Psalm 148:7-14

“Praise the Lord from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and frost, stormy wind fulfilling his command!” vss. 7-8

Because everything was connected the psalmist couldn’t imagine any part of the creation that couldn’t praise the Lord…even snow and frost! What a blessing it is to have such an expansive view of the universe! Even those of us who are hunkered down in blankets and warm clothes in protection against sub-zero weather are inspired by the breadth of his imagination. Perhaps this is where Paul found the encouragement to write to the Romans, “All things work together for good for those who love God…” This week in our continuing celebration of Christmas it begins to dawn on us that there is more to the holiday than the frenzied gift giving that precedes it. It’s not about what we give to each other and the ramping up of the economy. Christmas is all about God and the ongoing gifts of God, it’s a time to give thanks, not only for the Child in the manger, but for the mind-boggling privilege of life that is ours by grace. Everything from sea monsters to hurricanes has been breathed into existence by the agency of the eternal God…and all things owe God thanks and praise. Praise the Lord, you NFL teams and bowl parades; praise the Lord, you New Year’s celebrations and gift cards at the mall! Praise the Lord, his glory is beyond understanding!

Thought for the Day: What am I enjoying the most today?

Psalm 148:1-6

“Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars! Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens!” vss. 3-4

The psalmist was full of joy and was searching for ways to offer thanks and praise to God. His words reveal a connection that many have last as populations abandon the soil in favor of concrete jungles and high-rise buildings. As we continue to lose ourselves in our Google searches and smart-phone connections we move away from simple appreciation of the natural world. But not all of us! Some are learning that unplugging is probably the best way to become open to the interconnectedness of all creation. Native religions have never lost this sense of holiness in the natural and regularly remind us that mountains and forests have souls and the same relationship to the Creator as humans. God moves in and through all things…sun, moon, planets, and stars…in amazing and profound ways. It’s not that we should begin to worship those things…but rather that we should join with them in offering praise and glory to God. Some might call this a new kind of environmental consciousness…and perhaps that’s what it is. God knows that we have abused our environs for far too long. Rather than seeing ourselves as partners with the creation in offering thanks to God, we’ve seen nature as something to be plundered and exploited…with dire consequences that we’re only now slowly beginning to realize.

Thought for the Day: What does it mean to worship nature?

Isaiah 61:10-62:3

“For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until her vindication shines out like the dawn, and her salvation like a burning torch.” vs. 1

In recent weeks we’ve been reading about the city of Jerusalem and the controversy that has erupted over whether it should be recognized as the capital of Israel, given that it is also the most important city in the Palestinian territories. Of course this isn’t the first time Jerusalem has been in the news. It’s one of the oldest cities in the world and through its long history has been the center of what seems like unending conflict. The prophet, writing after its destruction by the Babylonians, sees its restoration as a sign of God’s continuing love and a reminder of God’s faithfulness. For Christians Jerusalem has been a pilgrim destination for centuries with thousands traveling each year to tour its holy places. As such it helps to connect with the historical roots of our faith…but it’s not a substitute for Jesus. For us the dwelling place of God is not in a city or a temple but in the hearts of believers. Together those believers make up the Body of Christ and represent the continuing presence of Jesus in the world. The Church is the new Jerusalem and stands as a shining reminder of God’s love. We are the vindication of Zion and in us the nations will see the glory of God.

Thought for the Day: What is the symbolic importance of Jerusalem?

John 1:1-14

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” vs. 5

We’re not sure how it is that Christmas came to be celebrated right at the darkest time of the year (at least in the Northern Hemisphere) but the symbolism could not be better. There are times when darkness closes in on our lives in deep and profound ways. It could be a divorce, the ugly end of a once beautiful relationship…or maybe it’s the newly discovered presence of a dread disease that threatens to rob us of life…and then there’s always death, our oldest enemy, periodically coming close and snatching away a loved one. Those are just some of the dark times that intrude on our lives…and they’re always an occasion for sadness and even despair. Accordingly, because Christmas is supposed to be the most festive holiday of all, the December darknesses can seem even more intense. The good thing is that Christmas brings with it a message that can bring darkness to its knees. John is very clear…the Christ whose coming we remember at Christmas is the light of the world…and even though he was attacked by sin and death, darkness could not overcome him. That’s the Christmas story in a nutshell and it is our greatest comfort in those times when we feel pain and suffering the most intensely. Light is more than the visible radiance of our sun. John calls it the essence of life, the creative Word from God that gives birth to our souls. And nothing can overcome it!

Thought for the Day: What lights up your life?

Luke 2:1-14

“And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” vs. 7

Luke’s account of Jesus’ birth is one of the best known stories in all the world. While it’s easy to find holes in the narrative and raise questions about its historicity, the message of truth at its core has found a home in the hearts of believers…and always will. Tonight hundreds of pilgrims will crowd into Manger Square and the Church of the Nativity to celebrate and give glory to God. It won’t be easy to get there. Bethlehem is virtually surrounded by a massive wall of separation and every visitor will have to pass through heavily armed military checkpoints. The scene provides a strange contrast. In the midst of a tense standoff that has been going on for years Christians will be celebrating the nativity and singing the song of the angels, “Peace on earth, goodwill to all.” And it’s precisely that bizarre juxtaposition that gives Luke’s story its power. Somehow we sense that the hope of this world is in that manger. We humans seem to delight in endless battles for power and domination…God’s truth comes in the birth of a baby, not in a palace but in a stable. And so we continue to gather each Christmas Eve, each with our own tale of despair and turmoil, just to hear the story one more time…and pray for peace!

Thought for the Day: What’s my favorite part of Christmas Eve?

Luke 1:26-38

“And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.’” vs. 28

When we read Luke’s description of the Annunciation carefully we can’t help but chuckle at Mary’s response to Gabriel’s greeting, “she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.” We know the reaction! If a stranger were to come to us with words of praise and over-the-top affirmation we too would wonder what was up. It sounds like a well rehearsed sales pitch…we’d probably think they wanted a contribution! In this instance Mary’s suspicions were warranted. The angel had an agenda…the messiah was coming and a mother was needed…and for some reason she had been chosen. And when she humbly responded, “Let it be with me according to your word,” the deal was made, and the world has never been the same. This is the way God continues to bring change. Again and again we are approached with words of affirmation and praise…and always there is an agenda. God wants something done and needs our physicality to make it happen. We’re chosen by God’s initiative and by the power of the Holy Spirit love flows through us into all the right places. Christmas is a time to acknowledge that call with a renewed commitment to follow in the footsteps of Mary. We too have been chosen to give birth to the hope of the world! Let it be with us according to God’s word!

Thought for the Day: When we ignore God’s call, what happens?

Romans 16:25-27

“Now to God who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages…” vs. 25

Paul finishes his letter to the Romans with a benediction that lifts up and glorifies God. He wants them to know that this new gospel they’ve heard from him is really the revelation of an ancient mystery. In other words, the good news that had come through Jesus had been there from the beginning…it was the revealing of the true nature of God. In Jesus the hidden essence of God had become incarnate, the very truth of God in human flesh. And what was Paul’s gospel? Well, it was the additional good news that the Romans, most of whom were gentile, were included in God’s plan, and that they too could receive strength from a loving God for whatever challenge came their way. That continues to be God’s good news for us as we wend our way through the holidays. What we’re about to celebrate isn’t some random bit of history for us to research and then forget. What happened in Jesus can actually touch our hearts and souls! It can make a difference in our daily living and give perspective and meaning to every decision we make! Paul gave his life to make sure this message took root among the gentiles of Rome…he wanted everyone to know they were included in God’s salvation. It was good news then, and even better news now!

Thought for the Day: How is Jesus making a difference in my life today?

Luke 1:51-55

“He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.” vss. 52-53

As Mary continues to magnify the Lord she remembers the true nature of God as revealed through the history of Israel. Her God is no friend of the rich and the powerful and has regularly acted to undermine their attempts at domination and suppression. Her song assumes that God will continue to stand with the poor and the hungry, and that her son will lead the way in establishing a new kingdom of God on earth. There is such clarity in her vision that it boggles the mind to even imagine that there is another way of seeing God’s intentions. But that’s exactly what we do! Everywhere we look we see purported followers of Jesus taking the side of the powerful and the rich against the poor and the lowly. Oh we continue to throw crumbs to the hungry…we’re good at that…and we’re skilled at piling up tax deductions with our end of year gifts in this “season of sharing.” Such self-deception is a mark of the sin that clings so closely and reminds us that even our good deeds are easily tainted by selfishness and greed. But there is hope! On this darkest night we are reminded that the Light has come. Jesus has been born…and as he is born again in our hearts, the darkness falls away and we can live as God desires.

Thought for the Day: If God loves the lowly, why are the powerful prospering?

Luke 1:46-50

“And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord…’” vs. 46

Each year we marvel at Mary’s response to the angelic annunciation but sometimes we miss the significance of these opening words of her song. Her soul magnifies the Lord! Our tendency is frequently the opposite…our souls diminish the Lord in every way that we can. We want so badly to control our world and as a consequence God gets smaller and smaller. In fact that’s the biggest problem we have in dealing with faith issues: our God is just too small. For some God has evolved into a virtual state of non-existence. In their world everything can be mastered and understood. There’s a reason for everything…and an answer for every question. In their estimation there isn’t any need for God. Now most of us won’t go that far…we still reserve a few tasks for God…maybe creation…and well, occasionally in tight situations it’s nice to be able to shout out a prayer or two, even when we have virtually no confidence that there will ever be an answer. But just imagine if we prayed like Mary, “My soul magnifies the Lord.” We’d be saying that God is more present and more integral to existence than we had ever imagined, that God is more than we can even wrap our little minds around, that God was intimately involved in our beginnings and will be there in our endings and even beyond. Now that’s a God worth worshipping…and in truth that’s who God is.

Thought for the Day: How big is my God?

2 Samuel 7:8-11, 16

“Moreover the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house.” vs. 11b

David had been successful in hunting down his enemies and had even captured Jerusalem and made it his capital. And now he had been intending to complete his conquest by taking control of the Lord. He would build a house for his god…and there he would come to get prayers answered and receive guidance. He would have his own personal oracle! As we read these words we wonder at his primitive notions…it’s laughable to think that any of us, even a king, can even imagine confining the Lord of the Universe to a single building. Yet we never stop trying to make God fit into our little ordered structures and organizations. We make up creeds to define God and then announce that God can’t operate except in the ways that we have determined, that God is who we say God is. How presumptuous! Did anyone even dream that one day God would be born in a manger? How can that even be? And more than that, that the child in whom God became incarnate would die on a cross? It is we who are in the hands of God and not the other way around! And God does what God pleases…and keeps on surprising us with astonishing and steadfast love. God even took a rebellious, murdering, adulterous man like David and made him greatest ruler that Israel ever had. Just imagine what God can do with us!

Thought for the Day: How do I try to limit and control God?