(Please read Luke 2:8-14)
Too long ... it had been too long since the words of the prophets had been heard. It seemed too long since they had heard promises of a Messiah. Could anyone remember the last time word spread of angel visitants or God speaking to one of their own? The town of Bethlehem was filled not only with those who still longed for and looked for the promised Messiah but also with those whose hope had dwindled. Those who continued to look to the heavens and those who lowered their heads in weariness and near hopelessness both cried out, "How long, O God? How long must we wait?" The wait continued in their darkness. Their hope, no matter how great or small, peered through this darkness for the Promised Light. With a gulp of first-breath and the piercing of the night air with infant wails, God said, "The wait is over."
Just as with Mary, God sent greetings - one angel initially sent to the shepherds. God knew that what was about to happen would have "scared the shepherds to death" if they had not first heard "do not be afraid." For you see, God was about to part the heavens for a glimpse of God’s glory in a way that had never been witnessed. The heavens exploded and suddenly a great company of the heavenly host poured out in unbridled song. The angels knew “who” was in the manger. They knew that Jesus, the God Almighty Incarnate, had come from his throne in heaven to the wandering people below for the salvation of mankind. They knew that this was the Lord's plan from the beginning and God has now said, "It is time." How could they keep from singing?
Yes, the heavens exploded with all honor and praise and majesty given to God Almighty. The heavens exploded with the highest of glory to God sung by the angel choirs. The heavens exploded because the angels knew that this newborn was the promised Savior - the fulfillment of the ages. He is the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. They knew and they flooded the night sky with their joy and song. They sang the highest praises that they had ever sung because God's power and love, faithfulness and mercy and justice all reached God’s highest expression with the birth of an infant in a stable. They could do nothing other than sing in full voice and glorify God in the highest ways possible for they knew that this baby, the Infant Jesus, is the promised One … the looked-for, the long-for, and the prayed-for Messiah.
The heavens exploded that night - the glory of the Lord burst through in revelation and the Light of Jesus Christ pierced our own darkness forever. God comes into our world with God’s plan of salvation. Emmanuel. God-with-us. The angels could not contain themselves. Oh my, we should be no different! How can we keep from singing? How can we keep from glorifying God? How can we not live with a song on our hearts and words to share on our lips?
SING WITH EXULTATION!
anna
Friday, December 24, 2010
Saturday, December 18, 2010
"... And you shall give him"
(Please read Matthew 1:18-25)
He awoke from his dream
having heard words
that spilled into his life
and disrupted his plans.
Yet, in the midst
of this unsettling holy mystery
came the very settling words
“…and YOU shall give him
the name Jesus.”
The father of this
soon-to-be-born child
had given the one
who would be the infant's
earthly father
this joy, and right
and privilege
and responsibility,
“…and YOU shall give him
the name Jesus.
It was a first gift given
with a Great Love.
The gift tag read…
“From father
to father,
with love.
Yes, YOU shall give him
the name Jesus.”
The gift tag continued …
“There is a righteousness about you,
and tenderness and compassion.
There is strength in your humbleness,
and obedience that doesn’t hesitate.
There is hard, honest work in your days
and character in your life.
Yes, YOU shall give him
the name Jesus.”
A father lifted an infant
high to the heavens
and to the world
and declared,
with all authority,
“His name is Jesus.”
He then kissed the face
of his newborn son,
realizing
that in this gift of love,
from father to father,
this would truly become
his own journey of love.
anna
He awoke from his dream
having heard words
that spilled into his life
and disrupted his plans.
Yet, in the midst
of this unsettling holy mystery
came the very settling words
“…and YOU shall give him
the name Jesus.”
The father of this
soon-to-be-born child
had given the one
who would be the infant's
earthly father
this joy, and right
and privilege
and responsibility,
“…and YOU shall give him
the name Jesus.
It was a first gift given
with a Great Love.
The gift tag read…
“From father
to father,
with love.
Yes, YOU shall give him
the name Jesus.”
The gift tag continued …
“There is a righteousness about you,
and tenderness and compassion.
There is strength in your humbleness,
and obedience that doesn’t hesitate.
There is hard, honest work in your days
and character in your life.
Yes, YOU shall give him
the name Jesus.”
A father lifted an infant
high to the heavens
and to the world
and declared,
with all authority,
“His name is Jesus.”
He then kissed the face
of his newborn son,
realizing
that in this gift of love,
from father to father,
this would truly become
his own journey of love.
anna
Saturday, December 11, 2010
"The Face of Advent JOY"
I was reading the Isaiah 35:1-10 and Luke 1:46b-55 lectionary Scriptures this morning and found that I so wanted to revisit someone in whose face I have seen Advent Joy. As I reread what I had written about this gentlemen, I realized that the reflection of his joy was the very same as Mary's. They both looked back to what they had heard and knew and understood to be forthcoming through the words of Isaiah. They looked in the present and saw the radical possibilities of bearing Jesus into this world of ours. And they both hummed and sang the most beautiful songs of praise in their hope of the foreverness of the Lord's reign. I have enjoyed picturing this gentleman and Mary, sitting across the table from each other, putting God's puzzle pieces into place ... and then both bursting into a duet of songs from their souls when the picture is revealed. I can hear Mary saying what this gentleman said to me ... "Isn't God grand!"
(Please read Isaiah 35:1-10 and Luke 1:46b-55)
On a December day in 2007, I found myself in Duke Chapel, beginning my own Advent time of waiting and worship with the Chapel choir’s offering of Handel’s MESSIAH. I could spend my morning sharing with you those glorious hours. The Chapel is breathtakingly beautiful. The voices raised in song and proclamation filled the sanctuary with God’s promises and victory. The orchestra lifted the words even higher. And yet, all of these proved to be secondary to my looking into the face of "Advent Joy".
As I sat in the sanctuary, an elderly, very distinguished gentleman sat beside of me. The first thing that I noticed was that he had a ready smile. Well before the music began, we began to talk of God and Jesus. We spoke of writing and poetry and of those God-placed friendships in our lives. And then, the face of Advent Joy began to appear on this man’s face in such a way that is almost beyond description. He opened his program and, with great joy, said, "May I show you the incredible mix of Scriptures in the MESSIAH?" This gentleman pointed to the combination of Old Testament and New Testament Scriptures, intermingled in such a way that God’s love, promises and intentions would radiate throughout the music. With a twinkle in his eye, he smiled and said, ‘Isn’t God grand!" The face of Advent Joy began to glow in a very special way.
The music began. His eyes were closed and a faint smile emerged, as if he knew something that perhaps I didn’t. Scriptures of joyous glad tidings were sung and his smile couldn’t have become any larger. He even chuckled at the words of Isaiah, knowing full well that they would come to pass. He cried tears of joy in those places where hope in the face of death was so beautifully sung. As we stood for the "Hallelujah" chorus, he looked to the heavens for a while and then bowed his head in prayer. And as the last chorus was sung, "Worthy is the Lamb", he sat with his hands folded in his lap, tears streaming down his cheeks.
The music stopped. He threw his arms around me and hugged me saying, "Wasn’t this marvelous? I have loved hearing God’s words in this music and I have enjoyed sharing God’s words with you." Then he disappeared into the crowd, but not before I noticed a countenance of praise on his face that was gentle and beautiful and radiant beyond description. I had looked into the face of Advent Joy.
How do you tell someone else about an encounter such as this? I search for words. And I search for those who might understand what I am about to say. I walked away from those hours in Duke Chapel not quite sure "who" I was sitting beside. I voiced this to a pastor and he reminded me of Hebrews 13:2. The man seemed angelic as if he had been afforded special holy glimpses. Perhaps that is what Advent Joy is about … being filled with the words of Isaiah as we wait for and pray that the Christ-child be born anew in us … being filled with the promises of God as we wait for the coming of Jesus once more … being filled with Jesus in such a way that our soul, too, magnifies the Lord as did Mary’s … and being willing to become a servant of our Lord, for God’s radical change in this world
Oh, that we too might have the face of Advent Joy, the heart of a lowly servant and the songs of praise of the both of them within us.
anna
(Please read Isaiah 35:1-10 and Luke 1:46b-55)
On a December day in 2007, I found myself in Duke Chapel, beginning my own Advent time of waiting and worship with the Chapel choir’s offering of Handel’s MESSIAH. I could spend my morning sharing with you those glorious hours. The Chapel is breathtakingly beautiful. The voices raised in song and proclamation filled the sanctuary with God’s promises and victory. The orchestra lifted the words even higher. And yet, all of these proved to be secondary to my looking into the face of "Advent Joy".
As I sat in the sanctuary, an elderly, very distinguished gentleman sat beside of me. The first thing that I noticed was that he had a ready smile. Well before the music began, we began to talk of God and Jesus. We spoke of writing and poetry and of those God-placed friendships in our lives. And then, the face of Advent Joy began to appear on this man’s face in such a way that is almost beyond description. He opened his program and, with great joy, said, "May I show you the incredible mix of Scriptures in the MESSIAH?" This gentleman pointed to the combination of Old Testament and New Testament Scriptures, intermingled in such a way that God’s love, promises and intentions would radiate throughout the music. With a twinkle in his eye, he smiled and said, ‘Isn’t God grand!" The face of Advent Joy began to glow in a very special way.
The music began. His eyes were closed and a faint smile emerged, as if he knew something that perhaps I didn’t. Scriptures of joyous glad tidings were sung and his smile couldn’t have become any larger. He even chuckled at the words of Isaiah, knowing full well that they would come to pass. He cried tears of joy in those places where hope in the face of death was so beautifully sung. As we stood for the "Hallelujah" chorus, he looked to the heavens for a while and then bowed his head in prayer. And as the last chorus was sung, "Worthy is the Lamb", he sat with his hands folded in his lap, tears streaming down his cheeks.
The music stopped. He threw his arms around me and hugged me saying, "Wasn’t this marvelous? I have loved hearing God’s words in this music and I have enjoyed sharing God’s words with you." Then he disappeared into the crowd, but not before I noticed a countenance of praise on his face that was gentle and beautiful and radiant beyond description. I had looked into the face of Advent Joy.
How do you tell someone else about an encounter such as this? I search for words. And I search for those who might understand what I am about to say. I walked away from those hours in Duke Chapel not quite sure "who" I was sitting beside. I voiced this to a pastor and he reminded me of Hebrews 13:2. The man seemed angelic as if he had been afforded special holy glimpses. Perhaps that is what Advent Joy is about … being filled with the words of Isaiah as we wait for and pray that the Christ-child be born anew in us … being filled with the promises of God as we wait for the coming of Jesus once more … being filled with Jesus in such a way that our soul, too, magnifies the Lord as did Mary’s … and being willing to become a servant of our Lord, for God’s radical change in this world
Oh, that we too might have the face of Advent Joy, the heart of a lowly servant and the songs of praise of the both of them within us.
anna
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