The Greatest Gift of All

Posted on December 24, 2012 by Jason C. Stanley

Linus recites Luke 2:8-14:

Sometimes, we can feel like Charlie Brown. We get caught up in the hustle and bustle of Christmas and wonder, “Is there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?” Linus, much like the angels on that first Christmas, remind us what Christmas is all about.

“Peace and goodwill toward men.”

Peace and goodwill is hard to come by these days, as it was that first Christmas. Charles Campbell reminds us, “The political powers, in both Jesus’ day and our own, play on fear to get their way – whether it be the fear of the emperor, the fear of terrorists, the fear of the ‘other’ (the immigrant), or the fear of death.”

Government mandated oppression.

Discrimination against those were different than them.

The poor were kept poor.

People suffered from hunger.

Violence was evident on the streets daily.

But, that was in “those days.”

“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 room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7, NRSV).

The arrival of Jesus brought with it a “new day.” There is no longer need for fear, only joy. There is no longer need for corruption, only freedom. There is no longer need for hunger, only feasting. There is no longer need for occupation, only liberation. There is no longer need for war, only peace.

And yet, we struggle to see this “new day.”

Political parties inspire fear of the other party.

Hatred and bullying of someone, anyone, who is different from us is rampant.

The great divide between the have’s and the have-not’s gets wider and wider.

People suffer from hunger.

Violence is evident on our streets and in our schools.

And there is something deep inside of us that wants to cry out like Charlie Brown, “Is there anyone who knows what Christmas is about?” Sure, we get all these warm fuzzies at this time of year that make us feel so good. It’s great giving and receiving gifts. It’s great going to parties. It’s great having family and friends around.

But, at least for me, there is something hard to swallow about Christmas. That is with all the joy, there is grieving and hopelessness. And I don’t mean to be a damper on things. From Central America and back, I have seen suffering at the hands of poverty, addictions, and violence. And while we try to not think about these things at Christmas, we have to remember this is why the baby boy was born. This poverty, these addictions, and this violence is the reason God became man. This suffering is the reason that Jesus was born.

Jesus is not just the reason for the season. Jesus is the greatest gift of all. In that lowly manger sits hands of grace that bring healing and hope into our hopelessness.

John’s gospel talks about Jesus’ birth as a great Light that penetrates the darkness of the world. Matthew quotes Jesus telling the disciples that “You are the Light of the World.” This is just one of the many commissioning sayings of Jesus. God sent Jesus as the Light, we are the light-bearers. It is now our responsibility to carry that Light into the dark crevices of the world. Because we claim Jesus Christ, we now become a gift to the word.

Taking the Light to the oppressed.

Taking the Light to the poor and the hungry.

Taking the Light to the bullied and the bullies.

Taking the Light into the violent streets.

It is us who must act. It is us who must bring peace and goodwill to all. It is our gift to give.

Led by the Spirit

Posted on December 23, 2012 by Jason C. Stanley

Read Luke 1:39-45.

Here we have two women. One young, the other old. Both pregnant. Both marginalized by society. Mary because she is unwed and pregnant. Elizabeth has been disgraced by her community because she is old and barren. Both of their lives are changing. One bears the messenger, and the other bears the Message.

During this visit, Elizabeth is the first to declare Jesus “Lord.” Luke does not tell us what Mary does, if anything, between the angel’s visit and Mary’s visit with Elizabeth. What prompted this visit? What was the motivating force behind her actions?

The short answer is the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit that calls to us to act, to move, or to change. It is the force that gives us our power to do good. It is the motivator that causes us to seek out wisdom guides or mentors along our journey. Elizabeth is such a person for Mary. A mentor, a wisdom guide, a prayer partner.

Who has the Holy Spirit led you to as a faith mentor? Who is your wisdom guide? Who is your prayer partner?

Mary, Did You Know?

Posted on December 22, 2012 by Jason C. Stanley

Read Luke 1:46b-55.

I’m sure you’ve heard the song Mary, Did You Know? Mark Lowry wrote the song while on a tour bus. Lowry raises questions that, if given the chance, he would ask Mary. What would you want to ask Mary?

This video features scenes from the upcoming miniseries The Bible on the History Channel.

Mary Had a Baby Boy

Posted on December 21, 2012 by Jason C. Stanley

“And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)

My cousin is in the hospital awaiting the arrival of her first baby. As I’ve been talking with her and praying for her, I’ve also been thinking about what it must have been like that first Christmas. And the more I think about it, I think about how incredible the incarnation is. God became a human being.

God became a baby.

God became just like us. And in that moment, God was poor and helpless. The God of Creation became a crying baby boy. And the prophet Isaiah calls this baby, “Mighty God” (Isaiah 9:6). Before anything else, Jesus was Mighty.

Before changing water into wine. Before teaching the masses. Before walking on water. Before raising Lazarus. Before the Cross. Before it all, the baby was Mighty. This baby is the Mighty One who saves. This baby is the Mighty One who will change the world.

The German pastor and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in a sermon preached to a church in Havana, Cuba, said, “But now it is true that in three days, Christmas will come once again. The great transformation will once again happen. God would have it so. Out of the waiting, hoping, longing world, a world will come in which the promise is given. All crying will be stilled. No tears shall flow. No lonely sorrow shall afflict us anymore, or threaten.”

Little Town of Bethlehem

Posted on December 20, 2012 by Jason C. Stanley

“As for you, Bethlehem of Ephrathah, though you are the least significant of Judah’s forces, one who is to be a ruler in Israel on my behalf will come from you.” (Micah 5:2a, Common English Bible)

Here is a look at the story of Jesus from the perspective of modern day Bethlehem.

Eyewitnesses

Posted on December 19, 2012 by Jason C. Stanley

“Be glad in the Lord always! Again I say, be glad! Let your gentleness show in your treatment of all people. The Lord is near.” (Philippians 4:4-5, Common English Bible)

Excerpts from Max Lucado’s God Came Near:

Have you caught a glimpse of His Majesty? A word is placed in a receptive crevice of your heart that causes you, ever so briefly, to see his face. You hear a verse read in a tone you’d never heard, or explained in a way you’d never thought and one more piece of the puzzle falls into place. Someone touches your painful spirit as only one sent from him could do . . . and there he is.

Jesus.

The man. The bronzed Galilean who spoke with such thunderous authority and loved with such childlike humility.

The God. The one who claimed to be older than time and greater than death.

Jesus.

Have you seen him?

Those who first did were never the same.

“My Lord and my God!” cried Thomas.

“I have seen the Lord,” exclaimed Mary Magdalene.

“We have seen his glory,” declared John.

“Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked?” rejoiced the two Emmaus-bound disciples.

But Peter said it best. “We were eyewitnesses of his majesty.”

What greatness of Jesus have you seen? What majesty have you been an eyewitness of? How are you an eyewitness of the Christ?

What, Then, Should We Do?

Posted on December 18, 2012 by Jason C. Stanley

Read Luke 3:7-14.

John has been preaching in the wilderness calling for people to “prepare the way for the Lord.” An important part of this preparation is to repent and turn back to God. John’s preaching is so moving that the people ask him, “What should we do?”

John’s answer is pretty straight forward. If you have two coats and your neighbor has none, share with your neighbor. It is probably one of those things we learned in preschool or kindergarten. This mandate to share is also a mandate to prepare. As we share with our neighbors, we are preparing for the coming Kingdom.

When the tax collectors and the soldiers ask, “What should we do?” John tells them, basically, to not abuse their power. Unfortunately, we live in a society where the abuse of power is all too common place. All too often the oppression, persecution, and injustices we see are at the hands of those in power. How do we as people of faith respond? What, then, should we do?

Tears are Falling

Posted on December 15, 2012 by Jason C. Stanley

“Heal the broken hearted, and bind up their wounds.” – Psalm 147:3

Tears are falling today in light of the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School. It is difficult to understand why anyone would do such a horrific thing.

Advent is a time when we long for the One who will come and wipe our tears away. Advent is a time when we prepare our hearts for the coming of the One will heal all of our brokenness and pain. Advent is a time when the One who is coming will speak peace into our violence.

We need the Christ Child now more than ever. Join us as we pray for the Sandy Hook community.

where are the warm fuzzies?

Posted on December 14, 2012 by Megan J. Saucier

Read Amos 8:4-12.

One of the aspects of Advent and Christmas we often forget is how God’s birth and reign turn the world on its head. We want to think of Christ as bringing love and happiness- which he certainly does. But Advent is also a time of repentance, a time to consider the ways in which we have not acted in holy and just ways. In passages like the Magnificat, we hear that the hungry will be filled and the rich sent away empty (Luke 1: 53). At this time of year, we also hear words from the prophets who warn us what will happen if we refuse to take care of the poor.

Amos warns us what will happen if we “trample on the needy” (v. 4). Our harvest will not be plentiful and we will all go bald (hey, it’s in v.10) if we take advantage of the poor. These prophecies and warnings are reminders that there are consequences for our actions. Our faith is lived out in what we do and we are called to live in love, not greed. As easy as it is to give at this time of year to a Christmas Angel, Salvation Army and other charities, it can also be easy to ignore the reality of poverty. It is all too easy for us to shut our doors in our warm homes and look at our beautifully decorated trees, enjoying our hot cocoa and say- wow, isn’t this great?

During Advent, we are also waiting on the second coming of Christ, when God will fulfill the promise to make the world right and reign forever. In that new order, we will have no oppression, sadness, or hungry people. All will be good and we will experience God’s fullness.

There are many things to consider in response to the warnings from the prophets.

-What is God warning us about today?

-How are we living out the gospel and preparing for Christ to come again?

-What systems of oppression are you participating in and how can you find ways to change the tide?

Thank You, Lord

Posted on December 13, 2012 by Jason C. Stanley

Read Isaiah 12:2-6.

Isaiah chapter 12 is a psalm of thanks. We express thanks in a lot of different ways. Today consider ways in which you are thankful to God. Set some time aside today to tell God how thankful you are.

Something from Nothing

Posted on December 12, 2012 by Megan J. Saucier

Read Isaiah 35:3-7.

Image courtesy of hollywoodreporter.com

During this Advent, the images and sadness of Hurricane Sandy keep coming to mind. I can see all the victims standing outside their destroyed homes wondering what will Christmas really hold this year? As they look out on the land they call home, it probably appears pretty desolate.

Praise God there are signs of the kingdom all around. There are glimpses of people reaching out in love and hope to tell of God’s goodness. In disaster relief it is important to remember that there is more work to be done. Although the initial storm has passed, there are many other storms that threaten the livelihood of the people: access to food and clean water, money to rebuild, schools where children can learn and transportation to get to work. The problems are complex and require us to keep them in mind.

Today, remember the promise of God to sustain you and bring renewal to all the earth. Although the landscape looks desolate, God promises to bring new life.

Pray

Creator God, help us to be strong and not fear the days ahead. When I am weak, help me to claim the promise of new life in each day. Continue to give me signs of your reign that I may live in abundance. Amen.

Got Questions?

Posted on December 10, 2012 by Jason C. Stanley

Read Philippians 1:3-11.

When I was a kid, I remember always having questions. I didn’t always voice these questions, but they still roamed around in my head. I was curious about why things happened the way they did. In school, I remember always wanting to know more about a given subject, at times more than the teacher was willing to teach. My favorite teachers in school were the ones that were okay with me asking questions.

This continued into college, where I had some great professors who encouraged the asking of questions. I was told, very politically by a professor after a presentation in class I made that I was wrong. I didn’t believe her. I spent the next two days reading everything I could find in the library on the given “wrongness” of my presentation. I eventually had to go back to her and say, “You were right.”

In his prayer for the Philippians, Paul encourages them to seek knowledge of God. The more we know about God, the better we can discern, or make good decisions. And the more we determine what is good, the better our harvest, or good works, will be. It all starts with gaining more knowledge. And the way we do that is through searching for answers for the questions we way.

Today, make a list in your journal of the questions you have about God, faith, and/or religion. Share your list with someone you think might be able to help you search for answers.