Category: Advent

The Christmas story is truly one of love – God’s love for us, Mary’s love for her baby – but the love that stands out for me this Christmas is Joseph’s love for Mary.  When Mary found out she was pregnant she and Joseph were engaged to be married.  At that time, it was considered extremely shameful to be pregnant if you were not married.  Joseph would have been expected at the very least to end their engagement and could have even had her stoned.  Joseph wrestled with what to do because he loved Mary but felt pressure from the culture that he was raised in.

When the angel came to Joseph, I am sure the message that Mary was carrying God’s son was met with relief.  He could be with the one he loved!  I am sure that Mary and Joseph still faced a fair amount of judgement from their community, but the angel’s message was the push they needed to put their faith in love.

Mary and Joseph’s love in the face of adversity is a message of courage and strength to all those who face judgement for who or how they love.  Joseph sets the example for us that family is what you make it not what society dictates.  We are living in a time when there are many different ways to be a family but often people who belong to non-traditional families face discrimination from society.

Like Joseph, we may struggle to find the courage to publicly choose love.  Joseph’s story reminds us that it is okay to wrestle with that decision and wait for the support you need to come out to the world.  Above all, Joseph’s commitment to Mary reminds us that facing that discrimination will not be easy, but it will be worth it!

It is easy to find joy in the Christmas story.  Once Mary knew that Joseph would accept her and the child she was carrying, I am sure she felt many moments of joy as the baby grew inside her.  The birth of a new child always holds great potential for joy.

It has filled me with great joy each time I got to hold a new cousin or nephew for the first time.  Although, the last three births in our family have been accompanied with a strange phenomenon.  Each time my sister became pregnant the person in our family she told first (other than her husband) died before the baby was born so, when the baby was born although there was much joy there was also a level of sadness in knowing that the new baby would never know the relative who had just passed.  As much as I would not wish this experience on anyone (in fact we all agreed my sister should stop having babies) there is an important lesson to be learned from this experience.

Joy and sorrow are not conflicting emotions!

We can feel more than one thing at a time.  Have you ever found yourself laughing at funeral or feeling lonely at wedding?  These are pretty common experiences.  It doesn’t mean you are sad at the funeral or happy for the couple at the wedding.  It is simply a reminder that our emotions are complex and layered.

Each Christmas there are people experience sorrow amidst the joy because they can’t be with loved ones – due to distance, estrangement, death, etc. – or because they can’t afford to give their loved ones all they want for Christmas.  If we do not openly acknowledge the places of sorrow it is easy to become trapped in that grief and sadness.

This year because of covid the Christmas season will look very different for most people and that will be very challenging.  This year especially it is important to acknowledge that challenge so that there is still room for joy this Christmas.

Jesus is often called the Prince of Peace.  He teaches us how to live lives of peace and yet when I reflect on the peace of Jesus this morning these are the two stories that come to mind: Jesus driving the buyers and sellers out of the temple and Jesus being frustrated with the disciples when they cannot stay awake with him.  I find myself wondering what these stories can teach us about peace.

Let’s start with a quick review of the stories.

At that time, it was tradition to offer sacrifices to God – both of grain and meat.  These sacrifices where used to feed the temple priests and the fat was burned completely as an offering to God.  Originally these offerings were meant to be from your own harvest but eventually there began a trade at the temple where you could purchase sacrifices so that you wouldn’t have to risk travelling with your animals.  When Jesus saw this, he became angry and drove everyone buying and selling out of the temple because the temple was meant to be a place of prayer.  On the surface this doesn’t seem like the most peaceful response.

Our second story takes place just before Jesus is crucified.  He knows what is coming and wants to spend the evening in prayer.  He asks a few of his disciples to come with him.  He walks a little way away from them to spend some time in prayer.  When he returns all the disciples are asleep.  Jesus asks them, “Could you not even stay awake with me for one hour?” which seems more like a moment of frustration than a moment of peace.

Even though on the surface these stories don’t seem very peaceful they hold very important lessons about peace.

The first is that peace cannot be truly achieved when there are injustices in the world.  This scripture is a call to action to speak out and make changes when there is something wrong in the world.  When you see people discriminated against because of race, religion, gender, sex, sexuality, ability, or any of the too many other reasons we create divisions in society SPEAK OUT!  Work to make changes in our social structures and in yourself to ensure that everyone has a safe place, and everyone is treated equitably.  Each person who acknowledges the inequities in the world and works to make positive changes brings us further along the path of peace.

The second story speaks to me about inner peace – a subject in which that I have a lot to learn.  I tend to sacrifice my own peace for the apparent peace of others.  Too often a suppress my own needs because I don’t want to create conflict or make someone uncomfortable.  This story for me is a reminder that it is okay to be frustrated with the people closest to me and the I need to speak my own needs, so people understand what is important to me.  Peace cannot not truly be achieved until you find peace within yourself.

We so often think of peace as quite and stillness.  This year I would invite you to consider that the path to peace may involve activity, conversation and new understanding.

The Christmas story is a story is a story of hope.  The hope that comes with new life or at least that is what we like to focus on…the angel telling Mary she was pregnant, Joseph accepting Mary’s pregnancy and starting a family with her, John leaping for joy inside Elizabeth when Mary comes to her to share the news of pregnancy.  We even find hope when there is no room in the inn and Mary has to give birth in a stable.  A stable with real animals and surely with the real mess that goes along with it.  We have transformed what must of have been a time of stress and trial into a picturesque scene for us to carve and place on our mantels at Christmas time to remind us of all of the hope wrapped up with that little child laid in the manger.

I think that it is wonderful to celebrate the hope of Christmas, but I would caution us not to do it at the expense of the rest of the story.  Mary and Joseph needed the hope the angels brought them because they were afraid of how an unplanned pregnancy would impact there lives in time when Joseph would have been well within his rights to have Mary stoned because of her pregnancy.  After travelling many miles (most likely on foot despite the many beautiful, creative renderings of Mary riding on a donkey) to be counted in a census, Mary and Joseph would have arrived in Bethlehem dusty from the road and exhausted.  I imagine it would have been a struggle to hold on to hope that they would find a place to rest.

I think we can find as much comfort in these moments of fear and doubt as we can in the moments of hope.  We have all experienced moments in our lives when things aren’t quite going according to plan – we’ve experienced the grief and frustration of something not working out how we imagined.  These scriptures remind us in those moments to hold on to hope but they tell us so much more than that.  They tell us that it is okay to feel frustrated or overwhelmed or angry at our situation.  God doesn’t need our stories to be all sunshine and rainbows or little ceramic animals lined up just right.  God is with us in all of the messiness of life.  In the disappointment, in the anxiety, in the grief, in the pain God is there with us waiting for us to be ready to hope again.

Hope – Wind

The wind blows wherever it wishes; you hear the sound it makes,
but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going.
It is like that with everyone who is born of the Spirit. – John 3:8 GNT

As the wind blows, the seasons change. A spring breeze brings much needed rain. A summer wind carries seeds and helps to spread new life. An autumn gust blows leaves from trees, helping them prepare for winter. A blustery winter day reminds us that we all connected as the air moves to balance pressure.

At times the wind is strong and overwhelming. Other times it is hard to detect even a gentle breeze. In the same way the Spirit blows through our lives – moving through all things and reminding us we are connected. Some days we feel a strong and tangible connection to the divine and other days we struggle to recognize God’s presence in our lives. On those days it easy to lose hope and to only see the struggles in the world – the imbalances of power, the hoarding of resources, the destruction of the earth.

God recognized this struggle and sent his son to teach and guide us – to remind us that God’s kingdom will come on earth and we can be a part of that change.

How do I reconnect with God when I am feeling hopeless?
Where do I see God’s hope at work in the world?

Life-Giving Breath,
The winds of your Spirit blow around us and among us,
breathing life and light into the world.
Open our hearts to let the Spirit flow through us
and encourage us to plant seeds of love and compassion,
as we prepare for the birth of Jesus. Amen.

Peace – Earth

They will hammer their swords into plows and their spears
into pruning knives. Nations will never again go to war,
never prepare for battle again. – Isaiah 2:4b GNT

God created the earth, and it was good. God created an amazing, intricate, and interconnected world and called for us to care for it and maintain balance. But we have not maintained that balance. We have created systems where the many work for the good of the few. This imbalance has caused too many to believe in a scarcity of resources – too often leading to war and violence as people fight for what they need to survive.

Through Jesus, God showed us there is another way to live – a path of peace born out of love and compassion for all God’s people. Jesus taught us that if we care for all those around us and make sure everyone’s needs are met – especially those who are oppressed by our social structures – then there can truly be peace on earth.

What might I do to ensure there is enough for all?
How do I work to maintain peace in myself, my community, and the world?

Holy Creator,
We give thanks for the earth and all you have given us.
But we recognize that we need to do better when sharing those gifts.
Help us to create a world where all people can benefit
from the fruits of your creation.
Teach us to walk lightly on the earth,
following the path the Jesus laid before us. Amen.

Joy – Water

As fresh water brings joy to the thirsty, so God’s people rejoice
when he saves them.” — Isaiah 12:3 GNT

Water is the foundation of life. Water quenches our thirst, keeps us clean and even provides us with exercise and entertainment through water sports and games. It flows through all of creation, reminding us that we are all interconnected and interdependent. Where there is no water there is no growth and no life but where there is water there is life and there is joy.

Imagine the joy felt by those who witnessed Jesus’ baptism as he was baptized in the cleansing waters and emerged to the voice of God calling him “Beloved Son”. We experience glimpses of that joy each time we witness a baptism in our faith community, as we acknowledge our connection to Jesus through the waters of baptism and express a commitment to follow the path God has set before us.

How do I reconnect with God’s life-giving water when I feel lost or overwhelmed?
How do I share the joy of my baptism with those around me?

Source of all Joy,
We give thanks for the gift of life-giving water,
that bonds us to all your people and all of creation.
Help us to honour that interconnectedness,
by living in respect with creation
and caring for one another. Amen.

Love – Fire

This hope does not disappoint us, for God has poured out his love
into our hearts by means of the Holy Spirit, who is God’s gift to us.
 — Romans 5:5 GNT

Fire can be a source of warmth and a source of comfort. With a well-built foundation and some careful nourishment, the simple flame of a match can become a roaring fire that provides warmth to many people gathered around the flames. Fire is a blessing but can also be a curse. If we are not careful and do not respect the fire it can easily spread out of control and cause much more harm than good.

We nourish the flame of God’s love through acts of care and compassion spreading that love to those around us. At the same time, we must be as cautious and intentional as we would be passing a flame. If we share the message too intensely or fuel the flame with judgement and division, love can be lost, and people can be left feeling burned.

This Advent season reminds us of the importance of preparation. Taking the time to prepare someone to hear the good news of God’s love will gently encourage the flame of love inside them, so they too will be able to see a world filled with God’s light.

How can I be more aware of and make reparation for the places where the church has caused more harm than good?
How can I invite those around me into the warmth of God’s love?

Holy Mystery who is Wholly Love,
Light a flame inside our hearts,
so that we may spread warmth and love to all your people.
Be with us now as we prepare our hearts to celebrate the birth of Jesus,
who teaches how to live a life of love.
Amen.

Christmas

¹At that time Emperor Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Roman Empire. ²When this first census took place, Quirinius was the governor of Syria. ³Everyone, then, went to register himself, each to his own hometown.

⁴Joseph went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to the town of Bethlehem in Judea, the birthplace of King David. Joseph went there because he was a descendant of David. ⁵He went to register with Mary, who was promised in marriage to him. She was pregnant, ⁶and while they were in Bethlehem, the time came for her to have her baby. ⁷She gave birth to her first son, wrapped him in cloths and laid him in a manger—there was no room for them to stay in the inn.

⁸There were some shepherds in that part of the country who were spending the night in the fields, taking care of their flocks. ⁹An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone over them. They were terribly afraid, ¹⁰but the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid! I am here with good news for you, which will bring great joy to all the people. ¹ This very day in David’s town your Savior was born—Christ the Lord! ¹²And this is what will prove it to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

¹³Suddenly a great army of heaven’s angels appeared with the angel, singing praises to God:

¹⁴“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and peace on earth to those with whom he is pleased!”

¹⁵When the angels went away from them back into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us.”

¹⁶So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and saw the baby lying in the manger. ¹⁷When the shepherds saw him, they told them what the angel had said about the child. ¹⁸All who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said. ¹⁹Mary remembered all these things and thought deeply about them. ²⁰The shepherds went back, singing praises to God for all they had heard and seen; it had been just as the angel had told them. – Luke 2:1-20 GNT

The decorations are up, the food is prepared, friends and family are coming together – this year perhaps in new and creative ways as we work to keep each other safe. The waiting is over Christmas is here!

Each year we prepare our hearts, our minds, and our surroundings, to celebrate the birth of Jesus. We know what is coming and yet we still need time to take time to prepare ourselves for the miracle of Jesus’ birth.

Imagine what it must have been like that first Christmas for Mary and Joseph as they prepared for Jesus’ birth, for the shepherds who heard the angels singing the good news of his birth, for the Magi who following the light of the star journeyed to honour him. As they prepared for the birth of this child, did they know the profound impact it would have on the world? Did they know the light and love Jesus would bring into the world? Did they know that even 2 000 years later people would be following his teachings and celebrating Jesus’ birth?

Today is Christmas and today we celebrate! We celebrate the enduring hope, the potential for peace, the uniting joy and the unceasing love of God in our lives that we know because of the birth of Jesus!

What does Jesus’ birth mean for my life?
What gifts do I share with the world around me?

Loving Parent,
We give thanks for the gift of Jesus,
for the encouragement to hope;
for a world where we can all live in peace;
and celebrate with joy;
your love in the world!
Amen.