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In the gospel of Matthew we are told of astrologers from the “east” making their way to Jesus guided by a star.  This is a way of conveying that Jesus is of importance not only to one tribe or one religion or one place but that he is of importance to all of the world.  The story of the magi also brings to the fore the political dimensions of the birth of Jesus.  Jesus is a figure to recognized by all of the world.  Hm.  At that time, this kind of impact was reserved for the Roman Caesar and his minions alone.  So the story of the magi also sets up the clash of empires that will characterize the life and ministry of Jesus and will eventually end in his being killed as a threat to the Roman Empire.  

Sometimes as we make our migration through life, we are caught up in our day to day circumstances.  We may not have the energy or inclination to pay attention to wider themes and a broader context.  The story of the magi, making a journey of months if not years and encountering conflict with King Herod, reminds us that we live our lives as part of a broader narrative.  We, too, make decisions and choices that have implications for months and years.  We, too, are part of social structures that are influencing the kind of world that we live in.  

While in some ways, our migration through life is very personal and individual, we are also reminded that we are making our migration through life in a social, political context that is influencing the nature of our journey.  And we are also influencing the context around us.  

A migration to the manger reminds us that we are to stand against injustice and violence and we are to influence the society around us in ways that create peace and beloved community.  Jesus is for the world.  And as his followers, we are to influence the world infusing our context with the commonwealth of Divine Love and living into an alternative reality.  

The gospel of John tells us that Jesus came because, “God so loved the world.”  May we also love that world, all of it!

Prayer:  

Seeking to live and flourish, may we make our way toward Divine Love this Advent season.  Amen.  

In the story of the birth of Jesus in the gospel of Luke, we are told of shepherds who are watching their sheep at night when an angel appears telling them to go to Bethlehem and see the special babe that has been born.  Shepherds were of a very low socio-economic class in that time.  They were certainly not accustomed to being favored by God with special tidings of great joy to all people.  Yet the sincerity of the message is validated by its delivery to the shepherds.  This birth is indeed good news for ALL people, even lowly shepherds.  Maybe especially lowly shepherds!  

Unaccustomed to such invitations, the story tells us that the shepherds leave the sheep and go to Bethlehem to see about what the angel has foretold.  And it is all just as the angel declared.  The babe, wrapped in cloths, lying in a manger in a barn.  The shepherds, not used to anyone paying positive attention to them, especially an angelic host, have been given a heads up on a very important matter. 

It is also just as the angel said that this child would bring good news to all people.  In Jesus’ teaching and ministry, he does bring good news great joy to all, if they will hear it.  And this good news is especially welcomed by those made poor.  Jesus honors the dignity of each and every person.  He encourages creating relationships and community that is just and in which each person is valued.  With Jesus, the commonwealth of God is made real and no one is made poor.  

As we think about our migration toward Jesus and the celebration of the birth of Jesus, this is a time to think about how our orientation toward Jesus is inviting us to create relationships and a society where no one is made poor.  Christmas is a time of year where there is much giving to charity to help people and to see that families have a Christmas dinner and children receive a toy.  But the good news of great joy to all people is a society in which no one is made poor.  There is no need for the massive charity efforts made at Christmas because everyone has access to what they need, not only at Christmas but all year round.  

Helping serve Christmas dinner to homeless people is an act of compassion and love.  But creating a world where no one is homeless or hungry is truly good news of great joy to all people.  And we, living in the richest society ever, certainly have the capacity to do this!

Prayer:  

Seeking to live and flourish, may we make our way toward Jesus this Advent season.  Amen.  

In the story about the birth of Jesus, we are told that there is a census to be taken related to taxation, and therefore Mary and Joseph must travel to Bethlehem, Joseph’s ancestral home, to be counted.

As the story presents it, this trip is to be undertaken to facilitate the funding of the occupying government that is oppressing the Jewish people.  So, obviously, this is not a trip Joseph and Mary would want to take.  

Then there is the timing.  Mary is pregnant.  Not the time you want to walk or ride a donkey for days on an unwanted trip.  And, not what you want to be doing close to your delivery date.  That’s when you want to be home, on familiar territory, taking it easy, with your family close by, and trusted women to counsel you.  

But we are told of an unwanted trip at an unwanted time.  We are told of a couple thrust into unfamiliar, even unwelcoming circumstances, at a precarious moment.  It’s not ideal.  In life, many times migration is not ideal.  People must undertake transitions at inopportune moments.  A war breaks out and people are forced to clear out to stay alive.  A wildfire sweeps through destroying people’s homes.  A political change makes it impossible to stay put.  A mudslide or tornado or hurricane leaves people homeless and they must relocate.  Threatened gang violence may force a move.  Many times, people are on the move whether they want to be or not.  They are forced by outside circumstances to migrate to stay alive.  Maybe you have been in this circumstance at some point on your life’s journey.

The story of Mary and Joseph invites us to have compassion upon those forced to move, to migrate, by circumstances beyond their control.  Can we think about being understanding?  Can we think about making the way easier and more comfortable?  Can we be welcoming?  Can we offer hospitality and help?  Most people who migrate are not hostile invaders.  They are desperate souls clinging to life.  

It’s ironic, isn’t it, that just as we are re-telling the migration story with no room at the inn, the US government is debating funding a border wall with Mexico.  Hopefully our lawmakers will revisit the Christmas story and know what to do.  

Prayer:  

Seeking to live and flourish, may we make our way toward Divine Love this Advent season.  Amen.  

In the stories in the Bible around Jesus’ birth, there are several narratives that involve travel and migration.  One is the story of Mary going from Nazareth to visit her kinswoman Elizabeth.  [Luke 1:39-56]  We have been told that Elizabeth, in her old age, is about to become a mother for the first time.  She will give birth to John the Baptizer who will prepare the way for Jesus and announce his coming.  

So the story tells us that pregnant Mary goes to visit pregnant Elizabeth.  When Mary arrives, we are told that the baby leaps in Elizabeth’s womb, so she knows that Mary and her baby are special.  She proclaims this to Mary.  And so Mary receives validation from Elizabeth that Divine Love is at work in her life.  That she is part of a larger plan.  That she is fulfilling the role she is needed for.  Her visit to Elizabeth is very helpful to her.

This story reminds us of our need to have our ministry, our calling, our serving, affirmed and validated by others.  This helps us to know that we are doing what we are needed to do.  It is important that we listen to others who are validating Divine Love at work in our lives.  Where might this kind of affirmation come from?  We don’t know!  It could come from anywhere, so we want to be attuned to that kind of validation.  

The story of Elizabeth and Mary also reminds us that we are needed to listen to others and affirm their calling and their role in creating the commonwealth of God on earth.  We are needed to help others know that they are needed to serve for the greater good.  

We never know who may cross our path; what conversation may come our way.  We want to be aware of the potential for validating Divine Love at work in our lives, the lives of others, and in the world.  

Prayer:  

Seeking to live and flourish, may we make our way toward Divine Love this Advent season.  Amen.  

In the Christmas story, there is a birth.  Birth is a very physical process definitely involving the body.  When we think of migration, particularly physical migration, from one place to another, we are talking about moving our bodies.  We are talking about our bodies moving from one location to another.

Migration has a strong component of embodiment.  And this reminds us that our bodies play a significant role in our life migration.  As we grow from children to youth to adults, our bodies take on new capabilities.  In some sense, our physical characteristics may significantly define us.  Maybe we are very tall.  Or very well coordinated for playing sports.  Skin color, hair, a birth mark, and other physical characteristics, these things can impact our lives in perhaps unexpected ways.  And then toward the later end of the life cycle, our bodies may lose some of their capabilities and again this requires adjustment and adaptation.  

We are human creatures.  Christmas is a celebration of word made flesh.  Incarnation.  Embodiment of Divine Love.  In flesh and bone and blood.  While our physical characteristics may contribute to our life experience, we also realize that health and health issues have a significant impact on how we make our migration through the living of our days.  Illness, disease, changing physical abilities, pain, these things significantly impact the living of our days.  

Living through an experience of illness can provide much learning and wisdom.  Care taking is a great teacher.  Our physical challenges teach us to care for ourselves and others.  We may learn to see life from a different perspective.  It may become more precious.  In losing a physical ability, we may gain spiritual awareness and insight.  Our journey through life, in our body, is very much part of our migration through the life cycle.  

We want to remember that migration involves the body.  Our bodies change.  This may influence how we are making our way.  Are we taking care of our bodies?  What is the state of our health?  What can we do to make health care more affordable and more accessible to everyone in our country so that all get the care they need?  How do we as the church promote physical health and wellness in our congregations and in the world?  How do we make sure that people can live full lives even with diminishing physical abilities?  

This Advent season may we consider our bodies.  Where are our bodies on their migration through the life cycle?  How can we be healthy, physically, socially, and spiritually?  How can we promote the health of the body in the wider world?  

Prayer:  

Seeking to live and flourish, may we make our way toward Jesus this Advent season.  Amen.