ADVENT 2024
If Christ the Lord came to earth today
Would John the Baptist post on X to say –
‘Forget the oxen and cattle stall….
Make straight a path to….Meadowhall’?
Would Isaiah proclaim his Prophecy
(With a little help from Chatgpt)?
Would Gabriel set off the intruder alarm,
And a barn rental deal come from Diddly Squat Farm?
Would Joseph take a paternity test in Jeremy-Kyle-Style,
Or Mary’s donkey feature on ‘Countryfile?’
Could that Census just be completed On-Line –
Under ‘Name of Father’, would you write ‘The Divine’?
Around the world, would we live-stream the birth?
Or use Snapchat, What’s app, hashtag ‘Godonearth?’
Could a netflix exclusive be available?
Better than all squeezing into that stable!
Will Trump say ‘Jesus – Welcome to My world’ (in a tweet)?
Or Will and Kate form a royal ‘meet and greet’?
Will Orla Guerin report the massacre of baby boys?
Could Hasbro launch artificially intelligent Jesus toys?
Wise men – don’t follow that shining star
Just programme your satnav from your driverless car:-
‘You have reached your destination
Stop here to enjoy the Incarnation’
Trip advisor, Expedia and Google Earth
Will ensure room at the Inn for this A-list birth.
They’ll be a full audit for risk and disease prevention,
No manger. No sheep. Nothing to threaten our redemption…..
Gareth Malone conducts as the angelic host sing a carol,
And are soon offered a record deal, thanks to Simon Cowell.
Frankincense and myrrh are selling out on QVC –
And trending now – like never before – is ‘the CofE’
Bethlehem’s streets are not so dark or still as we see you there,
Just a bombed out-broadcast, from a flattened Manger Square
Get the latest from ‘The Traitors’ with Herod’s live chat –
It seems not many ‘likes’ on Facebook for that.
But perhaps everyone will be so absorbed
Discussing Assisted Dying, they’ll just miss the Lord.
Instagram will probably ignore the ‘Trinity’
But manifest an encounter with a real-life ‘Swiftie’
How silently, how silently this Saviour comes once more;
Not on Black Friday or Cyber Monday or as a ‘Click and Collect’ in store.
Not through Amazon Prime or a Palace Press Release
But through the mess of our world to offer healing, hope and peace.
The Revd Amanda Lees – December 2024