“Give up trying so hard to get rich.” Today the advice of this ancient wise man is simply quaint. What do you mean, give up? I haven’t even gotten started! My credit card is maxed out. My student loan is still nagging. Or is it that I am trying to save for a down payment? Everywhere there are hands out asking for my money. So I need to keep earning a living wage.

It isn’t often that I tell myself or others, ‘I am confident that I am walking in the centre of God’s will for my life.’ Usually I am struggling to navigate the dead ends, the crossroads and the painfully long stretches of road with no street markers whatsoever. Most of my prayers could be summarized as, ‘Lord, could you be a little clearer?’

Our God is a God of miracles. When he puts spiritual truth on display, often he reverses physical truth. As he intended, when we are faced with the unexplainable we have to concede that we are not in full control of our world.

The Jews of Jesus’ day had compartmentalized the events they saw unfolding.

A girl is just a girl is the attitude in much of the world, especially the developing world, that is the majority world, which is why more than 70 million girls around the globe are out of school.

This reading includes two of Scripture’s great passages: Mary’s simple statement of obedience. “I am the Lord’s servant. Let it happen as you have said,” and then, shortly later, her great song of praise.

The story of the first Christmas conjures up all sorts of images, not the least of which is the idyllic scene of the wise men kneeling at the manger of the Christ-child with their precious gifts.

The reality was more rustic.

There are some things in life you do only once; like ride your bike straight into a parked car. It is painful when you fall and embarrassing if people saw you. Your thoughts were wandering and you forgot what you were doing. Now the scrapes and bumps remind you – pay attention!

The psalmist reflects on wandering and the cost of it in verse 67.