December 29, 2013 Christmas 1

Matt 2:13-23  (The Promise)

13 After the scholars were gone, God's angel showed up again in Joseph's dream and commanded, "Get up. Take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt. Stay until further notice. Herod is on the hunt for this child, and wants to kill him." 14 Joseph obeyed. He got up, took the child and his mother under cover of darkness. They were out of town and well on their way by daylight. 15 They lived in Egypt until Herod's death. 19 Later, when Herod died, God's angel appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt: 20 "Up, take the child and his mother and return to Israel. All those out to murder the child are dead." 21 Joseph obeyed. He got up, took the child and his mother, and reentered Israel. fulfillment of the prophetic words, "He shall be called a Nazarene.”

This story is “a turn toward lowliness and humility rather than grandeur and greatness....Jesus is to be identified, not with the powerful, but with the helpless, vulnerable people of this world.”
As the writer of Hebrews says he was “one of the dispossessed”.

This is the greatness of Christianity - it’s lowliness.  There is no place too unimportant, no event too insignificant that God has not been there and will not be there again.  God has become penetratingly human - nothing is beyond his reach.  This is what Christmas is all about!“

"Jesus is to be identified, not with the powerful, but with the helpless, vulnerable people of this world.”

Dec 22, 2013 Advent 4

Matt.1:18-25  (The Promise)

18 The birth of Jesus took place like this. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. Before they came to the marriage bed, Joseph discovered she was pregnant. (It was by the Holy Spirit, but he didn't know that.) 19 Joseph, chagrined but noble, determined to take care of things quietly so Mary would not be disgraced. 20 While he was trying to figure a way out, he had a dream. God's angel spoke in the dream: "Joseph, son of David, don't hesitate to get married. Mary's pregnancy is Spirit-conceived. God's Holy Spirit has made her pregnant. 21 She will bring a son to birth, and when she does, you, Joseph, will name him Jesus - 'God saves' - because he will save his people from their sins." 22 This would bring the prophet's embryonic sermon to full term: 23 Watch for this - a virgin will get pregnant and bear a son; They will name him Emmanuel (Hebrew for "God is with us"). 24 Then Joseph woke up. He did exactly what God's angel commanded in the dream: He married Mary. 25 But he did not consummate the marriage until she had the baby. He named the baby Jesus.

The Christmas story as told by Matthew is a reminder that all things were not easy for Joseph or Mary.  It is no small thing to believe that “that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.”

Joseph was a special sort of person who risked much on a dream and on a willingness to be used by God.

He did not reject Mary openly; he did not even “put her away secretly”, but took her as his wife and became a part of the greatest drama to ever happen - the birth of  Immanuel - God with us!

As we celebrate Christmas the question looms - Is it possible God would do something through us, like God did through Joseph, if we only dared dream enough and risk enough?

“It is Christmas every time you let God love others through you... yes, it is Christmas every time you smile at your brother and offer him your hand."    Mother Teresa

Dec 15, 2013 Advent 3

Matt.11:2-6  (The Message)

2 John, meanwhile, had been locked up in prison. When he got wind of what Jesus was doing, he sent his own disciples 3 to ask, "Are you the One we've been expecting, or are we still waiting?" 4 Jesus told them, "Go back and tell John what's going on: 5 The blind see, The lame walk, Lepers are cleansed, The deaf hear, The dead are raised, The wretched of the earth learn that God is on their side. 6 "Is this what you were expecting? Then count yourselves most blessed!"

The mystery and miracle of Christmas is that it comes in the most unlikely places.
John wasn’t sure it was in Jesus - who was too soft for John.
We too are not always sure where God is in our midst - is God really there in the infant holy, infant lowly?  Or in "the wretched of the earth"?  Yes!  And It is a holy mystery.




"The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion which stands at the cradle of true art and true science (and true religion).
Who ever does not know it and can no longer wonder, no longer marvel, is as good as dead.”       Albert Einstein

Dec 8, 2013 Advent 2

Matt.3:1-2  (The Message)

1 While Jesus was living in the Galilean hills, John, called "the Baptizer," was preaching in the desert country of Judea. 2 His message was simple and austere, like his desert surroundings: "(Repent) Change your life . God's kingdom is here."

The call to repentance sounds out of step, yet it is very much in step.  For repentance is the source of real joy.  It is the means by which we are set back on course.  It is something we need to
do often.  It means turning around, changing direction; it is positive not negative, helpful not hurtful, necessary not optional, healthy not harmful, and even humorous, not always heavy.

Our challenge is to practice repentance until it not only feels good but also becomes a part of our very being; something we do often and joyfully because we know it leads to the joy of forgiveness.


      “Repentance is the first positive step of faith.”


                 
                                                                                     
                                       

Dec. 1, 2013 Advent 1

Matt. 24:36-44  (The Message)

36 "But the exact day and hour? No one knows that, not even heaven's angels, not even the Son. Only the Father knows. 37 "The Arrival of the Son of Man will take place in times like Noah's. 38 Before the great flood everyone was carrying on as usual, having a good time right up to the day Noah boarded the ark. 39 They knew nothing - until the flood hit and swept everything away. 40 Two men will be working in the field - one will be taken, one left behind; 41 two women will be grinding at the mill - one will be taken, one left behind. 42 So stay awake, alert. You have no idea what day your Master will show up. 43 But you do know this: You know that if the homeowner had known what time of night the burglar would arrive, he would have been there with his dogs to prevent the break-in. 44 Be vigilant just like that. You have no idea when the Son of Man is going to show up.

It is easy to take these words as a threat; and respond with fear.  The result is that we become so caught up in trying to be ready that we cannot enjoy life.  And we may even be disappointed when that for which we are ready doesn’t happen.  Religion then becomes a negative force in life, keeping joy out.
These words are meant to give hope not fear; bring joy not fear.
They are a promise to be heard with the ears of faith which dares to believe that all is in God’s hands and all is good.

Look up and rejoice for something good is about to happen.
Be ready - Christmas is coming soon.
Be ready to be surprised by joy!

                     

                                                                                         
 “The great challenge of faith
is to be surprised by joy.”
     Henri Nouwen










Prayer thought for the week:  “Lord, you came, you will come again, and you come, hidden in human form still.  What joy to celebrate the surprise of your coming!”