Advent reflections, week three

As we continue in our Advent pilgrimage, we pause in anticipation of the birth of Christ.

 

Each week, a reflection will be sent out (and posted on Facebook) that was written by one of our Worship & Music Committee members. We thank Pastor Jen for this week’s reflection

 

Also, you are invited to offer your own reflections, photos, etc. on the “word of the day” during this month. Here are this week’s words:

15) Celebrate

16) Preparation

17) Radiance

18) Promise

19) Community

20) Faith

21) Darkness

Advent reflections

Scripture: Isaiah 7:10-14

                  Matthew 1:18-25

Last week, our ladies of WELCA had their annual Christmas party at Camp Herrlich.  Always a wonderful time of fellowship, good food and laughter.  We paused amidst our meal and remembered the purpose of our gathering as we heard again the familiar words of the Christmas story (Luke 2) and sang Christmas songs.

As a part of this re-telling, we heard as well from the different “characters” in the story as people shared short reflections about what their chosen people (or thing) was thinking or experiencing in this time.  We heard from Jesus, Mary & Joseph, the angels, innkeeper and shepherds, and even the manger and the star.

Rather than just hearing the story, place yourself in its midst.  Who would you be?  What might you be thinking or feeling?  What does it mean that our God became flesh and lived among us?

We remember and celebrate Immanuel (God with us) as Jesus is born.  Where is Immanuel in your life today?  How might you bring the presence of God into the lives of others?

As a part of your reflections on these questions, I share with you a poem written by Ann Weems from her book, Kneeling in Bethlehem.  In her words, she invites us further into Advent and the Christmas story as we wait and watch and prepare.

In Search of Kneeling Places

In each heart lies a Bethlehem,

  An inn where we must ultimately answer

    Whether there is room or not.

When we are Bethlehem-bound

  We can no longer look the other way

     Conveniently not seeing stars

       Nor hearing angel voices.

We can no longer excuse ourselves by busily

   Tending our sheep or our kingdoms.

This Advent let’s go to Bethlehem

  And see this thing that the Lord has made known to us.

In the midst of the shopping sprees

  Let’s ponder in our hearts the Gift of Gifts.

Through the tinsel

  Let’s look for the gold of the Christmas star.

In the excitement and confusion, in the merry chaos,

  Let’s listen for the brush of angels’ wings.

This Advent, let’s go to Bethlehem

   And find our kneeling places.

Advent Reflections, week two

As we continue in our Advent pilgrimage, we pause in anticipation of the birth of Christ.  

Each week, a reflection will be sent out (and posted on Facebook) that was written by one of our Worship & Music Committee members.  We thanks Michael Boyd for this week's reflection

Also, you are invited to offer your own reflections, photos, etc. on the "word of the day" during this month.  Here are this week's words:

8) Light

9) Rejoice

10) Peace

11) Good News

12) Believe

13) Prayer

14) Justice

Advent Reflection

[Read John 1:1-28]

As some of Trinity’s adults have met for Faith Formation Class in recent weeks to study and 
reflect on Marcus Borg’s book, “The Heart of Christianity,” participants have stated again and 
again how meaningful our small group conversation time has been.  Many of us also found 
some of the content of Borg’s thoughts quite challenging. Among other things, Borg spoke 
of a different way of biblical understanding. It is one that moves away from literalism and 
more towards a metaphorical method of understanding Scripture's meaning (metaphor
 merely being defined as, “a way of seeing”) - and this is true even for entire Bible
 narratives.

In this week’s text in John 1 (verses 1-28) for example, we hear of one named John who 
came to testify concerning “the light” (here referring to Jesus) for the purpose that all 
might believe through him (Jesus). While all of us are very able to see the Bible writer’s 
use of metaphor as John’s gospel writer describes Jesus as the coming “light” of the 
world, it is harder for us to take this entire story as one big metaphor. Were we able 
to do that, however, the greater  truth we would see beyond the story characters 
(John, Jesus, the Pharisees, etc.) and their interactions  is that the writer wants us 
readers to trust in God as we say “yes” to the way of living Jesus models  for us. 
We are to respond to who Jesus is by loving God in a similar way as Jesus, and to then
 go  out into the world and live lives in ways reflective of our love for the things that 
God loves.

As we all know, this is much easier said than done, especially when we reflect on all that 
follows Jesus’ amazing proclamations and ministry, namely, his being willing to be put 
to death because he stood against the state and religious leaders of his day and time. 
Not being content  with the status quo, Jesus instead seeks justice that neither leaders 
nor rulers want any part of. We are to note however, that those who have need do see 
and do welcome what Jesus offers. 

So rather than seeing Jesus as merely suffering and dying for our sins so we could go to 
heaven one day after we die, this narrative, like most biblical narratives, is instead much 
more about seeing in Jesus qualities and characteristics that help us see a glimpse of who 
God is. The end purpose of  this is so that we might be more deeply relating to God and 
all that is, while also looking for  personal transformation in this life. We are to seek to know 
God and to love the things that God loves.

And so in our text, John (the Baptist) is seen as in no way equal to Jesus, but instead telling 
of one coming who is full of “grace upon grace.” He is the One that demands we “make 
straight the way of the Lord.”

What this says to me is that in this season of Advent we are to continue to seek to know 
who Jesus is, and to then tell truthfully by our living and dying of God’s great love within 
and among us (the Word made flesh that now resides within us). When we live in such a 
self-sacrificing manner, and when we  love as Jesus loves, we are living in a way that truly 
honors the one whose thongs on his sandals we [too] are not worthy to untie. 

Will you pray with me that we might love God and others more fully and faithfully as we 
anticipate the  birth of Immanuel (God-with-us)?

Amen.

Advent devotions, week one

As we enter into the Advent season, we pause to reflect on the advent of our God.  Each Tuesday, a reflection will be sent out (and posted on Facebook) that was written by one of our Worship & Music Committee members.  We thanks Mary Beth Commisso for this week's reflection

Also, you are invited to offer your own reflections, photos, etc. on the "word of the day" during this month.  Here are this week's words:

 

1) Hope

2) Advent

3) Anticipation

4) Waiting

5) Caring

6) Awake

7) Generous

Advent Reflections

…keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come.

Are you one of those people whose home is always “guest ready”? Everything in order, clutter free, nothing askew or out of place? I’ve always admired those folks – but I’m not one of them. I remember a time early in our marriage when we were settled in for a relaxing evening and a knock came on the door. We both jumped – “who could that be?!” He ran to the door and peeked out to see that we were about to have an unexpected visit from a relative. I ran to the kitchen to hide the unwashed pots from dinner in the stove. Why is there an unmatched sock under the kitchen table? (always easy to blame the cats!). Quick! Put the laundry basket in the closet. Then calmly go back to the living room to greet the guests and hope they don’t notice the dust bunny peeking out from under the couch.

Advent is a “get ready” time. The reading from Mark warns us not to be asleep but to keep alert, ready for the coming of the Son of Man. And while this reading is talking about the Second Coming – the return of Christ to earth – I think we can also take it as good advice about being alert to the many ways Jesus comes to us in our everyday life. Jesus comes to us when we are shown kindness, love and compassion, especially when we don’t deserve it. He comes to us in the gentle touch of someone using their abilities to care for us or for a loved one who is sick. Jesus is there when we turn to him, burdened with fears or guilt or struggling with our feelings, and ask to be held, forgiven, strengthened. Jesus is there when we gather at Trinity to share in the meal of bread and wine that refreshes and renews us. If we keep alert, and if we keep ourselves ready, we can both experience and be for others a “little Christ” right here and right now. But if we don’t keep our focus on God we may miss these everyday miracles.

There’s no special time to get ourselves ready to experience the love and marvelous gifts of Jesus. Fortunately, we have a chance every day to clean up the dust bunnies in our lives and do our best to live as God would have us. But Advent is a time that shines a special light on that opportunity to be renewed and be alert.

Let us pray,

God, the source of all good, help us take advantage of this Advent season as an occasion to reawaken our faith and grow in our love for you and for all our sisters and brothers throughout the world. As we prepare for Christmas, fill our hearts and minds with compassion, wisdom and patience. We ask these things in the name of your Son, Jesus. Amen.

The reading for today: Mark 13:24-37

“But in those days, after that suffering,

   the sun will be darkened,

   and the moon will not give its light,

   and the stars will be falling from heaven,

   and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory. Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

“But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say