Advent Devotions
All are invited as we Make Room this Advent season.
The Light
Today’s author is Prince of Peace member, Gary Olson.
Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews, met with Jesus at night. I presume he had questions. He was met by the mysterious presence of God on earth. Nicodemus’ opening comment was he knew Jesus was a teacher from God. Jesus responded, “No one can see God without being born from above.” Then Nicodemus got tripped up by focusing on the notion of being born again. I think Jesus meant faith is birthed in a person as a gift of God, a gift of the Spirit of God.
Nicodemus answered, “How can these things be?” Jesus’ response must have troubled him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?”
There is mystery in our faith. There is mystery in the way God works in the world. In my years of ministry, I have asked, “How can this be?” I have asked many times in many ways how God does the things God does. “How can this be?” that God is incarnate in Jesus. “How can it be?” that faith is a gift of the Spirit of God. We live with the mystery. Many times I turn to poetry to help me live with it. I share one I’ve written recently which is appropriate for Epiphany:
The Light
I’ve never seen the Star of Bethlehem
guiding to the place of Jesus’ birth.
But I have a flashlight which, when it shines,
breaks a path through the darkness for my mind
to follow quizzically.
I’ve never seen the Star of Bethlehem.
But I have the promise of the Ancients in scripture.
Their lights break a path in the darkness of life
so that my soul and heart can find the way
to God—born as you and I were born.
I’ve never seen the Star of Bethlehem.
But I have a Community of Faith, imperfect
like me, who shine a light of encouragement
in the sometime dimness.
I’ve never seen the Star of Bethlehem.
But I have the truth of John— “The light shines
in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
I’ve never seen the Star of Bethlehem.
But the light of a loving God still shines, still burns
in the life of that child.
Gary Olson
Lord, your love goes before us and follows after us. Call us to your light in Jesus our Lord and guide our actions by your goodness given in Him. Amen.
(Prayer adapted from ELW p. 23)
Previously…
Four Years Ago
There’s been a recurring question popping up a fair mount lately, “are you better off today than you were four years ago?” The questioners of course are trying to make comparisons between the leadership of our country and between two very different administrations. In trying to answer the question, we’re quick to remember that four years ago, the world was firmly in the grasp of a pandemic primarily defined by unknowns and uncertainties. For our devotion today, I offer the concluding passage of the sermon that I preached for Easter morning, four years ago:
Obscured in the Darkness
“When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land…” A dramatic detail worthy of the start of any good story, script, or screenplay. And it could serve as the beginning of a news account that will chronicle the events of the coming solar eclipse, set to happen in a little over a week.
Paradise!
We’ve finally arrived at Holy Week. This past Sunday we got a look at what’s to come and sang “Jesus Remember Me” during communion. It’s a hymn that reminds me of one of my favorite Bible verses in Luke. In the Gospel of Mark the two crucified with Jesus both taunted Jesus: “Those who were crucified with him also taunted him” (Mk 15:32b); but in Luke 23: 39-43 it reads, “One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, ‘Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!’
At Home
On Sunday, March 17, we gathered to bless the third tiny home of our Sacred Settlement. This marked another important milestone as we continue building our community of support for those experiencing chronic homelessness. And, this is a great opportunity to reflect on the profound meaning of “home.”