Advent Devotion 3 – Meet Me Under the Mistletoe

Do you have mistletoe hanging in your foyer? Custom says if you are found under the mistletoe, then you are to be kissed. A kindly, romantic custom. But there is more to mistletoe.

In Scandinavia, mistletoe has an ancient association with peace and reconciliation. So maybe meeting under the mistletoe for a kiss was an outgrowth of this tradition linking mistletoe with reconciliation and peace.

In a world that often seems powered by revenge, vengeance, and retribution, Christmas is the perfect time to resurrect themes of reconciliation. Christmas is about bridging the divide between earth and heaven; the way things are and the way they are meant to be. Christmas is about seeing and celebrating the presence of divinity and sacredness in every day life. It is about God and humanity being together.

There are also all the social and political implications of Christmas: Justice, peace, compassion, and the common good. These themes speak of reconciliation in families, in communities, among peoples, religions, and nations.

As Mister Rogers of children’s TV has said, “It’s very dramatic when two people come together to work something out. It’s easy to take a gun and annihilate your opposition, but what is really exciting to me is to see people with differing views come together and finally respect each other.” This is the essence of reconciliation. It is based on respect and mutual understanding. Reconciliation is the opposite of revenge. It is about coming together with the other party, it is about working things out, it is about growing closer through the process of addressing a conflict. Vengeance is about subduing, conquering, and eliminating the other party in a conflict. Reconciliation is about turning that “enemy” into a neighbor.

From the biological side of things, mistletoe is known as a “keystone species.” That is an organism that has a disproportionately pervasive influence over its community. That is a fabulous association for Christmas, for the church, and for Christianity. We, too, are to have a disproportionately pervasive influence over our community working for justice, peace, and community.

Mistletoe with its associations of peace, reconciliation, and influence is a wonderful symbol of the meanings of Christmas. So, as you decorate for the Christmas season, don’t forget the mistletoe!

“Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet;
righteousness and peace will kiss each other.”
Psalm 85:10

Prayer: The birth of Jesus is like God kissing the earth. It is a gesture of love, faithfulness, and hope. May we celebrate the birth of Jesus by seeking reconciliation and peace in our lives, our relationships, and in the world. As the birth of one child has dramatically changed history, so may our commitment to the common good have a drastic impact on our world today. Amen.