On the Way to Wonder

LOVE.  Advent 4. “Leo ni leo!”  “Today is the day,” as we would say in Swahili.  The youngest child asks the father during the Passover meal, “Father, why is today special?”  For four weeks we have been waiting for not for Passover but for Christmas, preparing our hearts, preparing our homes, preparing our families and now we come to today.  Why is today THAT special?  Worship, gifts, food and fellowship partially answer but we turn to the gospel of John, chapter 1, for another perspective.

         John opens in verse 1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning.”  Our reality started with the Word speaking creation into being.  But we were not there.  Hence all the theories of creation, even the TV show, The Big Bang Theory.  Science can give us theories but science cannot prove, only postulate.  John continues and reminds us in verse 17 of chapter 1, “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”  From the Ten Commandments and Hammurabi through out history, all cultures have codes of behavior to regulate our lives together and to give us a moral compass.  But, it seems to me, we cannot even agree on the right way to treat our fellow person.  Political elections prove that.  So why is today special?

         I find the answer in the word “INCARNATION.”  Verse 18, “No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known.”  Incarnation is taking that which cannot be known but is perhaps experienced and giving it a form that our eyes can understand.  A cloud with a face blowing gives us a picture of wind.  A flag is an emblem signifying concepts of a country – the stars stand for the states.  If asked to draw a picture to symbolize God, we are hard pressed, because God is so far beyond us.  Incarnation, the babe in Bethlehem, is how Christians understand God chose to introduce himself to us.  The baby makes known to us the unknowable.

         Christmas testifies to us today that the sunrise outside my window is God consistently, regularly remembering his creation and reaching out to us — even as a small baby raises its arms to reach for a parent.  Relationship with God grows even as that little child wraps his fingers around our heart and we learn to love and understand each other.  Babies change reality as shepherds, wisemen, and soldiers change their plans and come to the stable.  The babe of Bethlehem, Jesus, the Messiah, Immanuel changes our realities as we embrace him.  Today is special.  It is the incarnation, the making known in real form and stories, the God who created, who sustains, who relates, and who journeys with us.  The gifts, the food, the fellowship are our ways of expressing, of incarnating our love for the other. God is real and comes to YOU today!  Blessings.

LOVE.  Advent 4. Tomorrow is Christmas and today we read Luke’s version, the most well known version, of Christ’s birth.  Let’s look for love in that story.  Luke starts with social markers to verify the story historically.           —Caesar Augustus has issued his first decree for a universal census and everyone must go to his or her family seat to register.  No love or concern in those governmental decrees. My heart doubts that government decrees about masking, voting recounts, or vaccinations truly involve any concern for me, even if I do get a stimulus check. 

—Joseph and his pregnant “pledged” wife travel together to Bethlehem, the home of David.  Hard tasks draw us together but to call this “love” would not meet Hollywood standards. 

—Mary bears the baby in a stable.  I’m still not feeling the love in the story. 

So ends the first nine verses of chapter 2 of Luke.  I would need a lot of poetic license to create a love story!

         Chapter 2 verses 8 to 20, though, burst forth in great detail and conversation and action.  This part of the Christmas story seems to have caught Luke’s literary attention and has been recorded for history.  A choir of angels visits a group of shepherds — the unnoticed, unimportant, not worth mentioning. A single angel visited Zechariah, Mary, and Joseph.  A choir signed up or was sent to carry this message!  And what was the message they carried?  “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom is favor rests.”  (Today we would say “on people” to be inclusive but the meaning is still clear.)  A huge emotional response, love, is generated to God by this birth and God in return loves, favors people.  That sounds like a love relationship to me!  Not a census, not a long journey pregnant, and not a stable.  This birth is the start of an unfolding love story between God and his creation – including angels, stars, shepherds, wiremen, Joseph, Mary, the animals and all who believe! 

         Like those shepherds who were caught between the harsh realities of their lives and the angel choir, we are caught between the harsh realities of our news about our world and the message of the choir.  God favors,” God loves us and is acting even though it may not be obvious.  Many will prepare to go to Christmas Eve services tonight.  We will enjoy the music.  We will smile at the little children doing their parts.  Or maybe we will turn on the radio or stream or tune in by zoom to our favored congregation.  We will form a “socially distanced” choir but that does not diminish our praise or God’s favor on us. Our gifts will be opened and appreciated to some degree and most will find some way to socialize.  But the real “love story” here is between God and his creation – YOU!  May you rest in that truth tonight because that is true truth.  You are favored!

LOVE.  Advent 4.  Mark opens his gospel introducing John the Baptist, a bit of a wild looking prophet emerging from the wilderness and calling to the people to prepare for “one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie,” who is coming.  Prepare by repenting, changing.  We might say, “Get your act together!”  There is no love in this message.  If we stop there, those of us who are a bit honest with ourselves about those dark habits that seem to keep us from the “good life” if only we could repent and turn ourselves around, might walk away.  Some of us look at today as it approaches and foresee a trip to the hospital, or choosing between food and Christmas presents for our kids, or even another less than gratifying zoom meeting.  I hear the little voice whispering in my ear, “Where’s God and that love of Advent?”  We are tempted to turn our back and walk away from the mystery of faith.  A better tomorrow must involve people repenting, changing, “a major course correction.”

         BUT (and there always seems to be a “but”), Mark continues his gospel in 1:9 with “at that time,” in the midst of the call for repentance, Jesus visits John the Baptist at the river Jordon and is baptized.  As he comes up out of the water, the Holy Spirit descends like a dove and a voice speaks from heaven.  “You are my Son, whom I love, with you I am well pleased.”  “Whom I love” are such powerful words.  Let’s think about it!  Jesus has done nothing miraculous or helpful.  He has not entered ministry, earned any degree, solved any problems.  He has done nothing of note.  He comes from small town Israel, from an ordinary family, and from a questionable birth.  It sounds a bit like most of us.  We are just normal and unspectacular.  A voice breaks into his experience and pronounces, “whom I love.”  No “high five, good job, son.”  No graduation certificate.  No promotion raise.  Before any deeds to dazzle our eyes, God says, ”whom I love.”

         Mark’s Advent story opens with love, Advent 4’s theme.  As a person, so desiring love, it is easy to hear the prolog of “repent” and so hard to hear the affirmation of “love.”  I realize my love is conditional and focused on today or the past track record.  Also, I am conditioned to believe love is conditional on my beauty, on my performance, on my talents, on MY whatever – on me being and controlling my life well.  The Advent journey calls us to “wait” for a God who brings love to us because “God is love. (1John 4:16)” “We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19)”

         The pressure is on right now.  Christmas is two days away.  Presents still need to be bought, food prepared, and zoom gatherings planned.  That is not to mention questions of vaccinations or political transitions and, of course, weather.  It is easy to fret or despair.  Advent 4 focuses on love, the love that comes in the Christmas story not because of who we are but because of who God is.  May we remember as we face the challenges of today that God loves us and walks with us into the future.  Blessings.

LOVE.  Advent 4. The Matthew report of Advent, of Advent through the eyes of Joseph, includes the story of the “Magi,” the Wisemen.  Three, a number we only use because of the three gifts, probably men, come from the “East,” someplace east of Bethlehem or Judah anyway, to see “the one who has been born king of the Jews.”  Matthew’s report not only shows that Joseph was chosen to father Jesus but it also includes us Gentiles, us non-Jews, as significant recipients of the blessing.  How many songs and tales have arisen from this scene!

         The journey is worth reaching the destination.  If it was a camel ride across a hot, sandy desert, for however long, the journey was not easy.  As we journey in Advent and through life, the journey is not easy.  In Kenya, often the worship leader would start, “Many longed to see today but have not, so let us rejoice,” rejoice in the midst of the challenges of life.  Death never arrives at the right time and those of us who journey with the person feel the love that has been felt on the journey.  Journeys draw us together in community and we value love.  Whom are we journeying with today who has extended love to you?

         The journey in found in the context of misunderstanding.  The Magi pass through Jerusalem and are interrogated by Herod who calls the priests that reveal that a savior will be born in Bethlehem.  None of those characters care enough to go to Bethlehem to check out the Magi’s story. Love calls on our hearts to insert ourselves in the story, in the journey, to invest our lives in what is unfolding and in process.  Love involves itself in the mystery of faith.  Are we passive bystanders like Herod and the priests or are we active seekers living out our love in the journey?

         Yes, love gives and does not take or grab or possess as we talked about yesterday.  The Magi brought gifts of love.  There was no entrance fee at the stable.  One explanation has the “gold” acknowledging the baby’s kingship, the “frankincense” acknowledging his priestly role, and the “myrrh” acknowledging his sacrifice.  The gifts were not requested but given from love and unknowingly helped in the escape to Egypt and Jesus’ life as a refugee.  I love the Christmas song and the song Little Drummer Boy.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRDLsEJYTBU . 

         The Advent story is coming to a climax this week in the birth of a baby we love without seeing, not truly understanding the cost of that love to us or where that relationship will lead us and for many pondering what we bring to God.  What a comfort to know God loves all, even the “foreigner”, and there is no entrance fee to worship him.  We bring him our heart and that is good enough.  Praise his name!  Blessings.

LOVE.  Advent 4.  For Christians, one of the favorite verses we love to quote when we think of love is John 3:16 and 17 … for God so loved the world… Can you finish it?  Let’s read it from The Message:

                  ^16-18 “This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him,  anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of  sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is  acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death  sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to  believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.

How we remember this verse often resonates within us as we internalize the word “love” and often is tinted by our experience with human love.  We remember dating rejections.  “I love you” was code for “I want to sleep with you, no strings attached!”  Others have lived in and through abuse and the word “love” becomes a chain to bind us to painful, humiliating and dehumanizing relationships.  “I love you” may be an elusive dream of words you long to hear and turn you inward to reflect on your shortcomings and inadequacies.  Advent comes with a focus on love found in that babe to arrive in Bethlehem. “Now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love. ( 1 Corinthians 13:13)”

         The Advent story fleshes out “gave” from John 3.  “God so loved the world that he gave..”  Love gives.  Elizabeth, Mary or John the Baptist did not need to earn love.  The sun does not shine because we are good.  God gives and so the Advent story is a story of waiting for an undeserved gift.  Another word for this is grace.  No strings attached.  No “to-do” list and no “to-be..” list.

         The Advent story is for “whoever.”  God so loved that he gave “to whoever…”  Love is not a secret code word that opens a secret door.  It is not written in only one language.  It is lived out for anyone and everyone.  Love is not exclusive or possessive or abusive.  It is for “whoever.”  Love shares and does not grab.

         The Advent story is about “life, “eternal life.”  God gives to whoever “that they might have eternal life.”  False love drains and kills but God’s love comes that we might have eternal life as we believe.  Ooops, there’s the word “believe” that feels conditional.  But in-fact the Word that was at Creation speaking the world into being, acted without our faith.  The babe of Christmas grew to walk through death on the cross to demonstrate that death is conquered by love and faith.  Believing is opening our hearts and receiving the love we talk about at Christmas.

         So this week we will see how love is expressed in the four openings of the gospel letters to us.  Advent reminds us that God gives, to anyone who wants, and for eternity.  As you spend time this week, perhaps lighting those Advent candles, may you soak in that unconditional love that does not require standing in line for a shot that lasts briefly, or needs to be voted on by Congress, but love that is available to us today!  Blessings.

JOY.  Advent 3.  The Christmas tradition of caroling is probably the most recognizable form of expressing joy.  As a young adult, our groups would go around the neighborhood, into rest homes for the elderly, or visit anyone whom was thought needed cheer.  Large Christmas celebrations are assumed to have choirs.  The larger the better seems our motto but then that small group of preschoolers singing Silent Night steals our heart also.  Singing is not unique to Christianity.  It is oral tradition, how we pass along information we consider important, by voice rather than in written form.  The angels sang to the shepherds who probably could not read!  Carols written in Latin about the nativity go back to the 4^th and 5^th century, piggy-backing on existing local songs but it was in the 16^th century with St Francis of Assisi that carols were brought in to Christmas services.

         Traditionally, Christmas was a season of penance, like Lent, to prepare for baptism and thus was thought to be a serious time.  The joyful songs challenged tradition and spread across Europe, becoming very popular.  We see a similar mix today as “I Saw Daddy Kissing Santa Claus” is played right next to “O Come All Ye Faithful.”  Some feel a sense of dissonance at this but music springs from many inspirations.

         Caroling has multiple explanations too.  Did it start in feudal times when poor people sang for their supper or did it arise when churches were reserved for the “serious”?  We don’t know.  But perhaps we can all agree that “quarantining” or staying home this year has deeply impacted our love of communal rejoicing through song and through caroling.  Zoom is not quite the same.

         “Joy to the World” is the song that seems appropriate for Advent 3 whose theme is joy.  It is one of the most published hymns in North America.  As I looked up the history of the song, I was surprised to find that Issac Watts who wrote the poem in 1719 was not inspired by the Angels in Luke’s Bethlehem perspective.  Watts was going through the Psalms of David and writing a poem for each one and then connecting it to the New Testament.  Psalm 95 refers to the coming of the King and Watts was originally thinking of Christ’s return, joy – the king is come, the savior reigns, no more sin or sorrow, rule with truth and grace.  The hymn actually summarizes Advent and waiting for the child who was born in Bethlehem, who is sung about today and active through the Holy Spirit, and who will return and reign.

         Perhaps this is not your favorite carol but the challenge of joy today is to dwell in the lyrics of a “carol” that does bring joy to your heart.  The upbeat melodies of all carols certainly help balance the somberness of the news and the issues we face in our world.  Dwelling on the words of Joy to the World lift my heart and I pray the words lift yours.  We may quarantine but we are not alone and God promises a better future.  Blessings.

Joy to the World

Joy to the world! The Lord is come
Let earth receive her King!
Let every heart prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven, and heaven and nature sing

Joy to the world! The Savior reigns
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods
Rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy

He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
And glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders, wonders of His love
And wonders, wonders of His love

JOY.  Advent 3.  “Who are you?”   A case of mistaken identity brings joy or at least a smile to our face.  As a young adult I did what young adults did back then and ran away to hitchhike around Europe to drown my sorrows of a failed love and to find myself.  That was the idea, anyway.  My sister had done a year abroad in France and my college roommate was finishing a master’s at Edinburgh, Scotland.  It was my turn! I wrapped my clothes in my sleeping bag, slung it across my shoulders and climbed on a plane to see the world.  As events unfolded, the adventure of traveling with friend became hitchhiking and staying in youth hostels.  There I met fellow travelers from around the world and we would try to guess each other’s nationality.  Who are you?  Where are you from?  Being a rather nondescript sort of person the first guess was always European, then British, and seldom American for they were loud, raucous partiers.  I always felt complemented when I was perceived to be more international than I was and it brought a smile to my face.  As we scurry for presents in the Advent season, we rack our brains pondering who that other special person is and what the person would like.

         John the Baptist at the beginning of the gospel of John, after giving a cosmic definition of Jesus as the Word, God of creation, coming to reveal himself to his creation and giving power to those who wanted to believe in him to change of identity from “Joe Doe” to “child of God,” is himself grilled by the authorities, “Finally they said, ‘Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us.  What do you say about yourself? (John 1:22)’” John was mistaken for the promised Messiah or for the prophet Elijah.  He was not.  He was a messenger sent to introduce the Christ and he continues to organize his message around the question, “Who is Jesus?” with the seven “I am” statements Christ made.  He said,

• “I am the bread of life, the light of the world,
• the door,
• the good shepherd,
• the resurrection and the life,
• the way, the truth and the life,
• and finally the true vine.” 

All were answers to the question, “Who are you?”

         In Advent we are reminded that as we look in the mirror at ourselves or ponder the friend we are shopping for or write cards to the one who is distant from us, that all of us are those faulty people that we experience and who are seen by the world but…  But also we have a deeper identity unseen as child of God.  The Word became flesh as a baby that few recognized as God at that time, grew, was crucified but promised to return in full disclosure. We are not gods but we too are becoming and have that inner identity that is unfolding.  God does not lie and he sees our true selves.  That reminded is a source for joy, for now.  He knows, he sees and he cares!  May we look past the surface, past the mistakes, past the inadequacies and see the other with joy this Advent.  Blessings.

JOY.  Advent 3.  Mary’s Magnificat found in Luke 1:46-56 shares with us the basis for her joy at this time.  Like us she lived in political uncertainty from the Romans, coping with a medical condition that would bring her isolation, and a family distanced as she had traveled to see her cousin Elizabeth pregnant with John, the Baptist.  As Elizabeth affirms Mary’s pregnancy and belief in her, Mary, in the midst of the realities of life, not denying them, bursts into this song.

⁴⁶ And Mary^[f] said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
⁴⁷     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
⁴⁸ for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
    Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
⁴⁹ for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
    and holy is his name.
⁵⁰ His mercy is for those who fear him
    from generation to generation.
⁵¹ He has shown strength with his arm;
    he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
⁵² He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
    and lifted up the lowly;
⁵³ he has filled the hungry with good things,
    and sent the rich away empty.
⁵⁴ He has helped his servant Israel,
    in remembrance of his mercy,
⁵⁵ according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
    to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

She found joy because she realizes

• God does not distain her lowly condition.  God cares about the poor and powerless.
• God does great things in our common lives to his glory.
• God is merciful.
• God is strong and defeats the proud, caring about the humble.
• God has defeated the powerful and exalted common.
• God fills the hungry and defeats those that trust in their riches.
• God helps and keeps his promises through generations.

That is a list worth pondering and finding joy in, even today.  Perhaps today just soak in this YouTube version musically of Mary’s Magnificat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvRcGnMX3jU .  I was surprised to find a song based on the praise and prayer of Joseph that expresses some of the same themes:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KT4VDAIaMwU .  If joy eludes you today in the cares and burdens of these days, rest in these songs and the truths they impart to us.  I do not have to feel it for it to be true!  My soul rejoices not because of who I am but because of what God has done.  Blessings, hope, peace and joy as you wait for Christmas.

JOY.  Advent 3.  When we hear the announcement:  the tumor is gone, a beloved is coming to visit, there will be a stimulus check, or simply “you passed,” our hearts respond with joy.  That which we thought might never happen or which we thought was a long way into the future suddenly becomes a closer reality and we rejoice.  The gospel of Mark does not start with the Bethlehem story but with adult John the Baptist, a weird looking prophet announcing that the prophesied forerunner of the Messiah was come in him.  Prepare, the Messiah is coming!  Perhaps it is hard for us to imagine the impact of those words as we do not live under foreign domination, nor do we have a long-standing prophecy of a future leader that will lead us out of our turmoils.  We hope for a vaccine.  We hope for a cure for cancer.  But still, when an announcement comes of an immanent solution to our struggle, we rejoice.

         I note that the people did not really understand what Messiah would mean.  They were thinking of the resolution of their earthly struggles, liberation.  I note they probably expected a confrontation where “the good guy” wins.  I note their role was to “prepare” their hearts through a baptism of forgiveness.  But I also note that masses of people flocked to hear this message and responded with actions.  I suspect they responded with the emotion joy and anticipation.

         Advent is a time when we too hear the cry to prepare.  We do not know exactly what the solution will look like or mean or if it will be in our life time.  I suspect we expect “good” to defeat “evil.”  And we read that we too must prepare our hearts as God will not come and force us to comply to his plan.  My friend said, “Joy is a choice.”  James says, “consider” it joy.  Joy is a mind set that focuses on the positives in the midst of that which tries to hold us down.

         So how are we focusing this Advent season?  I turn on the news and feel overwhelmed by the problems facing our world.  I turn on a cheezy Christmas movie and realize those romantic solutions of love look different in old age with failing bodies and families spread around.  I ponder what announcement would bring joy to my heart this Advent?  What about today will help me focus on God-solutions that are eternal?  May I encourage you to just rest and enjoy music or take a moment to appreciate nature.  Perhaps joy will come from a phone call to a beloved friend.  Joy comes as we realize the announcement of the solution to our problems is close even if we do not understand.  God is speaking hope and peace into our lives, preparing the way for the Messiah, and so we can be joyful.  Blessings.

JOY.  Advent 3.  Sunday night my husband and I watched the movie, The Nativity.  It’s part of our Advent tradition.  There are two touching scenes that bring tears to my eyes.  After the angel who confirms that Mary’s pregnancy is of the Lord and fulfilling prophecy has visited Joseph, Joseph finds Mary in the field and says, “His name will be Jesus.”  He signals her that he knows what she knows and they both know that what is happening is legit. Joy bursts forth.  Mary is not alone, is believed, and is walking with someone else.  Community brings joy.

         Joseph and Mary still live under harsh Roman rule in poverty.  They still live in poverty and with the stigma of the pregnancy.  They will still have to travel to Bethlehem, nine months pregnant on a donkey!  Life is still very hard but the reality that they are not alone and are walking a path God has chosen for them brings joy.  Matthew 1:24 shares, lest you think this is all Hollywood, “When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.  But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son.  And he gave him the name Jesus.”

         Perhaps this raises a sad memory of the partner lost to illness, old age, or accident, perhaps divorce and so this picture brings up sad memories at Christmas time.  Another name for Jesus that Advent 1 reminds us of is found in Isaiah 7:14, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign.  Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son and shall name him Immanuel.”  Immanuel means “God with us.”  Joy comes with the realization that in the midst of our challenges, we are not alone.  We have someone to share with and to lean on.  God is with us and we live in community.

         May we take a few moments this day and remember the community of people who have helped us get where we are and shoot a quick “Thank you” prayer for their lives.  Remember those from the past who deeply impacted your life.  Remember those in the present with whom you share community and who bring a smile to your face.  Yes, and remember those whose future you are investing in, as you are their “Joseph.”  I am going to challenge us to also ask ourselves if there is someone we hold a grudge or misunderstanding with and with whom we need to restore relationship.  Perhaps it is time to let go of that grievance.  Community past, present and future brings joy.  We are not alone.  Quarantining can guide our bodies but our hearts are free to love and rejoice!!!  Thank you, Lord.