Shepherds and Kings

 

Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Shepherds

Shepherds and Kings

"8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told." (Luke 2: 8-14)

While pondering the life of a shepherd and remembering a sheep dog trial we once attended in Wales, I realized how much of the birth of Jesus involves the shepherds---not the Three Kings with their treasures, but the shepherds.

The shepherds were minding their flocks when an angel appeared to them (not to the innkeeper, not the kings, not Herod, but shepherds).  Those simple shepherds didn't question what they saw or heard, but immediately headed to Bethlehem. They responded with faith and were the first to see the newborn child.

Those migrant shepherds who moved around the hills with their flocks also began spreading the good news of Jesus's birth: "All who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them."  Again, these were not the people in power or the people with wealth, but simple shepherds to whom everyone listened and were amazed.  

As a contrast, no angels appeared to the three kings: they followed a star.  When they reported to Herod, why they were going to Bethlehem, Herod began plotting to kill them and to kill the child.  So while the shepherds announcement brought hope to the people, the kings brought fear and destruction with their announcement.

Although called "King of the Jews", Jesus preferred to be called the shepherd.   The simple, constantly migrating shepherd, not the king, is what he identified him.

John 10:14-16 New International Version (NIV)14 :“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

From the beginning of Christ's story, Christianity was a "grass roots movement" among the poor, the marginalized, the enslaved---even beginning with Jesus's birth.  We are forgetting the "roots" of our religion when we forget about the simple, the poor, the migrant and the value they bring compared to the kings with all of their power and wealth.  The spreading of the Word began with the shepherds. 

Waiting

 

Friday, December 15, 2017

Waiting

The girls stood up to sing their part in the St. Mark Christmas program, and for just a moment their glittering halos, sparkling wings and glowing faces made them seem angelic---even to  those of us who knew them so well.

Our daughter Rebecca walked to the pulpit, climbed the step and began "Fear not, for I bring you great tidings of joy. . ."  As her mother,  I was chewing my nails worried that she'd forget her lines. 

Just as she stepped down to return to her seat and I was beginning to relax, my mother turned to me, "She got the role I always wanted.  Every year I wanted to be the angel that said that and every year I was a Chinaman (we represented different countries).  I waited for two generations but tonight, at last, my granddaughter was the angel."  Mother had waited 55 years for that Christmas miracle.

Rebecca and Mom 1985

Christmas and waiting seem to go together---waiting for Santa, waiting in line at the store, waiting to wear new Christmas clothes, waiting to open presents and waiting to see your granddaughter as an angel in the Christmas program.

Dear God
During this busy season as we wait with impatience, help us to recall the generations who waited for the birth of the Messiah.  Amen

Luke 2:10-11King James Version (KJV)10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

No Joy in Advent

 I’ve felt loss at Christmas:

my grandmother, Dave’s parents

my mother, and now Dave.

I could be happy but joy? seldom.

I could be happy to be with family,

Happy the Christmas blogs were ready,

Happy we made it home safely

After driving through an ice storm,

But not joy.

I struggled through Christmas parties

And even large family gatherings.

Putting on my smiling face, 

Tryiing to capture others’ joy

with hugs.

But I couldn’t find Joy.

I struggled trying to decorate for Christmas.

First the Nativity:  Dad made the manger;

Mom made the ceramic figures.

Next, came Christmas cards,

Writing humorous letters.

Trying to find Joy.

I  bought gifts for everyone, 

First, going into crowds, 

standing in lines at the stores

Then, ordering by catalgue

But, finally giving up and 

writing checks

Singing Christmas carols in a choir,

Watching faces light up upon 

Unwrapping gifts,

Sitting in a chair in the library,

Watching the fireplace by the ight of a tree,

Still no Joy.

Hanging our two Christmas stockings

A cherished gift from Mom.

I cried.

Maybe joy is asking too much.

An unattainable goal,

An emotion of childhood.

If there’s no Joy, 

What is there?

I’m surrounded by Love and

I can Hope that the new year will 

Bring me Peace.

But Joy is a lonely pink candle

Waiting to be lit.

Wait

 

Wait

Titus 2:11-14New International Version (NIV)

11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

The Friendship Tree

"Please take my house plants home with you until we get settled in our new home."  Loaded into our van were Doug's prize-winning coleus, Harry's plant from his office, Jane's poinsettia (bought to lift their spirits while preparing for a move after Christmas) and a lovely little Norfolk pine.

After we got home, we put them all into our sunroom and forgot about them in our frenzy of Christmas decorating.  One afternoon, I sat out in the sunroom reading our Christmas cards.  With each card came a wave of memories shared with each sender.  While reflecting on these memories, I glanced into the family room at our beautifully adorned Christmas tree.   Out of the corner of my eye, I saw that little Norfolk pine looking like the lovely but sad Cinderella next to her fancy step-sister.

My mind, still filled with memories of friends, wandered briefly to that Norfolk pine which seemed to need some cheering up.  I glanced back at my Christmas cards and saw a photo of a high school friend with her family.  Inspiration send me running in all directions for a pencil, ribbon, scissors, cookie cutters, a hole puncher and all those photos saved from Christmas cards over the years.

After tracing the shape of the cookie cutter on the back of each photo, I cut it out, put a piece of ribbon through a hole and tied it onto the Norfolk Pine Soon, we had our "Friendship Tree"---a visual reminder of loved ones far away.

Now when we receive a card from my cousin in Minnesota, whom the children don't remember meeting six years ago, we can go to our Friendship Tree to see his photo.  Once a forlorn, homeless tree, now the pine is the center of our holiday attention as we remember our friends and family scattered all over the world.

Prayer:  We thank thee, Lord, for this time to remember the warmth of our friends, our glowing memories of Christmases past, and our love which reaches friends and family everywhere.  Amen

Postscript:  the tree has long since died, but I still had some of the ornaments.  All of these children are grown-up---some with children of their own.

Reprinted with permission of the author from St. Mark's booklet from 1985 Thoughts on Advent.

Winter in the Wetlands

The snow has melted on my patio.

The lawn is stlll green,

But just past my place is

Winter in the wetlands.

The ground, still frozen, 

has a blanket of snow covering 

the leaves of Fall.

 

The trees stand naked.

Rooted in the frozen ice of the swamp,

they reach for the sun:

the rosy dawn

wrapping them in warmth.

The sun rises above the treeline

like an innocent waking child 

poking her head out of the blanket of snow---

 joy-filled, happy to see me.

And I am happy to see her, too

radiating a spot of warmth on a 

cold Winter’s day.