Bethlehem Bound

 

This is the true Light that comes to all the peoples of the world and shines on everyone

Begin this morning by speaking your Advent word aloud and listening for how the Eternal Echo responds to your voice.

 

There is a universalist nature to God’s embrace that we are hearing this week.  Everyone, everywhere, no expectations.  Of course, we want to control God’s flashlight.  We want to tell God who is on our “naughty” and “nice” list, playing Santa Claus.  We want to block out some who seem unworthy of God’s light, determine and distinguish who has earned or deserved God’s love this Christmas.  We want to put coal in people’s stockings, especially the ones who have hurt us.  Take that, we think, because the one who laughs last wins. 

 

I don’t understand the unconditional and unceasing part of God.  There are certainly people whom I would prefer not be invited to the manger this year.  And, I think the very people I don’t want to gaze into the eyes of the vulnerable Christ-child, might be the very ones who need it the most.  At the manger, I might see the humanness of another.  Those who go reluctantly to the manger join with those who skip all the way to Bethlehem.  Those who show up at church to appease family are just as loved as those of us who have already picked out our Christmas Eve attire.  The Carol, Come All Ye Faithful reminds us of the inclusiveness of the invitation.  Come all…even if your faith is on fumes or empty.  Even if you feel this whole love stuff is foolish.  Even if you still think some people should be blocked at the barn door, because God doesn’t have a bouncer to keep the riffraff out.  In fact, God seems to delight in the lost, lonely, and left out.  Those who come to the manger feeling forgotten or pushed to the fringe get the front row seat.  The stable is full of people not on our guest list.  The stable is not reserved for those who have perfect attendance and pledge cards that were increased or the “right” beliefs.  Come all. That has been, is, and will always be God’s calling card.  Come all.  Be drenched in a light that changes the story you tell yourself about yourself, others, and especially God.  Come all.  Today and tomorrow and every day in 2026.  Come, let’s dance together.  And may God’s peace/shalom/wholeness/healing and presence hold and enfold you this week.  Amen. 

Bethlehem Bound

 

Creator’s life shone out from the Word, giving light to all human beings.

 

Begin this morning by speaking your Advent word aloud and listening for how the Eternal Echo responds to your voice.

 

How is God shining through your Word this week?  Has someone you encountered this week spoken your word back to you?  That might be one way God is moving in your midst.  Where have you stumbled unexpectedly onto your word in the most surprising way?  Pay attention today.  Find creative, fun, faithful, and meaningful ways to work your Advent word into every conversation.  Notice what happens when you drop the word “Hope” (if that is your word) into a sentence to someone.  Notice what happens when you try to write a prayer with that word at the center.  Notice what is born in you and through you as that word escapes both your lips this day.

 

May you and your word find fabulous and faithful ways to let God’s presence loose in the unexpected world today.  And may God’s peace/shalom/wholeness/healing and presence hold and enfold you this week.  Amen. 

Bethlehem Bound

 

And not one thing exists that he did not create

 

Begin this morning by speaking your Advent word aloud and listening for how the Eternal Echo responds to your voice.

 

Not one thing…or put a positive spin on this…everything.  Everything, everywhere exists because of God’s creativity.  You.  Me.  That squirrel outside my window and the tree s/he is scurrying around.  My neighbor.  The person who frustrates and flummoxes me.  The person who hurts me.  The person who loves me.  The vampire bat that swoops in, skimming my head.  The dog that places his head in my lap, letting me feel unconditional love and peace.  Everything, everywhere, was envisioned and imprinted with God.

 

Wait. 

 

What do you mean the person who yelled at me?  What do you mean the animal that dug up my tomato plants?  What do you mean the leader on the news who makes my blood boil?

 

How can that be part of God’s good creation?

 

I don’t know.  There is plenty of evidence to object to God’s goodness in this world.  There are plenty of hard hearts like Herod in Jesus’ birth narrative who hurt and harm children, rob the dignity and divinity of fellow humans.  There are plenty of people who use their free will like a sword to throw hate around. 

 

The hurt and harm are real.  The hurt and harm threaten to steal our hope and peace. And God’s love is infused and implanted in everything.  Whether we decide to live from that place or not has been the mystery of human life since the very beginning.  Why does Cain kill Abel?  Why does Pharaoh enslave God’s people?  Why does Babylon come crushing in destroying, and devastating lives?  Why does God’s love incarnate hang from a cross?  Why do people today still act as though the mystery of this world should author our lives with a hope, peace, love, and joy?  Why do we act as though God is distant because we cannot prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that God is present?  Why do barriers block us from encountering the Divine?  Why do we feel justified in hating?  These questions will never have answers.  I can either let the frustrating mystery of people lead me to bitterness or break me open.  I can either act as if nothing is a mystery or everything is.  I can either arrive at Bethlehem this year exhausted or excited that something new is being birthed.  As J. Drew Lanthem says, “God prefers wombs,” and I would add tombs.  God works through a beautiful darkness, helping us to collaborate with a Creator who is still fashioning and forming you and me and everything, everything, everything, and everyone we encounter today.  May God’s peace/shalom/wholeness/healing and presence hold and enfold you this week.  Amen. 

Bethlehem Bound

 

Last week, we held a word you selected close to your heart, ears, and life.  Or maybe you decided you needed more than just one word this Advent.  Or maybe you are longing right now to trade your word for another, the way you would swap something from your lunch with something from your friend’s lunch at school growing up (I’ll trade you a Hostess cupcake for that Little Debbie treat we’d say to each other ~ like we were playing Let’s Make a Deal).  Here is my deal for you.  You are welcome to find a new word this week if you’d like or continue to carry the word you selected last week.  No right answers or rules or shoulds/have tos during this Advent.  Sometimes we make a choice and feel disappointed, wanting to rewind time.  On the road to Bethlehem, maybe you need to set down your word from last week, for it has taken you as far as it can.  Or maybe you want to keep carrying your word because you sense there is a blessing not yet revealed or realized.  Or maybe your word has been a light to your path.  Or maybe you are still struggling to find a word.  Right now, find a word or a few.  Say your word aloud.  Let the letters leap from your tongue into the world as a blessing that no one may hear, but God does.  Your word, your life, your presence on the path to the manger, creating space and a place for God this year.

 

Slowly read, aloud preferably so you hear your own voice, the Indigenous People’s Version of John 1:

 

Long ago, in the time before all days, before the creation of all things, the one who is known as the Word was there face-to-face with the Great Spirit.  This Word fully represents the Creator and shows us who he is and what he is like.  He has always been there from the beginning, for the Word and Creator are one and the same.  Through the Word all things came into being, and not one thing exists that he did not create.  Creator’s life shone out from the Word, giving light to all human beings.  This is the true Light that comes to all the peoples of the world and shines on everyone.  The Light shines into the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it or put it out.

Into the wilderness of the Land of Promise (Judea) came a man named Gift of Goodwill (John).  He was sent by the Great Spirit to tell what he knew about the Light so everyone could believe.  He was not the Light but came to speak the truth about the Light.  The true Light that shines on all people was coming into the darkness of this world.  He came down into this world, and even though he made all things, the world did not recognize him.  Even his own tribe did not welcome or honor him. But all who welcome and trust him receive their birthright as children of the Great Spirit.  Creator’s Word became a flesh-and-blood human being and pitched his sacred tent among us, living as one of us.  We looked upon his great beauty and saw how honorable he was, the kind of honor held only by this one Son who fully represents his Father – full of his great kindness and truth. 

Gift of Goodwill (John) told what he knew about him and cried out with a loud voice, “The one I have told you about is here!  He comes after me, but is much greater – my elder!  He has more honor, for even though he is thought to be younger, he existed before I was born.” 

From the fullness of his being, we have all had many gifts of kindness poured out on us.  Drawn from the Water (Moses) gave us our tribal laws, but the gift of great kindness and truth came from Creator Sets Free (Jesus), the Chosen One.  No one has ever seen the Great Spirit but the one Son, who is himself the Great Spirit and closest to the Father’s heart, has shown us what he is like.  (First Nations Version: An Indigenous Translation of the New Testament).

 

Was there a word above that sang to your shy soul?  Did you hear something new, feel something new, encounter a truth that has always been in this passage, but this translation illuminated for you?  Let these words inspire and infuse us as we begin the second week of Advent and our travel to Bethlehem this year.  May God’s peace/shalom/wholeness/healing and presence hold and enfold you this week.  Amen. 

Bethlehem Bound

 

Through the Word all things came into being…

 

What is coming into being with your word this week?  Maybe your Advent word is helping you explore this holy season.  Maybe your Advent word is frustrating you because you two had a tiff last night when you were thinking about all the other words you could have chosen and you decided that “hope” was your word…or “peace”…or “love”…or “light,” and now that word feels heavy or unable to uphold you.

 

Take time with your word today.  Go look up a definition of the word you’ve selected.  Make as many sentences with your word as you can.  If you are frustrated, you could start with, “I can’t believe I picked “hope” as my word.”  Google quotes using your word, see how other people have played with this word previously.  Or just write it down on a piece of paper again and again and again, because all words can be Holy when we let God enter the “third space” with us and our word.  In fact, God is already there.  What might God be singing to you this day in your word?

 

Please pray with me: God, I picked this word, (speak your word aloud).  What do You want me to discover or uncover in this word?  Did I get it right?  Help me continue to explore and express and experience the elasticity of this holy word as I let it work in me and through me in these days.  Let my word and Your presence guide me deeper into this season of Advent.  Amen.  

Bethlehem Bound

 

The Word was present to God from the beginning

 

You and your word have been hanging out for a few days now.  Any new insights into why that word leapt into your imagination?  Today, I invite you to write your word 10 times on a piece of paper.  I encourage you to do this in analog form; not on a computer where you can copy and paste quickly, but with a pen and paper where each letter takes time.  You are doing this to let the word sink into your DNA.  Your word you selected this week is a doorway God can work/walk through throughout this season if we stay awake and alert to God’s work in the world.  What if you asked God for a definition of the word or an example ~ then listened for the Sacred to sing out as John chapter 1 told us on Monday?  Hold your word today, let your word hold you.  With God’s hope to enfold and hold you especially right now.  Amen.

Bethlehem Bound

 

The Word was in God’s presence, and the Word was God. 

 

Wait, wait, wait, my soul wants to object and interject.  Just wait a minute here.  Which is it?  Is the Word in God’s presence, or is the Word a part of God?  You can’t be both; that doesn’t make sense!

 

I love that Scripture is a mystery, wrapped in a puzzle, stuffed inside an enigma.  Scripture isn’t interested in giving you a step-by-step instruction manual for life.  Scripture wants to keep you off-kilter and off-balanced and even a bit offended by its insistence that God is up to something.  A few weeks ago, I talked about the Venn Diagrams of life.  Your energy interests with another person’s energy, and together you create a “third space” ~ a space that is a collaboration and cooperation of both.  I think about “third space” with my wife.  We are each unique, and together for 25 years, there is an energy we have both tended/created/crafted ~ we continue to do so.  I have a third space with my kids, with you as church members, with the readers of these words.  A third space can’t be contained because it is always changing ~ taking on new shapes.  So, yes, the Word could be both before God and a part of God, because I know that my family is always, always in my heart/mind/soul.  I know that God is always a part of my life, and at the same time, the Sacred is separate.  Hold this idea of “third space” as you move about your day.  You are creating a “third space” with the Word you are carrying to the manger.  That word is both separate and becoming part of your life. 

 

As you make the road to Bethlehem by walking, together with your word, you will create a “third space.”  Spend time today with your word.  Make it a cup of hot chocolate and ask it what it wants to tell you.  Speak the word aloud.  If the word is a part of a Christmas Carol and go blast that Carol from your speakers, singing with gusto.  Even if that word isn’t part of a Christmas Carol, blast music anyway because that is a holy prayer practice.  Tend the space between you and your word, because as you do, I believe God works within us and through us in these days.  With God’s hope to enfold and hold you this week.  Amen.