflect the joy with which they were made.”
Martina was struck by the stories of pain, suffering and incredible strength and integrity she discovered just among friends and family. All hidden behind the socially acceptable facade of: ‘I’m fine’.
For this series she has photographed women with a hidden illness or trauma. The women choose a flower, branch or other foliage to represent the fact that there is more to discover than can be seen on the outside. The choice of foliage or its positioning may reveal something about their illness or struggle and how it affects their relationships and identity.
Although I have been sculpting in clay for many years, it was as a mature student that I went to study ceramics at Falmouth College of Art. Returning to Sussex I set up my own studio producing figurative stoneware sculpture. Singers, dancers, performers, some written over with sonnets or songs, my work reflects my love of literature and my early career in the theatre. I constantly go back to basics, which for me is an endless exploration of the human form.
The theme of Communication for this exhibition is a broad one. Visibly, verbally and tangibly, art is the great communicator, giving us fresh insight into the human condition. I like the image in the bible of the body being the temple of the soul. I hope these quiet abstract nudes have a meditative quality - meditation being perhaps one of the purest forms of communication.
The other two figures were inspired by events in the life of Jesus Christ 2000 years ago, but they are very modern tragedies. A Syrian refugee, her child in her arms and her possessions on her back, flees her country. A mother cradles her son after violence on a Hackney street. Only you, the viewer can say what, if anything they communicate, but if you have paused to look and wonder for a moment why these things happen, then thank you.
Suzanne Hennegrave is a semi-abstract, contemporary landscape painter and a teacher. She is inspired by the land, sea and big skies. She paints in oils and mixed-media from memory and experience and her work is developed using artistic intuition.
