On the Way to Wonder

“O Come All Ye Faithful”

As we head toward the Christmas narrative seen through the eyes of doctor Luke we finish Luke 1.  Luke 2 is the traditional narrative of Christmas plays.  I realize it is now two weeks before Christmas.  The post office had a long line today.  Sales announcements flood my email inbox inviting me to donate to good causes.  The world is calling us to attention and so I chose this hymn, sung in an upbeat acapella style by Pentatonix.  This hymn has been translated from its original Latin into over 100 languages.  John Wade, an English layman, wrote it into English in 1744 and published it in 1751. A hundred years later an Anglican minister, Frederick Oakeley, gave it the name “Adeste Fideles.”  I have sung it in Latin and Swahili. 

         Week one of Advent we focused on “hope”, the hope we feel as we see prophecy fulfilled.  We know our lives are not random but there is a master plan no matter how chaotic life seems at times.  This week we focused on “peace. “ Zechariah and Mary are both visited by the angel Gabriel and announcing an unexpected change in their life circumstances.  An old barren couple becomes miraculously pregnant and a young girl, not sexually active becomes pregnant.  Both women find peace as they realize and accept that God is in the midst of their challenges, walking with them.

         This hymn calls us to worship, not because we are getting lots of gifts but because we are full of faith in the God who steps into our confusing and unfair world where we often feel powerless and voiceless.  He is not repulsed by our human condition but seems to love to work with the ordinary, perhaps unnoticed, and seemingly impossible people – even women- to bring about his plan.  May we sit back, listen to the hymn and ponder how we will come to worship our Lord.  Blessings.

O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant
O come ye, o come ye to Bethlehem
O come and behold Him, born the King of Angels

O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
Christ the Lord

Luke 1: 67-79

Eight days after the birth of John the Baptist, his father Zechariah, the old priest who had been mute during the pregnancy of his old wife, regained speech  and burst into song by the Holy Spirit at his circumcision.  So ends Luke 1 and the pre-story to the Christmas story. 

         In the face of the seeming impossible event, Zechariah bursts forth in praise.  He praises his God who has visited his people and raised up a child to be the prophet and prepare the way for the Messiah.  Makes me wonder if we are praising a God who interacts in our reality today or are we trying to please a God that we experience as far away and judgmental?  Zechariah does not focus on a judge that is distant, watching his life.  Zechariah foresees this God acting in history for the salvation and deliverance from enemies. 

         Zechariah, as a priest, knows the history of the Jewish people and the times they have failed God and wandered and been exiled.  He does not focus on their failures but on God’s faithfulness to his covenant with them.  I love verse 73, “to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear..”  Service out of gratitude, without fear is not how we often see God.  Zechariah continues overjoyed that his son will have the privilege of serving God, leading people to the awareness of the forgiveness of their sins.  He is not wishing wealth or health for his son but joyful that his son can serve.

         As we think of our prayers for our children, grandchildren or even friends at this Christmas time, we might listen to this youtube version of Zechariah’s song and reflect on how we pray for our loved ones.  Lord, open my ears and my heart!

Luke 1: 57-66

Names are huge!  Is there a story behind your name?  I never liked my name until I went to a book about the meaning of names and a biblical perspective of the name.  John means “graced by God.”  In Kenya, one tribe might name their daughter “chep” meaning “girl” and “chumba” meaning “white” because the baby was born in a hospital.  So her name was Chepchumba.  Another girl I knew was named “Nangoitaa” meaning born on the road.  Kennedy was a popular name.  Often names carry a story of identity and dreams of the parents.  Key chains, plaques and needlepoint often reinforce these dreams and become cherished gifts.

         Zechariah, John’s father, became mute for the nine months of the pregnancy, because he did not believe the angel Gabriel who said that he in his old age and his barren wife were to conceive.  Zechariah was told to name the child John, breaking with the tradition of using family names.  There was to be no doubt about John’s identity.  He was born by God’s grace as a gift and intended for God’s use.

         Perhaps your name does not have a story behind it.  Perhaps you struggled on whether to change your name at marriage.  Perhaps you prefer your nickname.  Let’s take time this morning to think about our names.

         My legal name is:

         My friends call me:

         My parents called me:

         My least favorite name I’m called is:

         My favorite role name is: (e.g. friend, mother, wife, grandma….)

Ponder for a moment what you would like your friends to remember about you when they hear your name.  Let us pray about that for a minute.  Blessings.

Luke 1: 46-55

Mary, miraculously pregnant, visits elder cousin Elizabeth, miraculously pregnant.  As Mary enters the house, Elizabeth’s baby in womb leaps for joy and the Holy Spirit fills Mary and the following “song” is called The Magnificat.  This song has been sung for well over a thousand years and is part of the Holden Evening Prayers for Advent. What does Mary sing?

“My soul glorifies the Lord,”

In the midst of her “complicated story” Mary magnifies or praises God because

• God sees and cares about the humble and poor,
• God’s mercy is multi-generational,
• God scatters and defeats the proud, including proud rulers,
• God feeds the hungry,
•  And God keeps his promises through the ages.

Each one of these bullet points applies to our world today.  Mary did not sing these praises as an “entitled” person from a rich background but was a powerless woman from a small village.  Mary did not sing these praises as part of the ruling party in government as the Jews were governed by the Romans.  Mary lived in a world as chaotic world like ours.

         Read the bullets again.  Which one touches your heart today?  Take time to flesh out your “adult Christmas wish” for what one of these bullet points represents in our world.  Who might be humble and poor?  Who needs mercy?  Who rules from pride and power?  Who is hungry?  What promise would you like to see ripple through generations of your family?  Blessings as you pray.

Luke 1:39-45

Louis Armstrong sings “Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen”.  I suspect many of us can identify with that feeling of wondering where to turn when we are going through a deep experience.  We may not even have the words to express ourselves and we suspect that even if we did others would not understand even if we could find a way to share.  Mary is pregnant.  How? When? Where? By Whom?  How can she explain and where does she turn?  She visits her cousin Elizabeth whom the angel said was also pregnant in her old age.  Maybe Elizabeth would understand.  Having a friend we can share our troubles with is a huge blessing.  Being that friend is a huge privilege!

         Mary travels from Galilee in the north of Israel, to the hill country of Judea, near Jerusalem and the temple.  When Mary arrives the baby in Elizabeth’s womb leaps for joy and the Holy Spirit speaks through Elizabeth.  Wow.  Mary is affirmed physically, socially and spiritually.  The role of community in times of trials is huge.

         So as you travel through these next two weeks of Advent, where are you struggling and where do you need a friend to stand with you?  Perhaps you, like Elizabeth, are the person to affirm another who is struggling.  Speaking or hearing God’s words of affirmation and affirmation – or perhaps forgiveness – of faith are important.  Who can you affirm today through an email, a phone call or a shout-out.  Be a blessing to someone today.  And if you are carrying a load, let a trusted friend help you carry it.

Luke 1:25-38

Week 2 of Advent we continue with our narrative of the birth of Jesus.  The angel Gabriel visited old Zechariah and barren wife Elizabeth to announce that their prayers had been answered and Elizabeth would now conceive.   Zechariah doubted and became mute till John was born.  Elizabeth secluded herself for five months.  Luke opens now by starting to connect the dots.  “In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy…” Elizabeth is now showing and time for her seclusion to stop.  Remember, though, that they are not the main characters in the Christmas story, only strong supporting actors.

         The angel Gabriel now visits Mary who lives in a small village of Nazareth in Galilee in northern Israel.  We learn that her betrothed Joseph is a descendant of David.  Neither Joseph nor Mary are from the priestly lineage.  Mary, like Zechariah is troubled.  The angel’s message presents all sorts of complications to her life story.  She is not sexually active and could be stoned if she were to become pregnant. Talking to an angel is one thing but having a baby takes the interaction with the divine to a whole new level.

         Going to church to please our parents probably is done as necessary when children.  Reading our Bible and having devotions is a spiritual discipline we start growing when we become young adults.  Discerning God’s will about a spouse or a job or a career certainly is an affirmation we seek. These actions somehow still allow the reader a certain amount of control of their lives.  When God’s word intercepts our will then we start to seriously question and take interaction with God to a new level.  We might feel the pinch in being challenged to tithe our income.  We might feel the pinch when realizing we need to forgive someone who has hurt us deeply.  We might feel stress in meeting people of different ethnic backgrounds who worship style is quite different from us. 

         Mary asks, “How can this be?”  She does not have a Bible and is only a woman without voice.  Whereas Zechariah doubted the possible but Mary questions the impossible.  Both Mary and Zechariah struggle but for us to note today is that Mary found PEACE, the theme of week 2 of Advent, when she heard that all that is being asked of her is within God’s will.  He will be there enabling her to step into the future he has for her.  Her famous response was, “I am the Lord’s servant.”

         Sometimes God asks us to do the impossible.  Forgiveness for abuse, betrayal, and deep wounds often takes an act of God.  Often we realize we cannot by our own strength walk to the mission field, walk through a divorce, deal with a differently abled child, or maybe accept a child’s wedding that we feel is unwise or that child’s addictions.  So many things feel impossible.  But Mary did not go through this alone.  God was with her.  Take a couple minutes to name that which you do not like to name in public and thank God that he goes with you and he knows how it will all work out.  Thank goodness!!

Angels from the realms of glory, 
wing your flight o’er all the earth; 
ye who sang creation’s story 
now proclaim Messiah’s birth:

James Montgomery, a Scottish pastor wrote this hymn in 1816.  It is considered by some to be one of the finest Christmas hymns.  As a newspaper editor for over 30 years, Montgomery had the perfect platform to share his poetry…and beliefs.  He spent time in prison for protesting slavery, boy chimney sweeps lot in life, and lotteries.  This poem was set to music and carries a call to worship in response to the Christmas story. 

         This week, the first week of Advent we celebrated hope and looked at the story that sets the context for the common Christmas nativity story most are familiar with.  We looked at Luke 1 through the eyes of Doctor Luke, not an apostle, who is writing up his research about Jesus.  A not-pastor musician’s song for a not-Apostle’s story sounded ok for today.  Angels play an important role in the Christmas story.  Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, visited old Zechariah and his old barren wife Elizabeth to announce that they would become parents of John.  John becomes known as John the Baptist.  John is an important player in the life of Christ.

         I suspect many of us feel like the background story people, not the real heroes but the backup cast.  This week, though, highlights those often unnamed supporters as worthy of an angel visit.  We are important support cast in God’s unfolding story.  Our lives matter.  That gives us hope as we face challenges and prepare for Christmas.  Please enjoy the scope of this hymn as you prepare.  Blessings.

Luke 1:21-25

Meanwhile back at the ranch…  Zechariah is in the Temple offering the incense prayers but Elizabeth and the people are praying outside, waiting.          “Meanwhile back at the ranch” is a cliché that comes from silent films that helped in a seque between scenes.  At first it literally referred to a ranch but came to be more loosely used to indicate a shift in scenes.  The Urban dictionary sights it as being used when someone interjects a comment that seems off the point.  Luke mentions the people waiting outside who are praying.  They are part of the scenario but may seem incidental.  We are part of what happens even when unnoted.

         So often our spiritual surprises feel like something we “own” as our experience, our testimony, but Luke here points out that there were ramifications of Zechariah’s experience like a pebble thrown into a pond.  Watch the ripples flow outward.  Zechariah is old and childless but faithfully serving in spite of the fact that God has not answered his prayer for a child, his important prayer.  Angel Gabriel’s visit with Zechariah was a pebble in the pond that impacted lives.  Zechariah doubted and would be silent for nine months because of his doubt.  Elizabeth would miraculously become pregnant.  And the community observed all this realizing that Zechariah had seen a vision.  Events happen in community.

         In our world today of instant communication – phones, telegrams, email, texting etc etc it is seems odd that Elizabeth would seclude herself until she was obviously showing as truly pregnant.  Perhaps she is responding to the mocking she had received.  Perhaps she wants to make sure she is not going to loose the baby.  Perhaps she does not want the gossip that might come from all the questions about her pregnancy. For many of us, those deeply spiritual truths that impact our lives, are personal and private.  Elizabeth secludes herself for five months realizing, “The Lord has done this for me.”  Some people are outspoken about their faith like Peter but some people are quiet and private like Elizabeth.  Hers is not doubt.  Hers is not lack of joy.   She chooses to wait to share her news until the time is right.

         So with whom do you identify today as you approach Christmas?  Are you just observing like the crowd outside?  Are you silent because you have no voice to express how God works in your life?  Or perhaps, like Elizabeth you are waiting for just that right moment to share how you have been blessed. These people are not the shepherds, the innkeeper, the wisemen, Mary or Joseph but Luke knows that they are part of the story and their presence and their story needs to be celebrated this Christmas.  Community testifies to reality.  You are important.  I pray you find voice to share your faith experience with someone this Christmas.  Maybe talking is not your medium and you would prefer to write a poem, sing a song or paint a picture but you are part of God’s story!  That’s important.  Thank you, Lord for including even me.

Luke 1:18-21

Have you ever noticed how corrosive doubt is?  My husband tells me not to flick off the complement that comes my way.  Don’t dismiss it so quickly.  Doubt diminishes the speaker and cripples me.  Zechariah is standing in the presence of an angle, the angel Gabriel who “stands in the presence of God.”  His deep wish for a child has been promised but he is crippled by doubt.  Disappointment builds walls of cynicism around our hearts and lives and can make us defensive when facing another.  Prove it, we respond.  We say, if it sounds too good, there’s a problem.  We buy insurance for accidents we will not have money to pay for, for medical expenses we have not expected and for old age when we cannot care for ourselves.  Doubt is the revolving door that is followed by fear of another disappointment, another criticism, or an inability.  Zechariah doubts God’s promise sent by an angel.  We like him, often doubt.  Christmas is filled with glitter and music but there is also the doubts of buying the right gift, preparing the right dish, or the doubt of ever seeing our loved departed – grief.

         Interestingly, the angel Gabriel sentences Zechariah to nine months of silence.  What is that about?  Why silence?  Now there is a good question to ponder this morning.  How does silence work to resolve in my life? 

         It is easy to “chew my bone” and discuss with friends situations we are going through.  How many hours did my girlfriends and I sit up and discuss dates!!!  Was the guy serious or not?  Discussion can exaggerate the doubt or through false flattery diminish reality.  My daughter in junior high would come out painted in lipstick and her friend would croon, “You rock that look!”  Really?

         Silence slows my roll.  I am forced to communicate through writing or actions.  Deaf and mute people communicate so obviously it is possible but to loose a sense requires a whole regrouping of life.

         Silence throws me back on my beliefs and encourages me to ponder a relationship with a God who has brought on the silence.  My guess is that Zechariah spent time dealing with his relationship with God.

         So how are we doubting and experiencing silence this Advent season?  Is there a little voice raising questions about the love of the person whom you would like to gift?  Pondering my motives in giving is a good exercise to reflect on before God.  Have I built spiritual disciplines of finding those silent times when I can detox and focus on the important things of this season?  When social pressure is high, drawing aside and spending some time in reflection and silence can be a big blessing!  May we bring our doubts to God and spend times in silence listening to the God who wants to bless us.  Zechariah’s silence was only for a season and that is hope!  This too shall pass so let’s make the best of it.  God is with us!

Luke 1:11-14

Do you remember the scene in “Chariots of Fire” where Harold Abrams has trained for the Olympics so very hard and it is before the big race.  He confesses to his trainer that actually he is scared to win, to finally reach that goal he has worked so hard to achieve.  Old Zechariah has served God faithfully with his old barren wife Elizabeth.  He has been chosen by lot to offer the incense, the prayers for his people and their sins.  The next paragraph starts, “then.” 

         Perhaps you are someone who approaches Christmas with that wish that seems so impossible.  For years I prayed for a puppy.  It was not till I reached Africa, age 30, that I got that dog.  I begged for a car in college and got a bicycle!  Then there were the proposals that fall through, the job that did not pan out as expected, the drop in the stock market, the kid that turns to drugs and the list goes on of the dreams that seemed so right and yet somehow for all our faith, God does not grant our wish.  And yet we try to persevere faithfully. Some of us understand Zechariah and Elizabeth.  We know we are not a main character, the hero, of someone’s story but we still try to do our best.

         “Then” an angel appears to Zechariah and he is afraid.  It is not every day we see an angel!  The angel tells Zechariah not to be afraid that he is going to be a father with Elizabeth.  Remember Bill Cosby’s impersonating Noah in his famous monologue when God tells Noah to build an ark.  Cosby rolls his eyes and his voice drawls, “Riiiggghhhhttt….what’s an ark?”  The angel continues to astound Zechariah.  The baby will be joy, will be favored by God, will be filled with the Holy Spirit, and will be a blessing to the people of Israel.  This child will be greatly used by God!  This is so beyond what Zechariah had hoped for and what he had lost hope about that it was hard to take it all in.

         Our theme this first week of Advent is hope that comes from fulfilled prophecy. Often we set our hopes on what we would like God to do and when it does not happen as we think, we loose hope.  But God fulfills dreams in ways above and beyond what we can imagine.  We may not get that puppy or car or husband that we thought we wanted when we thought we wanted it but God is working, even for those of us who are not the leading characters in a drama.  May we continue to faithfully serve God even when we are disappointed and may there be an “angel,” alright a friend, who brings you good news this Advent.  May you be surprised in worship with a holy moment, an encounter with the living God in a new way!  Blessings as we prepare.