Advent 4 ~ Joy

 

There is a wonderful Christmas Carol entitled, Who Would Think That What Was Needed. The title of this points to the powerful truth that God’s ways are NOT our ways.  At the heart of the season is a subversive/beautiful message: God comes as a baby weak and poor to bring all hearts together.  God comes not with glitz or glamour; splashy or flashy; but born in a barn as a baby.  

Wait…re-read that last sentence because if your soul did not think, 

“Wait, what?!?  That is not how the real world works.  God will never trend on social media or grow God’s platform like that!!  God, don’t you understand that money talks and power needs to be sought.”

Or maybe it is you and I who don’t understand fully what God is up to, which is why we re-tell this story of Christmas year after year after year.  Not because the story is brand-new, but because we need to keep hearing what is at the heart of this holy season.   I invite you this morning to read the words of this Carol slowly/prayerfully, letting each syllable settle into your soul.  I encourage you to see which sentence causes your heart to leap and which sentiment causes you to question what is possible or practical.  Watch where you put the emphasis; you may want to softly whisper the words and then bravely, boldly declare them emphatically for your neighbors to hear.

Who would think that what was needed to transform and save the earth

Might not be a plan or army proud in purpose, proved in worth?

Who would think, despite derision, that a child should lead the way?

God surprises earth with heaven, coming here on Christmas Day.

 

Shepherds watch and sages wonder, monarchs scorn and angels sing;

Such a place as none would reckon, hosts a holy helpless thing;

Stabled beasts and passing strangers watch a baby laid in hay.

God surprises earth with heaven, coming here on Christmas Day.

 

Centuries of skills and science span the past from which we move,

Yet experience questions whether with such progress we improve.

In our search for sense and meaning, lest our hopes and humors fray,

God surprises earth with heaven, coming here on Christmas Day.

 

I love the first line of the second stanza…shepherds watch and sages wonder ~ monarchs scorn and angels sing; such a place (a barn!!) as none would reckon (there is a great word!!) hosts a holy helpless thing (okay…would rather not refer to Jesus as a “thing” but rhyming isn’t easy!).  The point is that we need to pay attention to our moments of watching…wondering… scorning (especially on social media or the cycle of cynicism) and singing.  Each of these verbs are prayer postures.  Some open us (singing and wondering)…others close us off from the holy (like scorning).  Pay attention to what surprises you each day this week, there will be moments that swirl the skeptic in you, but there are also surprises that bring a smile to your face and joy to your heart ~ pay attention, note and notice these.  Try to watch, wonder, and sing your way to joy in these days before Christmas.  Amen.