The Other Side of Joy To The World continues

The Other Side of Joy To The World continues

I listened to a powerful sermon Sunday on  Matthew 2:13-23.  It was a pointed  reminder of todays world and the parallels it has with Jesus’ refugees status.

I invite you to think about how the status of refugee is talked about, treated and often oppressed today.  I am speaking specifically of refugees in our county; however it is a very real situation around the world.

Think about the attitudes related to the subject.  Our attitudes politically as well as individualistically.

In the most recent months, remember the manner in which certain refugees have been treated by our government.

Now put Jesus and his mother and father in that picture.

Like most people, who are forced to leave their home — everything familiar — and flee for their lives in fear of being tortured and sometime killed by other mean and unfeeling human beings.

Put Jesus’ family in that place.

Think of the drastic changes they face as they enter a foreign country — different language, different food, different traditions and customs, strangers as neighbors etc.

Put Jesus family in that circumstance.

Where the picture changes is how Jesus’ family was treated as they arrived in Egypt.  

Now it is true that we aren’t told that they had any problems.  What we do know is that they must have faced some kind of hospitality; because they return to their homeland in good health and physically able.

An extremely relevant story to consider.

The Other Side of Joy to The World

The Other Side of Joy To The World

13 Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.’

All of the sudden the world is not so joyful, nor peace-filled.

Anne Weems describes the scene this way:  

“Into the wild and painful cold of the starless night came the refugees, slowly making their way to the border.  The man, stooped from age, or anxiety, hurried his small family through the wind.  Bearded and dark, his skin rough and cracked from the cold, his frame looming large in spite of the slumped shoulders:  He looked like a man who could take care of whatever came at them from the dark.  Unless, of course, there were too many of them…..

His eyes, black darted from side to side, then over his shoulder, then back again forward.  Had they been seen?  Had they been heard?  Every rustle of wind, every sigh from the child, sent terror through his chest…....He glanced at the young woman, his bride.  No more than a child herself, she nuzzled their newborn, kissing his neck…. Her eyes are red, her young face lined, her lovely hair matted from inattention, her clothes stained from milk and baby, her hands chapped from the raw wind of winter.  She’d hardly had time to recover from childbirth when word had come that they were hunted, and they fled with only a little bread, and remaining wine and a very small portion cheese. ……  (Anne Week: Kneeling in Bethlehem p. 59-60)

What ever happened to the manger scene where angles sang their alleluias, the star lighted up the sky and shepherds visited?

What happened, was that the world became real.  Very, very real.

When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent his men to kill all the children, in and around Bethlehem, who were two years old or under,..

And, in one moment of time, Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus had to flea; because a tyrant feared the potential challenge of his power and authority.

Now we have the whole story of Christmas. 

The joy, and the horror, coming together in the full reality of life.

However, before we get down hearted and frustrated, we need to remember one single amazing truth that travels with Jesus throughout his life. 

    

God always just seems to move him past death.

Even from the shameless death on the cross.

To be continued

Joy To The World, the Lord Has Come

One of the most favorite Christmas hymns, other than Silent Night, is Joy To The World. 

The very first line announces a profound truth:  “…the Lord is come.”  

The Lord, who “rules with truth and grace” and “wonders of his love” brings joy to earth.

  

That one brings a phenomenon, an epiphany, of something exceptionally good.  Something that will make a huge difference upon the earth.

Peace and Joy live side by side.

Both are basically impossible to describe.

God is the source of both peace and joy.  

It is a feeling of calm, contentment and a since that all is right.  Joy is often brief, fleeting, momentary; then gone but not forgotten.  Sometimes the moment last for a little while before it begins to fad.

Try this one on:  In the ancient Hebrew joy denotes “a gracious disposition that finds expression in a gracious action.”  

God is the source of this action.  Action that: “expresses spontaneous goodness.  God’s grace converted into acts.”

Reflect on that a minute.  What do you hear?

There are some passages from John that refer to this phenomenon of joy.

8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 11 I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.(Jn. 15:8-11)

There is a participation involved in this God-joy.

24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.(Jn. 16;24)

God prompts something in us to be!  

To be, to feel, to act, and to think opposite of the expectation of the world.  When we “abide in” — submit to — Jesus’ love; there is something that allows us to respond in away that, “expresses spontaneous goodness.”  Or kindness.

When we act with spontaneous goodness something inside of us changes.  We take pleasure in the tiniest thing.  We begin to see others with distinctive eyes.  Eyes that are new, and I’ll say, clearer.  Maybe our judgment is less critical — more loving.  

When we grow, with God’s joy prompting us, life begins to take on a less tense emotional track.  Not so many ‘have toos’ and more ‘get toos.’

   

Jesus came so that we might learn to live with faith in His truth — His way.  And when we do, we grow into a  deeper trust in his truth, we find a life with many moments of pure joy.  

10 …I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. (John 10:10)

Joy is abundant life.

Shalom

" ...And On Earth Peace..”

I received a Christmas care many years ago, that I still have.  The front was a beautiful midnight blue with the word PEACE.  Inside the message:  “Peace is not a season.  It is a way of life.”

The night of Jesus’ birth the Angels announced his mission for all the world to hear: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” (Luke 2:14) 

The Greek word for peace, in that passage, comes form the Hebrew word shalom. Shalom — peace — is a state of being.  A presence of well-being that encompasses not only the individual but the environment.  

Peace is the absence of violence and/or major conflict and confusion, opposite of any kind of disturbance.

Shalom is a gift from Yahweh -- the primary source of shalom.  Shalom, both personal and national, is a state of stability.

  

In the ancient world, and even in todays world, Shalom is used as a greeting.  Like saying hello, or how are you.  But it carries a much deeper, and profound meaning,  offering the person well-being.

Jesus came to bring this shalom to all the earth. 

What does that truly mean?

8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger." 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!" 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.”(Luke 2:8-15)

Who Doesn't Love Santa Claus?

About Christmas in our secular world. 

Which is where it all happened in the first place.

In the commonest of places.  A dirty barn here on earth.  Jesus was born right here in the middle of all the human things.  

And he is here to stay.

                                               Thanks be to God!

I was driving through a small town yesterday; and there was one of those plastic images of Santa Claus on a front lawn.  The sight put a smile on my face.  And quickly my mind began to wonder: Is it really true the Santa took Christmas away from Christ?

Now I know that, several decades ago, people use to use Xmas instead of writing out the entire word Christmas.  And soon there was this little blue and silver sign appearing on lawn that said: “Put Christ Back in Christmas.”  And about that same time there was this rumbling among “church-goers” about Santa being the focus of Christmas.  Which was, and I quote: “just wrong!”  

Now there is nothing in me that would ever replace Christ — nothing.  

And as a child it never occurred to me that Santa Claus, in any way, removed the importance of Jesus’ birth.  If anything, it was an additions to the Christmas event that included another visible enjoyment of the secular world.  

I have taught every confirmation student, i’ve been privileged to have in class, that there is nothing in our daily living that is separate, or can ever remove, Jesus from the secular realm.  

There is nothing, in our living here on earth, that is not influenced by our faith in Jesus and what he came to teach us.  Nothing.

Jesus made it clear that our faith was to be lived out, and acted upon, within this physical world.  In my simple mind every breathe we take, movement we make and all our decisions are connected to our faith in Jesus the Christ. 

Santa is very much apart of the world around us at this time of the year.  People love Santa Claus.  And so do I.  He makes me smile when I see him.  He offers me a moment of Christmas in the rush here and there.  

He is exciting, and yes a bit scary sometimes, to little children.  They may love him, they may want to go see him, but they sure-as-heck won’t sit on his lap.

Santa Claus, like Jesus, teaches us the joy of giving.

Christ, for those who care, has never gone out of Christmas.

Just Another Wonder About the Christmas Story

When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb.

I don’t believe that I have ever listened to the Christmas story and not been stopped, in thought, when that verse -- and verse 44 -- was read.  

This little tiny part of the story never gets addressed in sermons.  As a matter of fact, I have never even heard the question come up. 

It must have been important to Luke; or why else would he slip that point into the story twice? 

The story of Elizabeth’s pregnancy comes at the very beginning of Luke’s Gospel.  

It is the story of when Zechariah was serving his priestly duties in the temple.  It was his turn to enter the sanctuary -- The Holy of Holies -- of the Lord and offer incense.  The angel Gabriel appeared to him.  It says:  “Zechariah was terrified.”  The angel said the same thing to Zechariah that the angel said to Mary.  “Do not be afraid…”  

The angel had come to tell Zechariah that his prayers had been answered; and that his wife Elizabeth would have a son.  His son’s name was to be John.  He would be filled with the Holy Spirit to do great things. 

Unlike Mary,  Zechariah did not believe the angel.  And, because he did not believe, he was rendered unable to speak until John's birth.  After a time Elizabeth did conceive.  

We know the rest of the story!

What we have, in this Christmas story, two responses to the presence of angel activity.  

Zechariah’s was the very logical one to believe in angels.  However he did not believe.  

Mary, was the one who to reacted in, immediate, faith. 

That is interesting to me; because I would think it would be just the opposite. 

Zechariah was a temple priest.  Apparently a man of, at least some level, of faith; or he wouldn’t have been allowed to enter the Holy of Holies.  

Mary was just a young girl.  A teenager.

Don’t you think it is interesting which one believed in a supposed stranger?

A stranger, by the way, who was possibly hovering over the earth.

36 And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God." 38 Then Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her. 39 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, 40 where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43 And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? 44 For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”(Lk. 1:36-45)

What Would Jesus' Mother Have To Tell Us? -- Roboot

This Sunday is the usual Sunday for churches, around our country, to have a Christmas pageant.  A time for the children to tell their version of the Christmas story.  Sometimes they are very simple and cute.  Some are elegant and well rehearsed.  But they all include angels moving their wings and halos drooping.  And shepherd awkwardly moving about. With the littlest children with donkey ears or dress like little lambs.  All surrounding center stage where Mary is kneeling gently over the baby Jesus, and Joseph stands guard over the entire scene.  

There aren’t too many ways to tell this ancient story.  They all pretty much are the same each year.  

The faces change. 

                         But the parts are mostly the same.  

And, every little girls wants to be Mary, and so do their mothers.

But, if you think about it, Mary doesn’t have much of a part.  She never, or very seldom, speaks. 

It been suggested, by some, that Mary should have more of a part in this annual display of preciousness.  The thought is that the Magnificat — Mary’s response to Elizabeth — might be an interesting way to tell the story.  

Just Mary.  
    No other character.  

        Just Mary telling her story, and what it all truly mean. 

Then the little boys would not have to dress up in those strange brown robes; and be embarrassed in front of all those people.  

Let Mary have a say in this birth story for once.

Possibly we would really hear, for the first time, what it must have been like for her.  How she felt.  What she wondered.  She could tell us, in common ordinary simple words, about this child she carried in her tummy.  

Did she really know that her baby was God?  

When she knelt beside his manger did she wish the animals would all be quite?  Or maybe even go away?  Was she warm enough?  Was Jesus warm enough?  Did she worry about him having enough to wear?  Enough dippers to change him?

Or, was she just serenely confident kneeling there so quite?

If we just used Mary, as the entire story teller, our Christmas pageants would carry a completely different message for all of us to digest.  Heard straight from the mouth of the mother of the baby-boy-God.  

Possibly we could hear an enlightening thought on the depth of her faith.  Or why she so quickly believed the angel.

With the focus on Mary, and her message to the world, we might even begin to understand the magnitude of incarnation.  

We might hear, for the very first time, the profound significance of God’s willingness to take on human flesh to change the world.  

She might even have some insight into why God chose to come to earth as a tiny babe, instead of a mighty warrior. 

Or maybe we'd finally hear the subtle message of how important it is, to God, that we live in peace.  

Live in peace despite our many, and conflicting, differences.

This baby boy child brought, to this earth, huge changes.  

Good changes.

Maybe if we had a pageant, with just Jesus’ mom as the focus, the world would listen to the story in a new way.

Moms have a way of making people listen, and understand.

And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. 50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. 51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. 52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful 55 to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.(Luke 1:46-55)

Wondering

I am sitting here this morning thinking about all those, in this big-wide-world, who are wondering if the amazing story, about what happen at midnight on that first  Christmas morning, is actually true.

Or do they think that Christmas is like Santa Claus, or the Easter Bunny, or the valentine cupid -- just make believe?

We do live in a culture that has a great imagination.  An imagination that can create all sorts of make believe events.

If you ask a small child about Christmas the first thing that comes out of, their smiling, mouths is “Santa Claus.”

Now truly, if there is anyone that loves Santa Claus it is this writer.  

Santa Claus brings all the thing we love the most.  

Santa Claus has a jolly face and wonderfully accepting smile.

  

And a laugh that makes us all glad.

Who wouldn’t love someone who makes them glad?

However, aside from all of that, I want to shout out loud: There is much more to Christmas than Santa Claus, Christmas tree lights, jolly music and nicely wrapped boxes.

It is actually about a love, a deep down joy, that a came to bring the truth of life in that dirty manger full of icky hay scooped off the barn floor.

It is about a promise of abundant life for all who are willing to believe it all.

It is a truth that surmounts all that is truth.

Oh The Possibilities

I invite you to do some Advent pondering on the extremely unlikely picture Isaiah— 11:1-10 — paints for that ancient world of turmoil.

A Shoot shall come out of the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of its roots. 

The shoot, of the dead stump, came into being with an insight that perceive the way the world is suppose to be.

Over 2000 years ago God came to earth as an innocent baby boy.

The tiny seed of God’s original design for the world he created.

The angel announced it with great glory telling all who would listen: 

“Unto us is born this day a Savior who Christ the Lord.” 

“Emmanuel,”

    
               “The Word became flesh, and lived among us.” 

…he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,

   and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. 

⁵ Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist,

   and faithfulness the belt around his loins. 

⁶ The wolf shall live with the lamb,

   the leopard shall lie down with the kid,

the calf and the lion and the fatling together,

   and a little child shall lead them. 

⁷ The cow and the bear shall graze,

   their young shall lie down together;

   and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 

⁸ The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp,

   and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den. 

⁹ They will not hurt or destroy

   on all my holy mountain;

for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord

   as the waters cover the sea.

Just take a good long moment to think about what Isaiah is saying here.

It prompts me to wonder:  Who in this world today can even begin to imagine such a possibility?

It is like the best of all dreams.

                                               God's Dream

A shoot shall come out from the stock of Jesse,

   and a branch shall grow out of his roots. 

² The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him,

   the spirit of wisdom and understanding,

   the spirit of counsel and might,

   the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. 

³ His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. 

He shall not judge by what his eyes see,

   or decide by what his ears hear; 

⁴ but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,

   and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;

he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,

   and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. 

⁵ Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist,

   and faithfulness the belt around his loins. 

⁶ The wolf shall live with the lamb,

   the leopard shall lie down with the kid,

the calf and the lion and the fatling together,

   and a little child shall lead them. 

⁷ The cow and the bear shall graze,

   their young shall lie down together;

   and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 

⁸ The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp,

   and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den. 

⁹ They will not hurt or destroy

   on all my holy mountain;

for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord

   as the waters cover the sea.(Isaiah 11)