Posts

The newspaper sat out on our driveway well into the day today. Most mornings, one of the first things that happens in our house is that someone brings in the newspaper. I got up and started doing a variety of other things. Then I realized that I had not gotten the newspaper. Once I noticed this, I became aware that I did not want to get the newspaper because I knew what was going to be on the front page and I did not want to see it. Finally late in the morning my husband, Jeff, brought in the paper. And later in the day, I glanced at the paper, but couldn’t bring myself to read the full account of the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary. There were plenty of other things I needed to be doing today.

So, we proceeded with baking Christmas cookies. Then we went shopping for the 17 year old student we are adopting for Christmas and got him a plaid shirt, a Guy Harvey t-shirt, a football, chocolates, socks, and underwear. Then it was on to the grocery store and preparing snacks to bring to the church Christmas caroling event later in the day. I spent about an hour putting some things on eBay – some china and glassware, that might make good Christmas gifts. Then, it was off to sing Christmas carols to the homebound members of our church family.

I realized that everything I was doing was holiday oriented. What about proceeding with holiday activities in the face of the horrendous shootings? Is it crass? Is it denial? Is it apathy? Is it numbness to violence? Is it self-interest. This doesn’t directly affect me, so why should I worry about it? It’s not my problem.

When I think about the deep themes of Christmas, like our focus for the season, Glad tidings of great joy to ALL people, I realize that we NEED to celebrate Christmas. In the face of this terrible tragedy, we need to celebrate the birth of Jesus. We need to celebrate our faith. We need to carry on with our celebration of the core values of Christianity that are at the heart of the Christmas story. We need this because this is the hope that drives away despair. Jesus was born precisely because the world is violent and out of control and people do heinous things to each other. That’s why he came. To show us another way. To offer healing from our desire for vengeance and retribution. If the world was all peace-love-dove, Jesus would not have been needed. He came precisely because he offers an alternative to the way we let things get out of hand. He came because the world is a mess. Jesus offers the antidote to power-seeking and the tyranny of self-interest. Jesus is precisely what we need to heal and to face the future with hope in the wake of the Newtown killings. Our faith that another world is possible gives us the strength to go on.

The shootings at Sandy Hook bring home just how much the way of Jesus is needed today. We need his message of anti violence, of pacifism, of acceptance, of justice, of healing, of self-giving, and of transformation. Nothing is beyond the scope of his redemption. We need to celebrate the way of Jesus through this holy season now more than ever. Our activities may take on a new tenor, a different cast, an altered mood, but nonetheless, celebrate we must. Christmas is about the birth of the one who is glad tidings of great joy to ALL people – even people reeling from the Newtown killings. Especially people devastated by the killings.

Prayer: This season, we need the Prince of Peace more than ever. We need the wonderful counselor. We need the vulnerability of the baby in the manger to help us rediscover our humanity and heal. We need Christmas. Amen.

At least 27 people dead, 18 of whom are children. That’s the story so far today from Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Who can imagine such a horrific tragedy? Who can empathize with those parents sending their children off to another day of school for learning and fun with friends, looking forward to holiday activities over the weekend, only to hear that your child has been shot and is not coming home from school today? That experience is certainly beyond my comprehension.

In response to the news, one person posted the comment, “Well, we know the drill. Flowers, balloons, candles, and ‘Let the healing begin.’” We know the drill? This insinuates a routine. A familiar procedure. An accepted protocol. I never want to become accustomed to this kind of violence. I never want to accept a prescribed procedure for how to deal with mass killings in a school. Flowers? Balloons? Candles? I can’t even imagine a tourniquet that could begin to stem the grief. As Christians, we should never tolerate, accept, or become accustomed to this kind of violence. Never.

What response might be fitting? “Blessed are the peace makers.” We are called to continually promote and nurture peace in our world. And this means actively opposing violence. We teach math and science and English in our schools. We also need to teach peace, non violent conflict resolution, and anti violence. These are subjects that need to be addressed directly to all people.

I also want to say that I believe the media is complicit in the deaths of these children. I went to the movies recently and in the previews, I saw one bloody, violent killing after another. It was horrible and made my stomach turn. I had come to see Anna Karenina, not a series of shootings and explosions and acts of horrible violence. The violence in the entertainment sector of our culture has fostered the use of violence in the “real” world. And it has increased our level of acceptance of violence in the real world.

As followers of Jesus, we have glad tidings of great joy for ALL people. Violence is not the only way. Violence does not have to be tolerated or accepted. There is another way. There is an alternative. And Jesus shows us that alternative. It is the way of justice, community, reconciliation, respect for life, and reverence for the sacred.

There is always hope in the Christian world view. Yes, healing is possible. Not only for those families and that community ravaged by grief, but for the healing of the violence in our society and in our world. We must not only pray for that healing, we must work to make it happen. And it will take much more than flowers, balloons, and candles.

The father of one student in Newtown, Stephen Delgiadice, told reporters that his  8-year-old daughter heard two big bangs and teachers told her to get in a corner. His daughter was fine. “It’s alarming, especially in Newtown, Conn., which we always thought was the safest place in America,” he said.

We need to work to make every place, every city, every town, every school, every street, the safest place in America.

Prayer: We pray for all those who lost loved ones in the horrific killings in Newtown. We pray for the grief of the whole community. We pray for the family of the young man responsible for the deaths. We pray for everyone who has lost a loved one to violence. May we spread the glad tidings of the gospel of Jesus by working for peace and the healing of violence in our world. Amen.

Jesus of Nazareth, 33, died Good Friday in Jerusalem. Survived by loving family and countless devoted friends. He was the full embodiment of the universal love and grace of God. No services planned.

A free obituary in the Tampa Bay Times includes 7 lines. What would you say in a free obituary for Jesus? While it is a common high school creative writing assignment to write your own obituary, have you ever thought about writing an obituary for Jesus? And since Jesus was poor, we can assume his obituary would be restricted to the free 7 lines.

In addition to the person’s name, date of death, place of death, and age, most obituaries include family members, and often lots of family members. There is sometimes mention of the person’s job, interests, or activities. But how much can you say in 7 lines? In Jesus’ case, we don’t know a whole lot about his biological family. So, we might have room to mention other things, like activities and interests and involvements.

So, I encourage you to have a go at writing a 7 line obituary for Jesus. Here are a few more of my attempts:

Jesus of Nazareth, 33, died Good Friday in Jerusalem. Survived by loving family and countless devoted friends. He had compassion for all people and helped all people especially those who were poor or sick.

Jesus of Nazareth, 33, died Good Friday in Jerusalem. Survived by loving family and countless devoted friends. He showed what the world can be like when divine justice and peace reign. No services planned.

Jesus of Nazareth, 33, died Good Friday in Jerusalem. Survived by loving family and countless devoted friends. He lived the fullness and joy of human life which can only be experienced through service and self giving. No services planned.

Jesus of Nazareth, 33, died Good Friday in Jerusalem. Survived by loving family and countless devoted friends. He loved everyone. No exceptions. Even his enemies. No services planned.

So, what would you say about Jesus in an obituary? How would you say in a brief manner that Jesus is glad tidings of great joy to ALL people? It’s hard to limit yourself to 7 lines because there is so much good to say about Jesus. And then there is the matter of our obituaries. Jesus came to inspire followers. People who would carry on his mission and ministry. We are those people. So, what can be said in our obituaries?

Please feel free to post your sample obits for Jesus below.

Prayer: God, we are grateful that Jesus is glad tidings of great joy for ALL people. Help us to truly appreciate his teaching and to live in his way. May it be hard to write our obituaries, too, because there is so much good to say! Amen.

12/12/12. This date is surely a feast day for numerologists! It is also the feast day of the Virgin of Guadalupe, the patron saint of Mexico. If you have been to Mexico, you know that she is the most prominent religious figure in the country, seemingly ahead of Jesus and God! It is not unusual to see an altar piece with the Virgin of Guadalupe at the top then God under her and Jesus below God. The Virgin of Guadalupe is popular not only in Mexico, but throughout Latin America, North America, and the world. She may be the most well-known non-Biblical Christian figure in the world.

When the Spanish/Europeans came to the New World they brought their religion with them. And they used Catholicism as a tool of intimidation to subdue the indigenous people. It was a way of imposing European culture on the people of the Americas. In their eyes, however, the Europeans were offering the native peoples salvation and eternity in heaven.

The appearance of the Virgin of Guadalupe to Juan Diego, a poor Indian peasant is a story of Catholicism taking on an indigenous expression. The Virgin herself appears as an Indian and she offers encouragement to Juan Diego. She has him implore the bishop on her behalf to build a church where she appeared to Juan Diego. She brings an Indian image to Catholicism and a female image to people who were accustomed to worshipping gods and goddesses and missed having an image of the feminine divine in this new European religion.

With the appearance of the Virgin of Guadalupe, Christianity could be more accessible to the indigenous peoples of the Americas, and the Europeans incorporated a native indigenous figure into their panoply of saints. So the Virgin of Guadalupe extends the conveyance of the Gospel. She expresses the glad tidings of great joy to ALL people to a new population in a way that truly is life-giving and joyful.

Prayer: We are grateful that God comes to us with glad tidings whatever our life’s circumstances. The gospel is transcultural and timeless. It is good news to all people in all places and times. May we celebrate divine love in all of its many manifestations. Amen.