Mark 9:9-13 He Grew Up...

Observation: Just after Jesus is transfigured in front of his disciples on a mountain top, giving them just a glimpse of who he really is, the disciples understandably have some questions. Since the just saw him with Elijah and Moses on the mountain, they want to know why the prophecies say Elijah has to return before the Messiah arrives. Jesus responds that Elijah did return--in the ministry of John the Baptist--and he was abused and killed, just as the Messiah will be...

Application: Can I be really, brutally honest? As much as I love preparing to celebrate Christmas with the church, I always feel a little weird about it, because I feel like for just twelve days a year, we have a whole different God.

Maybe that's an extreme way to state it, but it's true. At Christmas, we don't picture our Savior as the adult man whose ministry so upset the powers that be that they tortured him to death. We see him as a baby. A baby who never judges us, who never talks back to us, who never challenges us, but who just lies there being adorable, sleeping in heavenly peace. 

This is a problem. Not only would it be foolish to place the hopes of humankind on an infant, but maybe somewhere in the back of our minds, it might place the idea that, once in a while, we should be protecting, providing, or caring for God...?

So today, five days before Christmas, it's refreshing, though a little jarring, to remember: that baby grew up. He did not stay silent. He didn't stay in the manger.  He faced down injustice, sin and death without flinching. He died and rose, destroying the power of death. Which is why, even on Christmas Eve, we will hear the whole story, including the words, "In the night in which he was betrayed..." Thanks be to God for that. 

Prayer: Dear Lord, Heaven cannot hold you, nor the earth sustain. As we ponder your birth in Bethlehem, help us also ponder the road that began there: the road to your life-giving cross. Amen.

Acts 3:17-4:4, Times of Refreshing

Observation: After healing a paralyzed man in the temple, Peter preaches to the people that this healing is in Jesus' name. He then calls the people to repent and turn back to God, so that "times of refreshing" can come. 

Application: Times of refreshing sound pretty good right now. As Christmas approaches, I'm finding myself distracted, unfocused, trying to do too much and worry about even more. I'm looking forward to some family vacation time starting on Christmas day. 

I wish our spirits were just like web browsers...just click on the little circular arrow, and we're refreshed. All the bugs and glitches go away, and we reload our page: we reset our lives. 

But for people, it's not as simple as pushing a button. It's a continuous process, a repentance that happens every day, little by little, full of moments of clarity followed by moments of confusion. Those times of refreshing do come, just as Peter promised, but we can't make them happen. They come from God. The best we can do is be ready for them--be paying attention to the stirring of the Spirit--and not fight against them when they happen. 

Prayer: God, thanks for times of refreshing. Help us be ready for them when they come, and to let go of all that would stop us from being refreshed by you. Amen. 

Habakkuk 3:16-19 It Doesn't Have to All Work Out Today.

Observation: The prophet Habakkuk ends his book on a cliffhanger. He affirms that God will vindicate the people of Judah, and attack their enemies, but it hasn't happened yet. In the midst of failing crops and other bad omens, Habakkuk says, "yet I will rejoice in the Lord."

Application: I think I'm pretty typical of Americans in that I crave closure and happy endings. I need to know how things will work out. It's frustrating to get something started without knowing how it will work out in the end. It's disappointing to lend your voice to a cause or your work to an effort if you can't see the fruits right away, or if you seem to fail in the end. This can make me risk-averse sometimes. 

That's what I appreciate about Habakkuk...the book ends before the prophet sees any of the reversals of fortune that he describes. the book ends with all kinds of loose ends just hanging out there or God's people, and there's really no concept of how it'll go. 

Sometimes we just have to be okay with not having closure, or not having the outcome we hoped we'd have. We have to be okay not being where we pictured we'd be by this point in our lives. We have to be okay with the causes we care about being an ongoing process, that's two steps forward, one step back, if we're lucky. We have to be okay with calling it a day, a week, a year, without having checked any of the boxes we set out to check, not because we didn't try, but because life took a detour. We have to be able to turn in what we have to God, like a paper we wish we'd had another two weeks to work on, trusting that  what God will take it from here. 

Life rarely ties things up as neatly as a movie or TV show would. There are a whole lot more "To Be Continued's" than there are "The End's." And that's okay. Our job is not to finish the work. It's our job to work on it while we can, and hand it back to God. 

Prayer: God, help me be okay with things not working out the way I'd hoped. In Jesus' name, amen.  

Psalm 126 When the Lord Restored Our Fortunes

Observation: Psalm 126 begins, "When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, then we were like those who dream." It probably is referring to the time in Israel's history when the Babylonian Empire, which had sent most of Jerusalem's population into exile, was conquered by the Persians, who allowed Jerusalemites to return. Even after a whole generation of exile, eventually God restores the fortunes of Zion. The psalmist's point seems to be, "If God can bring us back from that, God can bring us back from anything."

Application: It strikes me more and more as I read the Hebrew Bible, that the overarching theme is covenant relationship. From Adam and Eve, to Abraham, to Moses, to the Promised Land, into exile and back again, God is not always happy with God's people, but God will never forsake their relationship. There will be some tough times--getting carted off into a foreign land for a whole generation definitely qualifies--but in the end, life is not just a game of chance, a spin of the wheel. God will never abandon us, even in the toughest times. 

As 2017 draws to a close, there are definitely a few moments I don't care to relive. Nothing at all like the Babylonian exile, but there were definitely moments of confusion, heartbreak, outrage, and dejection. I'd say on the level I'm ending the year feeling much more hopeful about life in general than I began it. But it helps to read a psalm like 126 and realize if God can take God's people back from exile, God can bring us back from anything. It's not just a spin of the wheel. God is rooting for us, and if we have eyes to see, God can restore our fortunes in ways we never expected. "May those who sow in tears reap in shouts of joy. Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come forth with shouts of joy, shouldering the sheaves."

Prayer: God, restore the fortunes of Zion. I pray once again for Jerusalem, you Holy City, that it may be a city of peace. But I also pray for the little village where I'm living now, and the cities and towns where those reading this today reside. Restore the fortunes of people facing pain, frustration and adversity. May those who are sowing in tears, reap with shouts of joy. Amen.     

Luke 1:5-17 Hope Renewed

[Content Warning: Discussion of Infertility]

Observation: Luke's account of the Nativity has this twin account of Elizabeth and Zechariah. From a storytelling standpoint, the birth of John the Baptizer gets pretty much equal time with the birth of Jesus. Much like Abraham and Sarah, Zechariah and Elizabeth have been unable to have kids and are getting on in years. Typical of those times, the stigma of that falls mostly on Elizabeth, because folks didn't know the many things that could go wrong: the text just says "Elizabeth was barren". Ouch.  When the angel appears to Zechariah, he says that not only will they finally have a child, but this child will be special: "He will turn many people of Israel to the Lord their God." Just because God hasn't responded to their prayers in the way they expected, doesn't mean God won't respond.

Application: I honestly don't know what to do with these stories sometimes. It is wonderful that God answered Elizabeth and Zechariah's prayers. But extraordinary accounts like this can be salt in the wounds of so many people I know who struggle with infertility. For people who have longed for years and years to have children of their own, who have prayed and worked and spent money and time and done everything in their power to become moms and dads, but for whatever reason it still hasn't happened, I can't imagine how a story like Elizabeth and Zechariah's miracle must strike them. This season in general--a story of waiting and longing, followed by a story of a joyous, happy birth--must be terribly painful. I was recently reminded by a friend that now is a time to be especially aware of the pain that may be out there. 

Sometimes God answers prayers. Other times God responds in a different way than we expect. And still other times, we're left scratching our heads--or even crying out--wondering if God is listening. When friends are going through times like this, it's best not to try and "figure it out" for them theologically, and hold forth with theories about what God may be up to. I can imagine Zechariah and Elizabeth would have long ago grown tired of the explanations and platitudes from friends and family. What would have been more useful, I suspect, would be folks who will sit with them in the pain, and not act as though it isn't there: folks who will acknowledge it, and not change the subject when it's brought up.  

And some of our brothers and sisters in Christ are called to other work than raising kids. To deny or question this life choice is to deny God's call in their lives. Let's not, please. 

Not every story ends like Zechariah and Elizabeth's. We need to acknowledge that. And we need to also acknowledge that all people are created in God's image, and are called by God to meaningful, world-healing work that may or may not involve raising kids. Women are worth so much more to God, and to our world, than whether they become moms. Men are worth more than whether they become dads. 

Prayer: God, for those who struggle as Elizabeth and Zechariah struggle--who want to become parents and can't--I ask your presence, healing, patience and strength. For those for whom this season opens old wounds, or even fresh wounds, be a comfort. Open our eyes to ways we can affirm, support and love each other through the trials of life. Amen. 

Isaiah 4:2-6 God's City of Peace

Me in Jerusalem, 2015. Photo: Guy Davis

Observation: After prophesying that God will cleanse the city of Jerusalem from idolatry, Isaiah says God will call the remaining people holy, and set a cloud above them by day and a pillar of fire by night to protect against any attack. This recalls the cloud and pillar of protection God set between the Israelites and the Egyptian army as they were preparing to escape across the Red Sea.

Application: As I read about protection for Jerusalem, I can't help noticing that Jerusalem has been much in the news recently, since our president broke with longstanding tradition to officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. There has been increased violence in the West Bank, and Palestinian representatives have made statements calling into question the United States' ability to be a neutral broker of peace talks after this move. Representatives of the major historic churches in Jerusalem, including Lutheran bishop Munib Younan, even sent a letter to the white house imploring the United States to continue recognizing Jerusalem's international status, reading in part, 

"Christmas is upon us soon. It is a feast of peace. The angels have sung in our sky: Glory to God in the highest, and peace on the earth to people of good will. In this coming Christmas, we plea for Jerusalem not to be deprived of peace, we ask you Mr. President to help us listen to the song of the angels. As the Christian leaders of Jerusalem, we invite you to walk with us in hope as we build a just, inclusive peace for all the people of this unique and holy city."

I don't want this devotional reflection to sound like a partisan political post. I really don't. If you happen to feel differently from me and these Christian leaders about this issue, please know that I seek dialogue and mutual conversation with you, not to divide or condemn. I pray for our leaders often, just as I pray for our country and for God's world. 

Having seen the beauty of Jerusalem--the ancient sites, the places where Jesus walked, taught, prophesied, suffered, died and was raised to life again--I pray for the peace of that city in a special way. I do pray that the cloud and pillar of protection God promises in Isaiah will one day stand guard for the Holy city. But in the mean time, Jerusalem--in Hebrew, city of peace--is only as Holy and as peaceful as humankind makes it. So in this Advent season, this season of longing, I long for the cloud and pillar of protection to materialize in our own hearts: through our willingness to hear one another's concerns, and look out for one another's welfare, when we agree but especially when we disagree. 

Prayer: God, for the peace of Jerusalem, I pray. For our president and for other decision makers, I pray. For the cloud of protection, for peace and wisdom in our hearts through your Holy Spirit, I pray. May your Holy City be made holy by our walking in Christ's way. May the city of Shalom be made more peaceful by acts of kindness and understanding. May your peace prevail on earth, beginning with people of good will, and spreading to all humankind.   Amen. 

Micah 5:2-5a, From Ancient Days

Observation: Although Micah's original historical context is the Northern Kingdom of Israel in the 8th Century BC, for two thousand years Christians have closely read Micah's words and connected them to the birth of Christ in Bethlehem. Christians proclaim the same Christ who took on flesh in Jesus has actually existed since before time, "from ancient days."

Application: Happy Saint Nicholas Day. Nicholas was Bishop of Myra (in modern-day Turkey) in the fourth century AD and took part in the Council of Nicaea in AD 325, where a lot of what we consider "orthodox" Christian beliefs were settled. Nicholas famously got so angry at Arius, an Egyptian theologian who claimed that Christ came to exist only after God the Father and was God's creation, that he smacked him. Not a flattering story necessarily, but almost certainly true, and a reminder of what Nicholas believed was at stake.

There are a lot of traditions surrounding Nicholas: his charitable giving, the miracles he performed for sailors in distress, and of course the hundred or so later layers of mythology and hype which connect him to our modern-day "Santa Claus." In some parts of the world, his saint day is still celebrated by giving candy coins to kids who leave out their shoes, recalling a story in which he secretly gave dowry money to a family of daughters who were too poor to be married. In many circles, Nicholas is remembered as an example of Christian generosity and giving, reminding us it's "more blessed to give than to receive."

In all honesty, I thought about just picking a text other than this appointed one from Micah--maybe one about giving or sharing--and in my mind I could almost hear Nicholas saying "do it and so help me, I'll clock you."

You see, if there's any sense I get from the historical Nicholas of Myra, what he devoted his life to above all else was not understanding how we humans can be generous to each other in our little way, but rather the infinite depths of God's generosity to us--that Christ who existed from eternity, who has never not been, was willing to empty himself and become a human being, vulnerable, limited, tied to a certain place and time, to offer God's love to us in his life, death and resurrection. I think the real "St. Nick" would be very much on board with yielding "his" day to talk about that Christ--the one "from ancient days"--who gave his whole self for us.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for the witness of your servant Nicholas, who pointed to your everlasting glory, and the amazing gift you gave to us in that little town of Bethlehem. Amen.     

Revelation 18:1-3, Fallen is Babylon the Great

Observation: Although there's a lot of really confusing imagery in the Book of Revelation, one consistent image remains throughout, and that is "Babylon." Babylon was the name of the Empire that in the 6th century BC sacked Jerusalem and sent its people into exile. By the time when Revelation was written (late 1st century AD) it is a stock image of an unjust Empire. While John of Patmos could not overtly call out the unfair economic and military practices of the Roman Empire, it's pretty clear that "Babylon" definitely applies to Rome. But more generally, it applies to the excesses and injustices to which any human government is prone. John's Revelation makes clear that in the end, all unjust Empires will fall. 

Application: What a clash. I'm sitting here in the light of my family Christmas tree,  listening to the Vienna Boys' choir, yet feeling ill at ease. I'm concerned for the poor in this country. I'm concerned for the sick, especially those without affordable health care. I'm concerned about graduate students. I'm concerned about public school teachers. I'm concerned about nonprofit organizations that benefit from people's voluntary generosity. 

And if you think I'm only talking about the recent tax bill, some form of which it appears will eventually make it into law, that's not the half of it. It's definitely not the way I would have chosen to do things, had I been a legislator. But when it comes down to it, I don't think one particular law will completely turn the tide of our country's ability or will to care for the most vulnerable in our society.

I believe we as a society have Babylon in our hearts: the Empire that reigns when we look out for ourselves rather than those with less power than we have. This Empire is not identified by one political party or the other. It can't be voted in our out in any election. It's not a red or a blue problem. It's a human problem. Callousness and indifference to human suffering are not endemic to one half of the population: in some form or another, that figure lingers closer to one hundred percent. That is the Babylon that falls when Christ comes to dwell with us. Whether or not we realize it, it is we ourselves who we are praying to be dethroned when we pray that Emmanuel comes. 

If we want to stop taking part in the kingdom of Babylon--if we want a society that is based on compassion, where the widow and orphan are cared for, and all God's children have enough--that can happen today, no matter who is in power. It's not about a particular method of caring for the poor. It's about deciding as people of faith that whatever our human institutions choose to do or not do, our values lie with the poor. We don't get to ignore their plight: it's simply a question of how we choose to respond. 

Prayer: God, Emmanuel, may Babylon fall and may you be our king--first and foremost in my heart, and in the hearts of all who call you Savior. Reign in us, and call us out of Babylon. Amen.