Joseph: Patron Saint of the Unappreciated

Joseph is, Pastor Rob offers, the Patron Saint of the Unappreciated.

Joseph (Matthew 1:18-25; parts of Matthew 2) is called to play a vital role in the Christmas story.  Pastor Rob offers that each of us has a role to play - a holy calling - in the Christmas story in our lives this year.

Unfortunately, Joseph is not thanked in the Bible (or in some ways, in history) for his efforts.  At the holidays, we can often feel unappreciated as the Christmas story plays out in our lives.

Joseph perhaps offers a way through the bitterness that can come when we are not thanked.  For Joseph's story reminds us that although we have a role, the story is not about us.   This can free us to serve in love, worship in joy and give thanks for those who have gone before us in faith.

From Generation to Generation

 

"Your mercy is from generation to generation to those who fear you" Mary, in the Magnificat, from Luke 1

Today we have three generations meeting and interacting :  Elizabeth, Mary and John.  Each generation brings a different gift.  Elizabeth brings the patience of one who has life's disappointment turn into celebration.  John brings the joy of a child, simply enthralled with the birth of Jesus.

As Mary draws on the joy of John and the patience of Elizabeth, she breaks forth in a song of praise.  This is a song that acknowledges the brokenness of life, but also the gift of the redeemer in our lives.  This is a song that is not dependent on the circumstances in the world.  This is song for you too, as you join with the generations: "My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my savior."

The Artwork comes from Grace Church, Dupage, IL.

How can it be?

 

“How can this be?” Mary asks.  (Luke 1:26-38)

Mary has been asked to do the seemingly impossible:  Become pregnant, suffer rebuke from her family and have the Messiah in her womb!

The angel gives her two things to equip her to move forward.  First a friendship with Elizabeth. Second, the word promise that nothing will be impossible with God. 

As we say to ourselves “how can this be?”, when asked to do the seemingly impossible, the angel of God points us to friends in faith, and offers us the same word of promise

The artwork is by African-American artist Henry Tanner, 1898.

Love has Come, but must Return!

The Prophet Isaiah has a vision (2:1-5) that is compelling millennia later - humanity streaming to the house of God, where they learn and are transformed into agents of peace.

This vision is so compelling that it brings into immediate contrast the world in which we live, where there is a constant stream of violence.  What do we make of this disparity, this chasm between vision and reality?

Some Christians develop a way of understanding where Jesus becomes much like an alien who takes us away from the bad place of earth and puts us in the good place of heaven.  But this vision from Isaiah suggests that God isn't in the business of getting people out of earth, but renewing it through Jesus, in the power of the Spirit.  As Christians, we celebrate that love has come in Jesus, but we acknowledge that love must return to finish the work.

A reflection on how the Bible points toward the renewal of all things instead of the escape of people...and what this might mean for us this Advent, as we prepare for the coming of Christ.