’Twas the night before Christmas
And all over the Earth,
Not a child was homeless;
Each one prized for their worth.
With plenty of food, clothes, love and health care,
They all go to school;
Bad behavior’s quite rare.
The children all warm, safe and snug in a bed;
No visions of violence aswirl in their heads.
How do you imagine the perfect Christmas Eve?
Prayer: May we truly prepare ourselves for love to be born anew in us and peace to rule in the world. Amen.
Yes, I know that you are probably frantically shopping, cooking, wrapping, or packing. But hopefully you can still work in a moment to step back from it all and look for some meaning.
Many religions have traditions about interactions between humans and divine beings or God/gods. There are other stories of divine births and humans that are considered gods, or sons of gods.
While we are busily preparing to celebrate Christmas, we remember that this is a birth of a child in whom we see God’s spirit. But Jesus did not just claim a special identity for himself. He called others to follow him and live as he did. He invited others into deeper relationship with God and with each other. We are told that he expects his followers to do greater things than he has done. He gives his friends his peace. Jesus is a complete integration of humanity and divinity and he expects the same of his followers. He doesn’t’ hold anything back. He reserves no special status for himself relative to them. He does not promote any separation between himself and his followers. From Jesus we learn that God is within him and God is within us.
Christmas is a time to remember that all births are holy. Every person is sacred. Each life divine. Jesus brings together heaven and earth, humanity and divinity, individuals and community. That unity is the foundation for wonder-FULL peace!
Think of a time when you felt God within you. And a time you have seen God in someone else.
Prayer: May we seek the holy child of Bethlehem in ourselves and in others. Amen.
I recently turned on the radio and heard someone being interviewed about a horrific crisis. I don’t even know what the problem was. But the young man responding said that the situation was so terrible, so tragic, so awful, that one thing was sure: Good would come from it. Somehow, it would lead to change that would be good. There would be a positive outcome. He was absolutely certain.
Yesterday was the winter solstice. It was the day of the year with the most darkness and the least hours of light. It is the darkest day of the year. And today, today, there is more light. There will be more minutes of day light. And more. And more. And more. We have passed the darkest day.
Jesus was born in dark times. His society was oppressed and living under occupation. There was a significant military presence. His family was poor and economic opportunity was limited. And the story we are given in the Gospel of Luke tells of a birth in the night, the darkness, away from home, in makeshift quarters in a barn. Dark times.
When times are dark, we know that the light is coming. That’s when the light comes. That’s when something breaks through, or seeps in, and transformation happens.
These days of Advent, waiting, watching, hoping, wondering, are drawing to an end. We ready ourselves to welcome the light that shines in the darkness.
Can you think of a time when good came from something difficult and painful? A phoenix from the ashes?
Prayer: May we trust that there is light even when we don’t seem to be able to see it: light in the world, light in others, light in ourselves. May we look for the light, where ever and whenever it may appear. Amen.
In the Christmas story we hear of a simple birth in a barn. There are no face trappings. Just the essentials. We hear of people and animals together. We hear of shepherds, again, people with a simple life. Not a lot of prestige or wealth. Things are pared back. In the Gospel of Matthew, we are also told of a visit by sages who seek out Jesus. These sages may have been people of greater means. And they may have been more learned and respected. But they allow themselves to be captivated by the star and they follow that star. They are single-minded of purpose. They are focussed. So while they might not be of modest means, they still show a simplicity in their dedication to their calling and their dogged pursuit of the dream that has captured them.
There is a message here as we try to cram more events, gifts, parties, activities, food into this season, to remember to stay focussed on Jesus. The story is a call to a focussed life. To a simplicity of means and purpose.
When our wholehearted devotion is to the way of Jesus, we find our lives become more peaceful. We are more centered and less scattered and distracted. The serenity and peace that we desire for ourselves and the world emerges.
If our primary focus is on this kind of peace in our lives, we will become more peace-filled. If our primary focus as a society, as consumers and voter and citizens, is on peace, the world will become more peace-filled. Imagine asking yourself as you make choices through your day, “Is this decision focussed on peace in my life and in the life of the world?” Peace can be very simple.
Can you think of a time when you felt peace filled? What can you learn from that experience to continue to increase peace in your life and the life of the world?
Prayer: We are so easily distracted. There are so many things competing for our attention. May we find ways to stay grounded and centered in God, so that we may live the peace of Jesus for ourselves and the world. Amen.
In the Christmas story, we are told of the angel Gabriel making a trip to see Zechariah and Mary. We are told of Mary going to visit Elizabeth, and later going to Bethlehem with Joseph. We are told of the angels going to visit the shepherds. We are told of the shepherds going to Bethlehem. There is the tradition of the magi, the wise men, traveling for months if not years to visit Jesus. We are told of Mary and Joseph taking the infant Jesus to Egypt. There is lots of travel and movement in these stories. They are making trips. They are going from one place to another.
And that is really what Christmas asks of us. That is what the gospel asks of us. That is what peace asks of us. We are being urge to move, to make a journey, from one mind set to another. From one lifestyle to another. From one perspective to another.
The New Testament talks about faith as becoming a new person altogether. A new creation. Gaining a new identity. It can be hard to leave the familiar behind. Even if it’s not everything we had hoped for. Christmas invites us to make our way to a new place. A place of peace and good will. A place of hope and joy.
Can you think of a time when a trip of some kind has influenced your thinking in new ways?
Prayer: May we not be afraid to leave the comfort of the familiar to follow the path of peace to new destinations. The horizon beckons. The way may be long. We are grateful for our companions on the journey. Amen.
Lakewood United Church of Christ 