Dreaming

 

‘An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife”’

(Matthew 1: 20)

‘the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you”’

(Matthew 2: 13)

‘an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child’s life are dead”’

(Matthew 2: 19-20)

Joseph seems to have been something of a dreamer. But he was not – it seems – dreaming of a white Christmas. His dreams were much more serious and were as disturbing as they were comforting.

In Matthew’s version of the Christmas story, dreams play a very significant part and not least for Joseph. God speaks to Joseph in his dreams.

I am not sure that God has ever spoken to me through a dream. But that does not mean that I have not known God to ‘speak’ to me. Nor does it mean that I do not dream! And I don’t just mean the night-time dreams that we all experience.

I may not dream of a white Christmas – in fact, I prefer that people are able to travel safely on Christmas Day than to see snow on the ground!

But I do dream of a better future for the world.

I dream of a time when injustice, war, violence, terrorism, poverty, homeless, inequality, prejudice and the abuse of the created world will be no more; a day when God’s love will prevail; a future where peace and justice will be established, when humanity will live in sustainable harmony with Creation, where women and men and children will know God, and walk with him once again; a time of shalom, salvation, healing and wholeness.

So I am a dreamer.

And I believe that dreams can come true!

But I also believe that this dream will only come true through the loving action of the God who came amongst us in Jesus and who has promised and pointed to a coming Day when his realm will come and his will be done on earth as in heaven.

And so, as Jesus taught us, this dreamer will continue to pray (and long, and hope and work) for that coming Day.

Your Kingdom come.

Your will be done on earth, as in heaven.