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| Image by Don Sniegowski |
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A GREETING
"And now, O God, what do I wait for?
My hope is in you.
(Psalm 39:7)
A READING
There were shepherds in the area living in the fields and keeping night watch by turns over their flock. The angel of God appeared to them, and the glory of God shone around them; they were very much afraid. The angel said to them, “You have nothing to fear! I come to proclaim good news to you—news of a great joy to be shared by the whole people. Today in David’s city, a savior—the Messiah—has been born to you. Let this be a sign to you: you’ll find an infant wrapped in a simple cloth, lying in a manger.” Suddenly, there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in high heaven! And on earth, peace to those on whom God’s favor rests.” When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see this event that God has made known to us.” They hurried and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger; once they saw this, they reported what they had been told concerning the child. All who heard about it were astonished at the report given by the shepherds. Mary treasured all these things and reflected on them in her heart. The shepherds went away glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as they had been told.
(Luke 2:8-20 TIB)
MUSIC
A MEDITATIVE VERSE
What has come into being in him was life,
and the life was the light of all people.
(John 1:3b-4)
(Psalm *)
A POEM PRAYER
Instructions for living a life:
Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it.
- from "Sometimes" by Mary Oliver
VERSE OF THE DAY
The word is very near to you;
it is in your mouth and in your heart.
(Deuteronomy 30:14)
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| Image by Steven Severinghaus |
On Christmas Day, we praise God because joy has become the great disrupter. Joy breaks open the lives of Mary and Joseph. Joy suddenly bursts into an average night for shepherds, whose long encounter with divine beings is lovingly detailed in Luke, like a pre-imagining of the transfiguration of Jesus with its abundance of light and heavenly presence. Joy comes in a small bundle in a manger, but joy erupts in the telling of the news through magnificent expressions of divine presence. And meanwhile, Mary ponders it all in her heart.
The first impulse whenever we have joyful news, is to tell others. When a child has excelled, when a disease has found remission, when a burden has been relieved, we turn to those around us to share in our relief and good fortune. Meanwhile, as we also know, those who suffer are still longing for joy. A veil of isolation envelops them and they feel more alone than ever.
All of these truths were present at the birth of Jesus and always will be. The hardship of the lives of Mary and Joseph have been disrupted by joy — for a time. Soon they will be on route to Egypt to protect this child. The oppressive forces are still ranged everywhere around them.
The joy we associate with the Christ child and the joy of new Creation are so keenly felt because of the surrounding sorrow and fear. The angels’ call to ‘fear not’ at every step of the nativity journey to Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds, are not just to reassure them in the midst of their startling appearance. It is because they otherwise live in fear. These moments are a time to ‘fear not.’ Joy is disrupting fear and bringing the promise of so much new life.
Whether you are wrapped in sorrow this day or feeling great joy, or any number of places inbetween, the coming of the Christ child is for you. He is here, he loves you, and with Him we can do more than we can possibly imagine. Joy to the world.
May the peace of the Christ child bless you this Christmas!!
Merry Christmas!
The next devotional day is Friday, December 27 as we continue the journey to Epiphany.
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A STORY OF HOPE
In the British Museum, a package of rare Persian silk tree seeds had been kept in a cabinet and occasionally put on exhibit. They were acquired by a British diplomat in Beijing in 1793. During the second world war, the botanical wing of the museum was bombed and the cabinet was smashed. The fire was eventually put out. Weeks later when museum workers were finally able to get into that part of the museum, they caught sight of something green: the silk tree seeds had sprouted and were growing out of the rubble. Though they were 152 years old, the warmth of the fire, and the water used to extinguish it, had provided what they needed.
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| Painting by an unknown artist, found in the collection of the British Museum |
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LC† Seeds of Hope is a project of Lutherans Connect, supported by the Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and the Centre for Spirituality and Media at Martin Luther University College. To receive the devotions by email, write to lutheransconnect@gmail.com. The devotional pages are written and curated by Deacon Sherry Coman, with support and input from Pastor Steve Hoffard, Catherine Evenden and Henriette Thompson. Join us on Facebook, and on Twitter. Lutherans Connect invites you to make a donation to the Ministry by going to this link on the website of the ELCIC Eastern Synod and selecting "Lutherans Connect Devotionals" under "Fund". Devotions are always freely offered, however your donations help support the ongoing work.
Thank you and peace be with you!