As we continue
this week to listen to the wisdom of the poets and prophets, we turn today to a
prayer by Ann Weems. Slow savor these
words with me to see what is evoked within you.
The Christmas
Spirit By Ann Weems
The Christmas
Spirit is that hope
which tenaciously clings
to the hearts of the faithful
and announces in the face
of any Herod, the world can produce
and all the inn doors slammed in our faces
and all the dark nights of our souls
that with God
all things are possible,
that even now unto us
a Child is born!
I wonder, who are
the Herods in your life? Who are those
who come in with demands and decrees?
Who are those whose anxiety drenches you? What does it mean that God is born not
according to cultural scripts of might, power, and wealth, but born in a barn
and then disappears for years on end ~ remember Jesus’ public ministry began
when he was 30 years-old? When have you
like Mary and Joseph felt pushed aside or ignored, even as the Spirit of God
grows in you and around you? Let’s face
it, most of what trends on social media is not about the beautiful ordinariness
of life, but we seem to love the ache and pain and brokenness of humanity. I love the line, “even now unto
us a Child is born!” That Christmas is
not just about the past, it is the present, right here and now. Just as Christ was born into Rome oppression,
so too Christ comes into the world where humans still hurt and harm each
other. Just as Christ was born in an out
of the way barn, so too Christ come amid the fringe and fray today. Just as Christ was born in a time when people
barely took note, so too by now most of the world is moving on from Christmas, stores
are deeply discounting decorations to make room for Valentine’s Day candy. Yet, as people of faith, we continue to dwell
in the mystery of Christmas to let this awaken us to what God is up to right
here and now. May the poems, prayers,
and words this week stir within your soul that we might continue to name and
notice we are in Christ’s presence this day and every day. Amen.
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