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| Image by Derek Ramsey |
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A GREETING
I delight to do your will, O my God.
(Psalm 40:8a)
A READING
When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
(Matthew 2:9-11)
MUSIC
A MEDITATIVE VERSE
Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
(Psalm 90:14)
A POEM
Yesterday I tugged out ivy roots,
trying to make space for other
garden possibilities.
The day before some of my
roots were tugged – not to
displace but to replace
left behind memories of
the sweetness of sage
and the beat of
drum, heart, earth.
It wasn’t exactly a rebirth, but
still a spirit entered the room
and love cast a spell and
tears welled up and
tongues were tied – or perhaps, too – the
Spirit entered the room and tongues
were loosed, wet and salty tongues,
tongues of the heart,
tongues of the land,
aching to taste
righteousness and peace.
Today I look out my window
– to the garden – and there I see
rake, spade, and lopper. I am
reminded that my soul is soil and
every now and then it needs
to be fallowed, hallowed by
the ministrations of
angels unaware.
- "Angels Unaware by Rev. Dr. Allen Jorgenson
found on his blog stillvoicing
VERSE OF THE DAY
When you send forth your spirit, they are created;
and you renew the face of the ground.
(Psalm 104:30)
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| Image by Wouter de Bruijn |
The arrival of the Magi to worship Jesus, as we have discussed in other days, is an act of tremendous courage, moving into a region and a regime under Herod that was notoriously brutal. Their arrival is both a wondrous sign of the kingship (in its time) of Jesus, and an event that will catapult a whole series of repercussions. In the way that we sometimes romanticize elements of the Christmas story, we can sometimes forget the deep currents of violence and danger that run in its background. Nonetheless, the natal star of Jesus, which astrologers could determine, has its bright moment of reassurance. The Star of Bethlehem is not only telling them where to go, it is God’s way of reassuring them that they are accompanied by God, and will be okay.
Today’s song “Bramble” is one of the Spell Songs that we have heard from time to time in this project. Artist (and singer/collaborator) Jackie Morris (who co-authored The Lost Words book as illustrator with Robert MacFarlane as poet) draws a bramble in chalk as we hear lyrics that describe a time of fear and uncertainty. In the song, briars and thorns are like barbed wire, preventing abundant life, until it becomes clear that it is the briar itself that is seeking freedom. The activity of creating the drawing is an act of resistance -- not unlike Ukrainian gardener Alla (see Day 18) with her garden in the midst of war. Eventually, “lock all the doors and close all the shutters” becomes “open the doors, unfold the shutters” by the end of the song. We hear birds and the nattering sounds imitating water and other life.
From the window of light that squeaks into the end of the song, we are then ready to hear the deep connection to earth and profound joy that emanates from Allen Jorgenson’s poem. “I am reminded,” he writes, “that my soul is soil and / every now and then it needs / to be fallowed, hallowed by / the ministrations of / angels unaware.”
The bravery of the Magi or Wise Ones, means they were determined to pursue what they were called to do: they trusted in God despite all the possible perils. Bravery and courage start as seeds of love in our minds and in our hearts. We nurture and water those seeds so that we can give birth to hope. The Star, surrounded by the mystery of the heavens, is yet another outward sign of God’s infinite creativity and capacity to help us undo the gnarly, thorny, briary challenges we get ourselves into.
As you go forward into the days of the Epiphany season, how can you hold all that is precious in Creation in your heart? How can you lean into the wisdom of the earth, knowing Jesus walks with you there? Blessed Epiphany!
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A STORY OF HOPE
In Mengzi province of Yunnan, China, 'heavenly pits' as they are called in Chinese have been found in the last five years. These pits are the result of eroding limestone that collapses after expanding upward. Because of their depth and difficult access for humans, they have incubated and preserved hundreds of living species that scientists not only didn't know existed, but there were also some that they thought were extinct. (Read more here.) The discovery helps us to believe that there is hope for Creation to survive all we put it through.
The question for us is -- will we survive it too?
Today marks the end of the LC† Seeds of Hope devotional project. Grateful thanks to all who participated, including all who commented on Facebook and wrote emails. Grateful as always to Pastor Steve Hoffard, Catherine Evenden and Henriette Thompson for their support. You can continue to access the devotions by going here or by clicking on the banner heading at the top of the blog and scrolling down.
May the peace of the Christ child bless you this Epiphany and always.
See you in Lent! - Sherry Coman
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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!