On the Way to Wonder

Merry Christmas

John 1:1-14

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God. ³ All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being ⁴ in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

¹⁴ And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.

         Last night I went to the Candle Light service that always ends with the darkening of the sanctuary and the lighting of candles.  The candle up front that is called “the Christ candle” is touched by the usher who carries the light to another, to another, to another as we sing Silent Night and again we are reminded that whatever darkness we live in, the light is stronger.  God comes to us.  We do not become good enough for Him.  Whew, that is cause to be merry!

M:  I love the MUSIC and singing of Christmas.  This world is not happy ever after but we have hope for the future because God keeps his promises.

E:  the ETERNAL EXISTS with us and touches our lives daily in the world around us.

R:  REDEMPTION is possible.  New years come and new life.  We are not doomed to our past.  The babe promises redemption.

R:  RESURRECTION will come.  The eternal can incarnate, live with us, be crucified and resurrect to a better life.  Christmas is a foretaste of the potential of life.

Y: YUP, Advent is a wonderful time of anticipation and now we can live into the reality of who our God is as he walked this earth to reveal to us of limited sight, true reality.

Blessings as you celebrate today.  May it be a Merry Christmas.

         Sunday is Advent 4 with the theme Love, and it is also Christmas Eve.  The Advent Psalm reading will be Luke 1:36-55, commonly known as The Magnificat.  The Gospel text Sunday morning will look at the text describing the angel Gabriel telling Mary that she is to be the mother of Jesus.  We will look at how she goes from “much perpexity” (ie terror) to a stance of faith, “I am a servant of the Lord.”  The angel tells Mary that her relative Elizabeth is also miraculously pregnant.  Mary visits Elizabeth.  After the visit she bursts into praise.  We call this song, The Magnificat.  Below is a link to a spoken word rendition of this scene by a variety of women.  Enjoy and be blessed as you prepare for church and for Christmas.

         In the midst of all the celebrations of Advent, many are still reeling from a rough year.  2023 was challenging.  Some of us experienced the death of a loved one or the anniversary of a death and that grief casts a shadow over our joy.  Others have weathered a divorce or a medical diagnosis that has greatly altered their lives, possibly forever.  Job loss, abuse, assault or injury can deeply scar our sense of security and impact our joy during this season.  Churches have created “Blue Christmas” services that honor those who are lamenting right now during a season when others rejoice.  Ecclesiastes 3 speaks to the ups and downs of life:

3 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

² a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
³ a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
⁴ a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
⁵ a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
⁶ a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
⁷ a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
⁸ a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.

            I find comfort during grieving times in the verses where Jesus does not reprimand us for sorrow but invites us to come to him with our burdens of grief and loss and hurt. He was a man acquainted with sorrows and pain.  Jesus said,

²⁸ ‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’  Matthew 11: 28-30

and

Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. 1Peter 5:7.

Lord, comfort the grieving as they lean on you during Advent.

¹¹ Do not cast me away from your presence,
    and do not take your holy spirit from me.
¹² Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
    and sustain in me a willing spirit.

¹³ Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
    and sinners will return to you.

Psalm 51:11-13

         One of King David’s famous songs is Psalm 51.  He wrote it after being convicted by the prophet Nathan about his affair with Bathsheba and murder of her husband Uriah the Hittite.  During Advent we have pondered how Christians sees the birth of the Jesus as a fulfillment of prophecy confirming God’s faithfulment of his promises.  The angels sing of “peace on earth” as we look forward to reconciliation resulting from forgiveness the babe will live and preach.  This week though we focus on joy.  King David is cut to the core of his being when he is caught in sin.  The God of the universe and even his prophet Nathan knew about it saw what he thought happened in the privacy of his bedroom.  The ugly, dark secret, of a man “loved of God”, had gone public and he was distraught. 

         I’m guessing many of us have some skeleton in our closet that the evil one loves to taunt us about and that we feel disqualifies us from hope or peace or joy or even love.  David pleads for restoration to “the joy of salvation.”  One of the windows into Advent is the realization that there is a power greater than our flakey selves, a power that wants to forgive and restore relationship, and that comes to us in a way we understand and are not threatened by.  God reaches out to us in a baby to restore the joy of salvation.  I would say that is worth respoonding to and celebrating next week.

         Perhaps there is some dark secret you need to put in God’s hands as he reaches out to you.  Perhaps there is a broken relationship that needs to be repaired.  Thank you Lord that we can be restored!

“‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife,

for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

²¹ She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus,

for he will save his people from their sins.’”  Matthew 1:20-21

         Let us not skip over the role Joseph played in our Christmas experience that Advent has been building.  During Advent we celebrate the HOPE we have because God is fulfilling his promises, prophecy.  We celebrate the PEACE we have that the baby Jesus’ life will bring about between God and his creation. We celebrate the JOY people can experience as they learn that the savior has been born.  As we touched on yesterday, joy may not have been the first response to the news and not all were joyful.  King Herod was visited by the wise men in search of the new king. Herd plotted to kill the newborn king.  When Herod’s plan failed he has all the children in Bethlehem under age 2 slaughtered.  Good news does not bring joy to all.

         Joseph is confronted with a pregnant fiancée/wife who claims that God brought the pregnancy.  That’s about like claiming the dog ate the homework.  Think of the many times we have cried “innocent” but in our hearts we know we are partially to blame for the predicament. Joseph has reason to doubt Mary’s story, if she even had a chance to explain and defend herself.  Joseph could have her stoned to declare his innocence.  He decides to quietly divorce her.  I doubt that offered Mary much of a future but at least she would not die.  In Kenya, Mary’s mother would raise the child as Mary’s sibling so Mary could get on with life.  But there would always be a skeleton in the family closet and in Mary’s heart.  Joseph is deeply conflicted.  It is at this moment that God steps in and sends Joseph a message in a dream.  God claims his role.  He is the father.  We read those words I love, “Do not be afraid.”

         Joy can take the form of praises like the angels.  Joy can take the form of gifts and service like the wise men.  Joy can take the form of acquittal when you are prepared to be condemned, sitting with death row.  Joseph now had freedom of heart to move forward with his plan to marry.  There would be public gossip and censure and doubt about his character but he was free within himself to move forward and protect Mary.  No internal conflict.  No doubts.  Joy that he was in God’s plan.

         Perhaps there is a time when you felt clarity in the depths of your soul over something you were deeply troubled about.  Perhaps you have experienced forgiveness and innocence in the face of public censure.  Let’s pray that during this time of Advent, those caught in conflicting situations will experience hope, peace and joy as they reach out to the God who is working in their lives.

         The theme of Advent 3 week is JOY.  Yesterday we looked at the shepherds in Luke 2 who saw a heavenly choir of angels praising God saying, “Joy to the World” the Lord is come.  Singing is one way we express our joy at receiving good news but there are other ways.  In Matthew 2 we read about wise men.  Legend has it that there were three and they came from the East but just how far east of Jerusalem is not known.  And because Herod later had children under age two slaughtered in Bethlehem, we suspect there is a time lapse between the birth and their arrival.

2 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, ² asking, ‘Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.’

Matthew 2: 1-2

Herod hears the news confirmed about the birth of the promised Messiah, but is threatened by it, so when he realizes the wise men have not returned to report, he lashes out and tries to resolve his fear by killing innocent children.  The priests who knew the prophecy about Bethlehem did nothing but report to Herod.  Good news does not always result in joy and praise.  On the other hand, those wise men discerned from their studies that something great was happening and they invested time and energy into checking it out.  And if legend is right, they expressed their joy in gifts of material goods.  We are not all singers.  Some of us are servants, studiers, and scientists.  We express our joy with our hands and our works.

         As an elder this Christmas having just gone through the passing of my spouse, I realize tears can also be a way of affirming the hand of God in my life.  I cannot say I am glad for the passing but I can affirm the presence of a God who speaks through stars, through prophecy, and through the journeys he leads us on.  It is a quiet, sad joy of being included in the great story that is unfolding through history.

         I do not know if you are singing this Christmas, traveling, watching for the star, researching where the event is taking place, sitting by a declining loved one or humbly bowing before a God who leads one step at a time,but I do know that joy takes many forms. Advent 3 celebrates that we can be joyful in all sorts of situations because God has come and is with us, even when it seems far away.  Blessings.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOsnNr1-smA  enjoy!

         Week 3 of Advent focuses on the joy we experience because of the Christmas story.  We are looking at our faith this year through the Gospel of Mark, so we don’t get the popular historical setting that Luke shares with the stable in Bethlehem and the shepherds in the field nor do we get Matthew’s version that starts with the babe’s genealogy and then Joseph’s experience.  Matthew jumps to the wise men, Herod, and the death of the young children.  Mark instead starts with John the Baptist as an adult.  Put the gospels together and we have three different experiences of the joy that comes with Christmas.

         “Joy to the World” is one of the most recognized and sung Christmas songs.  The basis for the song is Luke’s report.  While Joseph and Mary are having the baby in Bethlehem, poor shepherds are out in the field watching their flocks.  Angels appear and say my favorite words, “do not be afraid.”

         ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: ¹¹ to you is born this day in the city of David a    Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign for you:   you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a          manger.’ ¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the          heavenly host, praising God and saying,

            ¹⁴ ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,
         and on earth peace among those whom he favours!’

         Luke 2: 10-14

         Shepherds were poor, ordinary workingmen, definitely blue-collar laborers.  They probably had little education and were probably low on the social hierarchy but they had the privilege of hearing an angel choir.  I wonder what kind of news we would like to receive today from a heavenly messenger, “news of great joy.”  If a savior were born today what do you think would be his role and with whom would he choose to associate?  Even back then people did not expect an important person to appear in places without power and prestige.  We are no different.  But the Messiah did.  And what was the reaction?  Praise!!!

         What would you like to praise God for today?  What news brings you joy?  Let’s read the lyrics of the hymn and ponder the praises that are talked about.

1.  Joy to the world, the Lord is come.  Let Earth receive her King.

2.  Joy to the Earth, the Savior reigns. Let all their songs employ.

3.  He rules the world with truth and grace. And makes the nations prove.

The glories of His righteousness and wonders of his love.

Let us join those angels and shepherds in praising God today.  Let’s listen for news for which we can rejoice.  Thank you Lord that you speak to us ordinary people still.

The Lord has done great things for us. (Ps. 126:3)

¹When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
  then were we like those who dream.
 ²Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue     with shouts of joy.
  Then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done      great things for them.”
 ³The Lord has done great things for us,
  and we are glad indeed.
 ⁴Restore our fortunes, O Lord,
  like the watercourses of the Negeb. 
 ⁵Those who sowed with tears
  will reap with songs of joy.
 ⁶Those who go out weeping, carrying the seed,
  will come again with joy, shouldering their sheaves.

         This is our psalm for tomorrow and introduces us to Advent 3.  Our theme is joy.  The psalm encourages us to think about all the things we can praise God for and be joyful.  We will again focus on John the Baptist being questioned by the scribes and church leaders sent from Jerusalem.  “Who are you?” is their question.  Know who we are and whose we are opens the door to praise.  The psalm weaves together sorrow and weeping with joy.  Let us spend some time reflecting on what that looks like in our lives.  What would you praise God for and how was sow interwoven in your experience?  Blessings as you reflect.  Lord, raise to our minds memories of your power working in our lives this last year!

Psalm 4:  A Psalm of David.

¹ Answer me when I call, O God of my right!
    You gave me room when I was in distress.
    Be gracious to me, and hear my prayer.

² How long, you people, shall my honour suffer shame?
    How long will you love vain words, and seek after lies?Selah

³ But know that the Lord has set apart the faithful for himself;
    the Lord hears when I call to him.

⁴ When you are disturbed, do not sin;
    ponder it on your beds, and be silent.Selah

⁵ Offer right sacrifices,
    and put your trust in the Lord.

⁶ There are many who say, ‘O that we might see some good!
    Let the light of your face shine on us, O Lord!’
⁷ You have put gladness in my heart
    more than when their grain and wine abound.

⁸ I will both lie down and sleep in peace;
    for you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety.

As we approach Christmas, we read to our children Twas the Night Before Christmas and we watch our favorite movies that always have happy Christmas and a good night’s sleep ending.  King David in Psalm 4 sounds like he has had a hard time administrating his kingdom.  He writes this psalm about how he finds peace and a good night’s sleep.  “Selah” is a word that instructs the reader to pause and ponder the truth.  In the midst of distressing times we can put our trust in God and get a good night’s sleep.  Our stressors may not be his stressors but we all have things in our life that can lead to anxiety and worry.  When we feel our minds turn to worry, let’s consciously say a prayer and put that irritant to rest in God’s hands today.  Blessings.

         The author of Proverbs encourages his son to seek hard after wisdom.  Wisdom is closely intertwined with peace.  When we are foolishly chasing empty dreams peace eludes us.  During Advent we spend this week reflecting on the peace that comes with the birth of the Christ child.  He was not a dream but historical fact.  God entered our reality to reach out to us.

         Let’s read these proverbs and ponder how the coming of the babe of Bethlehem lived out in the flesh of mortality, the proverbs in the Old Testament, and blesses our lives with peace that passes understanding today.  Blessings as you live into these truths.

Proverbs 3:16-19

16 Long life is in her right hand;
    in her left hand are riches and honour.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
    and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her;
    those who hold her fast are called happy.

Proverbs 10:9-11

9. Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,
    but whoever follows perverse ways will be found out.
¹⁰ Whoever winks the eye causes trouble,
    but the one who rebukes boldly makes peace.^[a]
11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
    but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

 Proverbs 12:20

Deceit is in the mind of those who plan evil,

 but those who counsel peace have joy.

Proverbs 16:7 

When the ways of people please the Lord,

 he causes even their enemies to be at peace with them.