Scripture: Jeremiah 31:15-17; Psalm 124; Revelation 21:1-7; Matthew 2:13-23
This Sunday is the day the church remembers the Slaughter of the Holy Innocents on The Holy Innocent, martyrs Sunday. Much has been written about it. Albert Camus anguished about it in his book The Fall. We have just celebrated with "Joy to the World, the Lord is Come," and with angels heard on high singing "Gloria in excelsis Deo." Amidst new life, we are quickly reminded in Luke that the unimaginable horror of the slaughter of innocent children is part of the Christmas story, too, as Joseph flees to Egypt with Mary and the baby Jesus, being warned in a dream of Herod's treachery and power-lust.
We are also celebrating the baptism of our first grandchild this Sunday, and his uncle, an Episcopal priest, is coming in to minister the baptism. We are at the apex of joy. And yet, just as in the time of the Christ child, we know that innocent children, as well as their parents and other adults, are the victims of violence, terror, disease, illness, accidents, and abuse.
Like Camus, we ask how can this be? Where is God in all this? What does God have to say to Rachel weeping for her children? Tough questions, but not without hope. See the Rev. Pam Fickenscher's "Remembering Rachel: The Slaughter of the Innocents." In the midst of all the horror and tragedy, God sent his Son, whose name has an etymological root of "to deliver, to rescue - to save." As Paul says, "O death, where is your victory... where is your sting? We can say with Paul, "Death has been swallowed up in victory... thanks be to God! He gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!" The message is not only for our great reunion with God in heaven, but to save us now in the midst of our grief, sorrow and pain. You may also want to read The Rev. Dr. James Lamkin's "The New Normal."
Scripture: 2
Samuel 7:1-11, 16 •Luke
1:46b-55 or Psalm
89:1-4, 19-26 • Romans
16:25-27 • Luke
1:26-38
This week's Scripture is replete with God coming to us through the willingness of a very young woman to say "yes" to God. No cop outs, excuses, or begging out of what God asked of her, but simply and beautifully, Mary says "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be
with me according to your word."
All three authors of articles this week reflect on what it means to say "Yes" to God. See "And It Was Sufficient" by Kyle Childress, “gutsyfaith, greater than the angels – a reflection on the Annunciation" by The Rev. Rick Morley, and Jenny Warner's "The God-Bearer: Advent Reflections on Mary."
What strikes me most is that God chooses the ordinary, the unpretentious, the seemingly powerless - in short, each of us, just as we are, to manifest himself to, and in, the world. And despite our shortcomings and "lowly estate," like the babe in the manger, and his very young mother, the Lord God deems it sufficient and enough to accomplish his will, and bring about his kingdom.
As we prepare for the Lord's coming, we are reminded that this time of year can be a sad and lonely time for many. A local Catholic church offers a blue mass service for those low in spirit, lonely, depressed, down and out. As we wait and prepare with expectant hope, this week we are invited to share in the joy of the Lord's coming - in the midst of our human condition - amidst times of turmoil, violence, illness, troubles and woes.
As Jesus began his mission, he unrolled the scroll and read from this week's passage in Isaiah. "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he anointed me to bring good news to the oppressed, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners." Isaiah wrote to those returning from the exile of captivity. Returning to the ruins of their homeland. In the midst of those ruins, with great joy the prophet and the Israelites returned, thankful and filled with the promise of restoration.
Psalm 126 shouts of that joy of restoration in every verse, and Luke's Song of Mary, the god bearer (Θεοτοκος) is full of joy as her "soul does magnify the Lord." Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians enjoined them to give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ for us.
Consider the contrasts, and experience the hope and joy in Daniel Berrigan's, Advent Credo, Steve Goodier's "Surprised by Joy," and Melissa Bane Servier's "Joy?" When you have time, read C.S. Lewis' Surprised by Joy.
Scripture: Isaiah 40:1-11 • Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13 • 2 Peter 3:8-15a • Mark 1:1-8
After last week's apocalyptic passage from Mark, we have the first verse, or introduction, to Mark in this week's gospel. Mark starts with "The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God," seizes on the writings of the prophet Isaiah, and introduces us to John the Baptist, a voice crying in the wilderness, making straight the path, preparing the way for the Lord, proclaiming a baptism of repentance by water, for the forgiveness of sins. We await the coming of the Lord, and the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Just as Mark speaks of preparation for the Lord's coming, the author of 2 Peter urges patience and endurance as we wait. Contrasted with last week's cry from Isaiah of "O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, " the prophet says, "Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God," and he says that the Lord will feed his flock like a shepherd, gathering the lambs, carrying them gently in his bosom, and gently leading the mother sheep.
In violent and unsettled times, considering John the Baptist's ministry of repentance for the forgiveness of sin, Kathleen Norris asks, in "Mercy, Me," asks "Can it be that mercy really is at the heart of God? In "I Want to Be Ready, " Steve Goodier suggests ways to prepare for the future we are called to. In "Leftovers," Melissa Bane Servier suggests that in the re-imagining, re-emergence of our faith tradition, is a coming anew of God, creating anew, "taking those beautiful flavors of the ancient past and delivering them to us in ever-new ways," - sort of like living anew that glorious feast of Thanksgiving, and the leftovers of all of the wonderful memories, people, stories, aromas and blessings of our lives.
