Reading for Transfiguration Sunday

Mark 9:2-9

Devotion

Peace be with you!

Stories and pictures capture moments in time, so we hold onto the memories in the future. Some people hold onto the past to avoid change, to avoid ending a relationship, or to avoid admitting someone has left. Some are afraid of what the future has in store for them. Still others are afraid of being controlled by forces outside themselves. And for yet others, the motivation is positive: they get stuck in a moment when things are going well, and they resist any change.

In Mark 9:2-9, Peter, James, and John witness Jesus conversing with Elijah and Moses, both important figures in the Old Testament. After fleeing the Pharaoh in Egypt, Moses led the Israelites through the wilderness for forty years. God gave Moses the Ten Commandments and others laws for the Israelites to live by. Moses transformed the Israelites into living as God’s chosen people. Elijah challenged the King Ahab of the northern kingdom when they allowed the people to worship Baal and Yahweh simultaneously. True to the first commandment, Elijah believed Yahweh was the one true God who should be only god worshipped—not Baal. Elijah spent his fifteen years as a prophet transforming the way the northern kingdom worshipped. Both of these prophets work tirelessly to keep God’s people faithful to him.

When Peter sees Jesus with Elijah and Moses, he wants to build Elijah, Moses, and Jesus each a tent (Mark 9:5) to preserve the moment, because he doesn’t want things to change. Peter is enjoying listening to Jesus preach and wacthing him perform miracles. Why does it have to change? Yet the moment ends with God saying, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him” (Mark 9:7c NRSV). God the Father confirms Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Christ (Mark 8:29) and the demonic voices’ recognition that Jesus is the Son of God (Mark 1:34; 3:11). What does God mean when he tells the disciples to “listen to” Jesus? What is the context? The Greek verb for “listen” (ακουω) should be translated “hear.” In the previous chapter, after Peter’s confession that Jesus was the Messiah, Jesus told Peter he would suffer, be rejected, be killed, and after three days rise again (Mark 8:31-33). Peter had rebuked Jesus for saying this, mistakenly thinking that glory and suffering do not go together. When God says, “hear him,” he is saying Jesus’s crucifixion, death, and resurrection must happen—it is the divine plan. Glory will come through the cross. God affirms Jesus’s authority and instructs the disciples to do as Jesus says. God uses Jesus to transform the people who follow him and to set them free from their sins. Jesus has work to do and will be drawing many people to God the Father—not just the chosen few.

The transfiguration is a time to reflect and give glory to God for what Jesus has accomplished, a time to look forward into the future for what has to happen. Jesus has healed the sick, raised the dead, and rebuked demonic voices. Now Jesus has to endure a difficult journey to the cross in order to conquer death and to free us from the bondage of sin. This is why we Christians give glory to the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Through Jesus Christ, we are transformed from sinners to saints every day.

The pictures and stories of Jesus healing the sick, comforting those who mourn, and helping the poor make it easy to give him glory. These snapshots give us the “warm fuzzies” and make our hearts glad. However, without Jesus dying on the cross, we would not be able to worship the risen Lord. We would not know God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. We Gentiles would not be a part of the community of the “chosen”; Jesus makes it possible for us all to be in community. No matter how much Peter wants to freeze the transfiguration in time, Jesus must move forward with the plan. Jesus has to go to the cross—a painful snapshot to view—in order to conquer death. This is whaty God the Father sent Jesus Christ into the world to do. Who are we to stop him?

Thanks be to God!

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for transforming us through Jesus Christ. Help us to let go of the past and move forward into the future. Guide us with your grace and love into the unknown. Help us to understand why Jesus’s crucifixion, death, and resurrection has to happen. Thank you for your wisdom to know our needs before we do. Amen.

Reflective Questions

Please answer the following reflective questions in the comments below. Please agree to disagree and be respectful to each other. (If you have not already done so, please also take a moment, to sign the behavior covenant by commenting on it.) You can answer as many questions as you would like.

1. Which memories do you hold on to?
2. How have you been changed by Jesus?

Reading for the Fifth Sunday after Epiphany

Mark 1:29-39

Devotion

Peace be with you!

From time to time, you need a healing—physical, psychosocial, or spiritual—because, for whatever reason, you are not capable of being your usual self. You feel as though your lack of health is keeping you from doing what God calls you to do. Feeling hindered like this is very difficult.

A few summers ago, I got a spider bite that became infected and turned into MRSA. I was put on two strong antibiotics and ended up developing an allergy to them. Since the antibiotics made my insides vibrate whenever I would move, I was confined to my couch for a week. I also had a dressing on my knee, which did not stay on well and therefore limited my movements. It was a lonely week; because the MRSA was highly contagious, no one could come over. A week on the couch turned into a month while this active person struggled to recover.

In Mark 1:30, Simon’s mother-in-law is in bed with a fever. This seems to be have been a life-threatening illness, given the urgency with which the disciples ask Jesus for help. When Jesus sees the mother-in-law, he takes her hand and lifts her up, and the fever is gone (Mark 1:31). Jesus’s healing restores Simon’s mother-in-law to her normal self, allowing her to go back to serving her household. This gives Simon’s her back her sense of purpose and productivity in life. Some people use Mark 1:30-32 to explain gender roles:women should serve men. Although that may have been true for the time, this text’s real point is to convey it feels to have Jesus restore us. No one enjoys being laid up in bed and not able to do what they want and need to do. We feel helpless, because we need others to help with our basic needs. When Jesus heals Simon’s mother-in-law, her self-esteem is also restored because serving others gives her a sense of accomplishment. Restoring her physical health gives her freedom from her bed and the willingness to serve.

I remember being excited to be able to shower independently again after six weeks of feeling weak from fighting the MRSA infection. I could shower without feeling unsteady or worrying if I would fall. I felt like I had control back over my body. I could even go out of the house and not worrying about spreading the infection. I no longer felt like a leper.

When I was restored to my normal lifestyle, I could go back to my work as a writer and community builder. As a writer, I spread the good news of Jesus Christ. I also write as an advocate for other people with disabilities. I work hard to be a voice for those who are unable to communicate for themselves. As a community builder, I work to include those who would otherwise be left out. It takes time to spread the word and to build relationships with people who have been taken advantage of in the past and who do not trust easily. My work is important to me, and when I am too sick to do my work, I feel incomplete. This is why I get so excited when I feel better, and I am able to do my work again.

Simon’s mother-in-law is excited to be able to serve again. Serving Jesus and her household is what gave her purpose in life. This is what being healed by Jesus means: being restored to fulfill your purpose in the world.

Thanks be to God!

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for restoring us when we are sick. Help us to find our purpose in the world. By your Spirit, lead us to build community wherever we go. Thank you for hearing the urgency in our prayers, even when we think they go unheard. Amen.

Reflective Questions

Please answer the following reflective questions in the comments below. Please agree to disagree and be respectful to each other. (If you have not already done so, please also take a moment, to sign the behavior covenant by commenting on it.) You can answer as many questions as you would like.

1. What gives you purpose in your life?
2. How has Jesus restored you?

Reading for the Fourth Sunday after Epiphany

Mark 1:21-28

Devotion

Peace be with you!

The world’s negative emotions and messages cause us to do some weird stuff sometimes. Satan plays on these emotions and messages to attempt to divide us from God the Father. Anger, jealousy, bitterness, addiction, rebellion, and spite all cause negative emotions inside us and cause us to act differently than what we would do otherwise. The toll on those you love is often great. For example, my brother did drugs growing up and lost trust among many family members and friends. He would steal things and sell them at pawn shops so that he could buy drugs. When my brother hit rock bottom, he decided to go into rehab where he was forced to examine what he did to others and make amends for his past actions. Over the past four years, my brother has worked hard to repair his relationships with family members and friends and has maintained stable employment as well. My brother changed his lifestyle and became a positive message to others.

In Mark 1:21-28, Jesus is teaching in the synagogue when a man with an unclean spirit comes in. The man with the unclean spirit yells, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God” (Mark 1:24 NRSV). We are not told the man’s story or what kind of unclean spirit possesses him. The man could be the local drunk, prostitute, or [whatever “it” is] that caused his outburst. However, his questions and statement alert us that Jesus is a threat to the unclean spirit–and Satan’s—power in the world. Before Jesus comes into the world, Satan rules the roost and has the authority in the world; because God is a distant figure in heaven, whom no one on earth has seen. But now God is in the flesh and exhibits his full authority through Jesus who. God is invading Satan’s territory and reclaiming what is his to begin with.

Jesus commands the unclean spirit, “Be silent, and come out of him!” (Mark 1:25 NRSV). The unclean spirit obeyed and came out, yelling and convulsing the man (Mark 1:26). The man was given a new life through the work of Jesus who comes into the world as God’s Spirit. My brother’s addiction was an unclean spirit that caused him to hurt his family and friends. Finally, when he hit rock bottom and entered rehab, the unclean spirit got scared and was evicted. Rehab yelled at my brother’s addiction, “Be silent, and come out of him!” Rehab helped my brother to heal old wounds and repair relationships with family and friends. Rehab caused my brother to examine his life and to see what is important.

The crowd from the synagogue is amazed by Jesus’s new teaching and by the way unclean spirits seem to obey him (Mark 1:27). The world is changing. Unclean spirits are no longer safe in the world because God’s Spirit is here. God gives Jesus and the Holy Spirit the authority to release us from unclean spirits. We are no longer Satan’s captives and are freed by God’s Spirit.

In a world full of rebellion, revenge, hatred, and addictions, God’s Spirit comes to stop these threats and replaces them with love, forgiveness, and grace. God cries out to the unclean spirits in the world, “Be silent, and come out of him!”—and we are made whole. Jesus coming into the world changes everything.

Thanks be to God!

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for releasing us from unclean spirits. Help us to fight against our addictions. Lead us through your Spirit to overcome the unclean spirits in our lives. Hold us close and never let us go. We commend all of these things to you in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Reflective Questions

Please answer the following reflective questions in the comments below. Please agree to disagree and be respectful to each other. (If you have not already done so, please also take a moment, to sign the behavior covenant by commenting on it.) You can answer as many questions as you would like.

1. What kinds of unclean spirits try to claim you?
2. How does God release you from the unclean spirits?

Reading for Third Sunday after Epiphany

Mark 1:14-20

Devotion

Peace be with you!

It takes courage to answer Jesus’s call [whatever “it” is], because it often involves an immediate action. In such cases, there is no luxury of getting things in order or making plans. Jesus does not use strategic planning to execute the best possible plan of action, whether he encourages us to be lead by the spirit. There is no “maybe” or “not at this time, but maybe later.” Jesus does not give you time to think it over. He wants immediate decision to follow the spirit.

In John 1:43-51, Jesus calls Nathanael to follow him. We discussed how difficult it is as American to follow Jesus; our culture pressures us to be leaders and not followers. America’s virtues are built upon individualism. Yet leaders build onto to the ideas of those before them. In Mark 1:14-20, we learn what it means to follow Jesus: “Repent, and believe in the good news” (Mark 1:15c NRSV).

First, we must repent of our sins and confess our need for Jesus. We heard the call to repent before from John the Baptist (Mark 1:4; John 1:31). We repent because we are not worthy of Jesus dying on the cross for our sins; we are not worthy to be in a relationship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. By repenting, we admit our need for Jesus, and we commit our lives to him.

Second, we must believe in the good news: the Kingdom of God is near (Mark 1:15b). Jesus comes into the world spokesperson for God the Father and his Kingdom: to tell us he hears our cries, frustration, laughter, and every other emotion. Jesus is the Son of God and knows we need him. We have to succumb to the fact that we need Jesus and believe he comes into the world for the benefit of our souls. We have to let go of the world’s pressures and believe God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit will never leave us hanging nor let us drown in our sins but will give us eternal life. Nothing else matters. The world could end tomorrow, and we would join God in his Kingdom, because that is what he promises us through Jesus’s crucifixion, death, and resurrection. Nothing else matters.

Third, we are called into action: to spread the good news (Mark 1:17c). Jesus calls Simon and Andrew and says, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people” (Mark 1:17). When we follow Jesus, he leads us where we need to be and gives us the courage, the wisdom, and the words to carry out his plan. You do not need to hold a master’s degree or to be a pastor to spread the good news—all you need is Jesus Christ and everything else will fall into place. Jesus calls us to be teachers, doctors, personal caregivers, writers, speakers, models, and [whatever “it” is] you do to share the good news. As longer as you lift up God in your work, you are fulfilling Jesus’s call.

Even on days we are sub-par, Jesus calls you to carry out your vocation. When I was going through my divorce, the last thing on my mind was writing these weekly devotions. A few colleagues filled in for a month, because I was physically and emotionally exhausted. I barely had the energy to get the basics done—eating, showering, cleaning, and tending to the pups. The next month I wrote as I was able, with raw emotions and insights as to how God was helping me through that difficult time. I continued to answer Jesus’s call by giving what I could—knowing God would fill in the gaps. Over time, God healed my wounds and gave me the courage to continue my work. God showed me the way through the darkness and showed me the light.

Following Jesus is not easy. Satan gets in the way and makes us question the “what” and the “where” of Jesus’s call. Our vocations come with tears, frustration, and exhaustion—not because God sends us to do the impossible but because Satan wants to stop us. However, God has done the hard work by sending his only begotten son to die on the cross and to conquer death through his resurrection. This is what makes our work to spread the good news in our given vocations possible.

Thanks be to God!

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for calling us to follow Jesus Christ. Lead us to answer your call to spread the good news within our vocations. Remind us that we are here to carry out your plan, not our own agendas. Give us the strength to resist Satan’s temptations. Thank you for giving us each unique vocations through which to spread the good news. Amen.

Reflective Questions

Please answer the following reflective questions in the comments below. Please agree to disagree and be respectful to each other. (If you have not already done so, please also take a moment, to sign the behavior covenant by commenting on it.) You can answer as many questions as you would like.

1. How do you spread the good news within your vocations?
2. What do you do to resist Satan’s temptations?

Reading for Second Sunday after Epiphany

John 1:43-51

Devotion

Peace be with you!

In a world where there are a multitude of lifestyles and role models to follow, there are many difficult decisions to make. Some people are followers, which can either lead them to either emulate their leader’s bad choices or to copy virtuous actions. Other people are leaders who pave their own way and make positive decisions. Still others are leaders who focus their energy on simply making money and having the best of everything. Whether we are leaders or followers, we decide whether to follow a positive or negative direction in life.

When I hear Jesus say, “Follow me” (John 1:43), I want to run in the opposite direction. My parents taught me to be a leader and to make positive decisions for myself and for my community. To follow Jesus means to let go of the reins and to give control over to him. It contradicts much of what I have been taught by my parents and various mentors. In my mind, being a follower means you need someone else to make your decisions for you. As Americans, we are encouraged to challenges the ideas and opinions of others. When someone just follows someone else’s lead, we, Americans, think they are uneducated or too weak to think for themselves. And yet everyone needs someone to model their own decisions after. No one can pave a new path without building on the ideas of someone else.

Jesus says, “Follow me” (John 1:43), and I am caught between two worlds: being a leader and being a follower of Jesus. It is an odd place in which to be. I find myself rebelling against both worlds in hopes of finding a balance: to stand as an independent young woman and to depend on Jesus Christ for guidance.

As a skeptic, Nathanael asks, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46a NRSV). Any scholar will tell you where and whom you studied under is of great importance. Nazareth is a small, inconsequential town, giving Jesus no real credibility with which to back up his teachings. To Nathanael’s objection, Philip simply replies, “Come and see” (John 1:46b NRSV).

Jesus knows Nathanael as an upright man who follows the law faithfully (John 1:47). Nathanael is shocked to be known by Jesus as such and questions how he knows him (John 1:48a). Jesus simply says, “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you” (John 1:48b). Immediately Nathanael recognizes Jesus as Rabbi, Son of God, and King of Israel (John 1:49). Jesus knows each of us even before we meet him; he knows us completely without us doing a thing to reach out to him. Nathanael recognizes Jesus’s knowing ability as coming from God the Father. Jesus must be the Messiah.

Yet Jesus exclaims that Nathanael will see greater things, such as the heavens opening up and angels surrounding Jesus (John 1:50-51). Jesus reinforces Philip’s “come and see” and explains that he will experience even more amazing things if he follows Jesus.

Being Jesus’s disciple will lead these men down a new path in life. These men will witness the Messiah’s work in the world. The Messiah will be crucified and die in front of their eyes, and then these men will see him rise from the dead and then ascend into heaven. Their foundation will be shaken and rebuilt upon Jesus’s crucifixion, death, and resurrection when angels of God will ascend and descend upon the Son of Man (John 1:51). Nathanael transforms from skeptic to believer through believing he will witness many great things by following Jesus Christ. Nathanael comes to believe there is something more to life than what he understands and is willing to step out on a limb to see what Jesus has to show him. The Kingdom of God is near through Jesus Christ, the Messiah, coming into the world to die for our sins. Nathanael chooses to follow Jesus and to keep his eyes open.

There are days when I am skeptical of how God is working in my life. Sometimes he feels so far away. Then I realize it is I who has walked away from God—thinking I could handle [whatever “it” is] on my own.

It is amazing how plans fall into place when you let go of your ideal plan and leave it to God. Whenever I find myself needing transform from skeptic to believer, it is usually when I have taken too much onto myself without asking for God’s help. When I let God in, everything seems to fall into place. God knows where and when we need to be for a given purpose, even if we do not know until it is happening. Jesus invites us to “come and see” what he has in store for us. All we need to do is believe.

Thanks be to God!

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for inviting us to “come and see” what Jesus is up to in our lives. Help us to be transformed from skeptics to believers. Reveal your plan to us as we continue to do your work in the world. Guide us through your forgiveness, grace, and love. Thank you for being close to us. Amen.

Reflective Questions

Please answer the following reflective questions in the comments below. Please agree to disagree and be respectful to each other. (If you have not already done so, please also take a moment, to sign the behavior covenant by commenting on it.) You can answer as many questions as you would like.

1. Who are your role models? How do you model your life after them?
2. How are you a skeptic?
3. How have you been transformed from skeptic to believer?

Reading for Baptism of Our Lord

Mark 1:4-11

Devotion

Peace be with you!

Most people make resolutions at the beginning of the new year. A lot of people set goals to become healthier by losing weight, eating healthier food, exercising more, or [whatever “it” is] that will make them feel better about themselves. Others set goals to keep in better contact with friends and family members. Many people make their New Year’s resolutions public on Facebook or their blog to get others to hold them accountable to their goals.

In Mark 1:4-11, Jesus goes to John the Baptist to be baptized in the Jordan River. Jesus’s baptism becomes a public proclamation to serve God the Father who sent him to redeem his people. Following his baptism, Jesus begins his public ministry as the Messiah—the Son of God.

John the Baptist proclaims “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Mark 1:4b NRSV). Our acknowledgement of not being worthy without Jesus’s death on the cross is key to being baptized and being in a relationship with the Lord. Left to our own devices, we are not worthy to know the Lord, let alone to be in a relationship with him. John the Baptist does not even feel worthy to baptize Jesus (Mark 1:7), but Jesus humbles himself and allows himself to be baptized.

God the Father also makes a proclamation: “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased” (Mark 1:11b NRSV). God the Father claims Jesus, expresses his pleasure with him, and through the Holy Spirit promises to work through his ministry. God the Father and Jesus commit to complete their mission to redeem the world. What if we, Christians, made the same commitment to the Triune God – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit? We can renew our own commitment to the Lord by making it a priority to go to church every week, to study the Word of God daily, to pray more, and to share the good news with others. Our relationship with the Lord should be a priority in our lives, and our other resolutions should support it. We should want to become healthier in order to be able to serve the Lord more fully. We should express our love for friends and family in order to serve the Lord. We should take our worries and concerns to God through confession and prayer rather than starting an argument on Facebook, Twitter, or other social media platforms. Our relationship with the Lord should take precedence in our lives, transforming our actions to express God’s forgiveness, grace, and love rather than the ways of the world.

Many New Year’s resolutions focus on transforming one’s self to be better. There is no better transformation than committing your life to the Lord through strengthening your relationship with him. By doing so, you will be more conscious of how God’s presence in the world. God has made the resolution to open his heart to everyone through Jesus’s crucifixion, death, and resurrection. Nothing is impossible for God to handle. The world’s promises fade away, but the Triune God stands firm in his promises of forgiveness, grace, love, and eternal life. God is waiting for you to give your life over to him, so he can have an active role in your life. Are you ready for God to transform you?

Thanks be to God!

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for making us worthy to be in a relationship with you. Open our hearts to welcome your presence into our lives. Remind us we can come to you with anything that troubles our hearts. Nothing is too big for you to handle. Thank you for your commitment to be in a relationship with us. Amen.

Reflective Questions

Please answer the following reflective questions in the comments below. Please agree to disagree and be respectful to each other. (If you have not already done so, please also take a moment, to sign the behavior covenant by commenting on it.) You can answer as many questions as you would like.

1. What are your resolutions for 2015?
2. How are you going to recommit yourself to the Lord?
3. How has the Lord committed himself to you?

Readings for Epiphany of the Lord

Matthew 2:1-12

Devotion

Peace be with you!

Imagine not knowing the Christmas story and having it unfold in front of you. A baby is born and is the Messiah—the Savior of the Jews. How would you react to the news?

King Herod is jealous of what he is hearing about this baby, Jesus. King Herod calls upon the chief priests and scribes to tell him where he can find this Messiah (Matthew 2:4). The chief priests and scribes tell King Herod the Messiah was prophesied to be born in Bethlehem of Judea (Matthew 2:5). But they do not stop there; they tell King Herod what he does not want to hear: “…for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel” (Matthew 2:6c NRSV).

King Herod is jealous because this baby is going to threaten his kingship. King Herod is thinking Jesus is going to grow up and overtake his kingdom through military might. Herod is right that Jesus is the King; Jesus will reclaim the people for God the Father. However, Herod is also wrong, because Jesus’s kingdom is not of this world. King Herod does not understand the importance of a spiritual kingdom and fears the worst.

Jealousy causes King Herod to ask the wise men to go see this baby Jesus and to report back to him. King Herod seeks to kill Jesus out of fear of his conquest over Herod. However, God outsmarts him by giving the wise men a dream and telling them not to report back to King Herod. And God sends an angel to Joseph to tell him to escape to Egypt (Matthew 2:12-17).

The wise men stand in stark contrast to King Herod. Instead of being threatened by Jesus, they bring him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh—gifts of a king (Matthew 2:11). The wise men honor Jesus as they would the king of a country; they find or renew a faith in the Lord. Though the mystery of the kingship of Jesus could not be fully understood by the wise men, they recognize his lordship to the best of their ability. Jesus will become a king in whole different sense—a king who saves us from our sinful natures. Even with their limited understanding, the wise men find themselves looking at life in a whole new way.

Take a moment to ask yourself where you fit into the story. Are you like King Herod afraid of the next person who may steal your glory? Are you one of the wise men who are looking for God’s love, peace, and grace? Would you take Jesus gifts suitable for a king? Are you like Mary, mesmerized by the events? Are you like Joseph, ready to take action? Everyone has a role in the story. What is your role?

Thanks be to God!

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for sending Jesus Christ into the world. Help us to be amazed by your presence. Remind us to be mindful of our roles in your story. Quiet our minds, so we can hear and answer your call. Thank you for surprising us with your grace. Amen.

Reflective Questions

Please answer the following reflective questions in the comments below. Please agree to disagree and be respectful to each other. (If you have not already done so, please also take a moment, to sign the behavior covenant by commenting on it.) You can answer as many questions as you would like.

1. When in your life have you been like King Herod, threatened by Jesus’s kingship?
2. When in your life have experienced the surrender and awe of the Wise Men, who bowed down before Jesus?
3. What will you do this week to honor Jesus as King?

Image found at http://www.examiner.com/article/dealing-with-the-five-causes-of-professional-jealousy

Readings for Christmas

Luke 2:22-40

Devotion

Peace be with you!

Everyone has a friend who has the ability to point out what you are good at—someone who recognizes and encourages you to sharpen and share your gifts. Sometimes, their encouragement to do more seems like nagging, while other times it gives you the reassurance you are heading in the right direction.

To the best of their ability, Mary and Joseph teach Jesus the Jewish ways by taking him to the Temple, leading by example, and participating in the Jewish festivals. According to Jewish law, Mary and Joseph take Jesus to be circumcised when he was eight days old. Also, Mary and Joseph go to the temple to be purified forty days after Jesus’s birth. Jewish law requires women to go to the temple for a purification rite forty days after giving birth. Mary and Joseph are faithful to the Jewish laws.

Circumcision is an important event, particularly for a firstborn son, since he is set aside as holy to the Lord (Luke 2:23). The symbolism here is important since Jesus is also God’s holy firstborn Son. Mary and Joseph may not have understood the true importance of Jesus being circumcised, but they faithfully follow the Jewish law by offering a sacrifice and having Jesus circumcised (Luke 2:21, 23-24).

When Mary and Joseph take Jesus to the Temple, an old man named Simeon is there. Simeon is looking forward to the redemption of Israel, which the Lord had promised to the Israelites. The Holy Spirit has told Simeon that rests that he would see the Messiah before he died (Luke 2:25-26). When Simeon sees Jesus in the Temple, he is overwhelmed with joy as he recognizes that this is the Messiah (Luke 2:34). Jesus will redeem those who turn their backs to the devil.

Simeon sings a song praising the Lord for allowing him to meet the Messiah before dying and for allowing him to see the Redeemer of Israel. He can die in peace knowing his friends and family will be redeemed in the name of the Lord. The redemption of Israel is being set into motion, and although Simeon will not be there to see it accomplished, he can die happy, knowing it will happen as the Lord has promised.

A little later in Jesus’ family’s Temple visit, the prophet Anna also worships God and identifies Jesus as the Redeemer of Israel (Luke 2:36-39). Simeon’s and Anna’s brief mention in the gospel plays an important role in confirming the baby Jesus as the Messiah. The Christmas season can be a difficult time for people who have lost loved ones in the past. The gift of closure through know Jesus Christ as the Messiah gives family members a chance to make peace with their departed loved ones, because they will see them again in God’s kingdom. Family members and friends can find reassurance that their loved one has been saved and redeemed and can join in singing Simeon’s song. Simeon’s joy reminds us to recognize what was to come and what is to come through the work of the Holy Spirit.

Simeon’s song furthers confirms Jesus is God’s son; Mary and Joseph just have the honor to raise him and to be a part of the story. Mary and Joseph are right to bring Jesus to the Temple, to have him circumcised, and to raise him with the Jewish traditions. We owe God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit ongoing praise as they continue to offer us redemption and grace all the days of our lives. We should not just think of redemption as something that has happened in the past but as an ongoing event: the world continues to be redeemed by the Lord. We are redeemed and given grace on a daily basis.

As we bury loved ones in the coming months—or as we mourn the loss of those we love who are long in the ground, let us lift their memories to the Lord and trust that he will redeem them as his children.

Although Simeon’s song about his coming death seems out of place during the Christmas season, it reminds us of the joy found in redemption and grace through the Messiah. This reassurance in God’s ongoing redemption and grace gives us peace of mind, knowing the Lord will always redeem us as his children.

Thanks be to God!

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for continuing to redeem us as your children. Help us to understand that redemption is an ongoing experience. Remind us as we bury loved ones that you redeem them as your children. Thank you for giving us grace through your Son, Jesus Christ, the Messiah. Amen.

Reflective Questions

Please answer the following reflective questions in the comments below. Please agree to disagree and be respectful to each other. (If you have not already done so, please also take a moment, to sign the behavior covenant by commenting on it.) You can answer as many questions as you would like.

1. What parts of Simeon’s song most resonate with you?
2. How do you celebrate the joy in knowing we are redeemed?

Readings for Christmas

Isaiah 9:2-7

Luke 2:1-20

Devotion

Peace be with you!

The past few weeks have been hectic. I have been busy looking for the perfect gifts for friends and family. Then I had to have my personal caregiver wrap all of the gifts, which ended up being a three-day job. I also send way too many Christmas cards and packages to out-of-state people. Of course, there are a few holiday parties and lunches with friends squeezed in there as well. It is no wonder I am tired, stressed, and plagued by a nagging feeling that I am forgetting something. Can you relate?

We are not alone. The first Christmas was chaotic too. Mary and Joseph have a lot going on now that Mary is pregnant. Mary had travelled to see Elizabeth who was experiencing her own miraculous pregnancy, expecting a child in her old age (Luke 1:36). Just as Mary is ready to give birth to Jesus, she and Joseph have to rush to Bethlehem in Judea to be registered in the census (Luke 2:1). After travelling so much, I wonder if Mary had time to prepare the nursery or if the baby shower gifts were just thrown in a room with the hope she would have time to organize them upon her return. And what did her doctor think of all this traveling?

Then Joseph and Mary get to Bethlehem, and all of the hotels are filled up. The census is a great excuse for a giant family reunion. I bet Mary had a few choice words for Joseph: “I am due any day with God’s baby, and you drag me to Bethlehem so we can register for this stupid census. Oh, and you forgot to reserve a room. … Huhmmm Joseph, you better find a place to stay quick because my water just broke. … No, I am delivering God’s son in a tavern. … A stable will be warm with all the animals. Why don’t you ask the farmer??? And hurry Joseph!” I am sure Mary was in a full panic attack as she started giving birth to her first son without her mother or a midwife.

In the midst of this hectic time, Mary delivers a baby boy named Jesus. And an angel appears to shepherds announcing the arrival of “a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord” (Luke 2:11). The shepherds decide to go to Bethlehem and see the child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.

Suddenly, the busyness of the world melts away as the young couple treasures the first moments of their son’s life, a baby given to them by God. Then out of nowhere shepherds (not viewed in the society of the day as honorable individuals) show up announcing Jesus is the Savior, the Messiah, the Lord. Everyone who heard the shepherds’ proclamation were amazed, including Mary who treasured these moments in her heart (Luke 2:19).[box type=”info” border=”full”]King David was favored by God as a shepherd boy, not by society. Being a shepherd was a mundane job. God allowed David to evaluate his social status.[/box]

The world already starts changing with Jesus’s arrival. An unwed, virgin teenage girl becomes a mother to God’s son. An honorable Jewish man becomes a step-father before he is married. Shepherds—not the venerable Jewish priestly class—announce the baby is the Messiah, not the Jewish priests. Things that would never be sanctioned are now celebrated and lifted up. The lame and the blind who were outcasts and not associated with in the Jewish community will be healed of their afflictions, and Jesus will call them to be disciples. The sinners who were looked down upon by the Jewish priestly class will be forgiven. Jesus will break bread with these outcasts and bring them into the light. And it all starts with a baby in manger.

As you go about your hectic Christmas festivities, take a few moments to hear the shepherds’ proclamation announcing the arrival of “a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” Let it catch you off guard. Ponder what the arrival of the Messiah means in today’s world. Feel the amazement of the arrival of the Messiah.

Thanks be to God!

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for amazing us with the arrival of the Messiah. Help us to treasure the shepherds’ proclamation. Make us slow down and ponder the true meaning of Christmas. Be with those who are alone or are mourning the loss of a love one. Thank you for the blessing of gathering with friends and family this Christmas. Amen.

Reflective Questions

Please answer the following reflective questions in the comments below. Please agree to disagree and be respectful to each other. (If you have not already done so, please also take a moment, to sign the behavior covenant by commenting on it.) You can answer as many questions as you would like.

1. What does Christmas mean to you?
2. What is your favorite Christmas tradition?

Readings for the Fourth Sunday of Advent

2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16

Luke 1:26-38

Devotion

Peace be with you!

There are hundreds of reasons why God the Father should call no one to any special calling. We all have at least one area where we fall short of being able to serve God. Some are poor and have no real power or influence. Some are too young to even understand what is going on. Others have gone against God’s wishes by lying, stealing, or [whatever “it” is]. Other times it is just impossible. We are not worthy to be called by God.

Yet God calls David out of the shepherd’s field to become a decorated Israelite soldier and to eventually become the king of Jerusalem. God takes a shepherd boy and conquers all his enemies (2 Samuel 7:1, 11). God takes a shepherd boy and makes him the king of his people, the uniter of Israel and Judah (2 Samuel 7:8). God uses David to create a nation where all of his people are welcomed to live a community with one another. God uses David to build Jerusalem as the center of the Jewish faith where his people could gather (2 Samuel 7:10-11).

In return, God promises to make David’s kingdom last forever (2 Samuel 7:16). From a shepherd to a soldier to a king, God uses the under-qualified to advance God’s kingdom. . This promise seems impossible, the stuff of dreams.

Fast-forward a few hundred years, and you find a scared Galilean Jewish teenage girl from the line of David, . An angel visits her with news that the Lord is with her and that she, a virgin, is pregnant with God’s son (Luke 1:28, 31). Mary exclaims, “What impossible news! How can this be? I am a virgin” (Luke 1:34).

The angel explains, “You will become pregnant by the Holy Spirit, and you will have the Son of God. Now go and visit your relative, Elizabeth, who was barren is also pregnant. Nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:35-37).

Mary says, “I am here, Lord. I am ready to carry out your plan” (Luke 1:38).

Again, God takes the under-qualified to do something impossible. God takes Mary, a teenage virgin, and makes her the mother of the Son of God. God gives the world the greatest gift through a young girl who is barely old enough to understand what is going on in the world. Yet Mary agrees to be a vessel for God to come into the world. Mary steps out in faith and puts her trust in God.

This is where we find hope: a teenage virgin who gives birth to a baby boy who is God’s son. The baby boy will grow up to be our Savior and will die on the cross for our sins. To think it all started with a teenage virgin who was scared but took the call anyway, because God favored her.

From David to Mary to Jesus to us, God continues to show his favor to his creation through forgiveness, love, and grace. God finds amazing ways to express how he favors each one of us. Sometimes it is through kind words from a friend, an unexpected surprise, a random act of kindness, a gentle push toward something new, or a new opportunity. God has amazing ways to show us the light and to get us where he needs us to be. All we need to do is believe God can and will make the impossible possible.

Thanks be to God!

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for favoring Mary and David, unlikely, under-equipped human beings. Remind us you favor us, despite our flaws. Lead us to do your will and to trust you will be with us. Use your star to guide us through the night to the manger. Thank you for expressing your love for us. Amen.

Reflective Questions

Please answer the following reflective questions in the comments below. Please agree to disagree and be respectful to each other. (If you have not already done so, please also take a moment, to sign the behavior covenant by commenting on it.) You can answer as many questions as you would like.

1. How have you answered God’s call?
2. How has God favored you?