Reflection on Matthew 2:13-23

My Christmas tree is still up.  There I said it.  The tree is still up, and it will proudly stand at least until the end of the 12 days of Christmas.  The only reason I am declaring that so decisively is because this year there seems to be an inordinate amount of shaming of those who do not take the Christmas decorations down the day following Christmas Day.  “My house in finally clean and in order” one friend mentioned.  “How can anyone stand to not have everything cleaned up?” another quipped. 

I know…I know.  The Church’s celebration of a whole 12 days of Christmas starting with worship on Christmas Eve lost the battle of the timing of Christmas a long time ago to the likes of Macy’s, Hallmark, Wal-Mart, and Amazon.com who all entice us to get into the Christmas spirit in plenty of time beforehand to buy things.  But, would it not be nice to linger at least a few more days in the good news that God is with us?  Would it not be nice to just stare at the Christmas tree for a while, reflecting on the fact that the light of the world has come?

As cozy as all of that sounds, the reality is that the world continues to throw life at us; messy and complicated.  Those who clean up the decorations early are simply diving right back into the same old, same old. 

But, I would say to them that the twelve days of Christmas do not allow us to deny the messiness and complications of life; instead the twelve days of Christmas actually force us to deal with the messiness of life as we try to figure out what we are to make of God’s love coming into the world.  And, the 12 days does this by throwing the murder of innocent children right in our faces.

In the tale that immediately follows the birth of Jesus; we are offered the opportunity to revel in the Christmas cheer that Herod the Great brings to the world.  That, my friends, is sarcasm.  

Though others desire to celebrate the coming of a new king with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, the current king certainly does not.  Feeling threatened by the existence of “the anointed one,” purported to be in Bethlehem; King Herod embarks on a localized “cleansing” in Bethlehem of all children two years or younger.  And, by cleansing, I mean murder. 

You see, what God desires often does not line up with what governments desire.

Now, it would be easy for us to characterize King Herod as egotistical and plain evil, but the truth of his rule is much more complicated.  Like many other world leaders before him and like many to follow, he did much more than simply embark on selfish political acts.  Herod actually brought greatness and prosperity to his people.  He was given the title “Herod the Great” by the people, and it was not an ironic title. 

Herod was actually considered by many to be a savior to the nation of Israel.  He obtained economic prosperity, brought security, and somehow pulled off the freedom of self-rule for the people of God under the shadow of the Roman Empire.  If kings were elected by the people, he would have had no problem securing another term. 

Surely, some people beyond the tiny region of Bethlehem were horrified by what happened to the children there, causing them to hug their own children even tighter at night.  But, as long as rulers bring about prosperity, governments are usually given the benefit of the doubt in matters such as these.  There must have been a good reason.

As I continue to stare at the lights of my Christmas tree a full four days beyond Christmas Day, the broken, unlit bulbs remind me that not everyone’s light is allowed to shine.  Sometimes, the coming of God’s love into the world brings more problems than it fixes.  Sometimes, the coming of God’s love into the world eventually leads to a cross.

That is precisely why we need the full 12 days of Christmas.  We need time to move beyond the celebration with presents so that we can also reflect on how the world reacts when Jesus comes into contact with it. 

The 12 days of Christmas and the stories that are told in those 12 days help us to wrestle with the fact that the world continues to defy the kingdom of God rather than live within it.   

The 12 days help us to tell the difference between evil and good when the ones causing the evil appear to be good for the nation, and those who are in fact good are running away like criminals. 

Joseph and Mary take their child and flee to Egypt, seeking asylum as if they were criminals in flight.  At the same time, Herod the Great continues to secure the prosperity he brings to the nation by killing all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under.  He fears that one of them might eventually grow up and overthrow all he has done.  To his government, the children are simply “collateral damage” in the fight to secure a prosperous future.

How can we tell evil from good when it is all messed up and complex?  There probably are no clear answers to that.  If there were, there would be no political fighting. 

But, as I stare at my still lit Christmas tree, all these days after Christmas Day, I see the gifts still laying there wrapped and waiting to be opened by the children who could not be there on Christmas Day.  And, those presents, for those beloved and not forgotten children, remind me that the Bible actually does hint that there is a way to tell the good from the evil in a world of messy complexity. 

The Bible says to pay attention to how the children are treated.  Does Rachel need to weep for her children?  Does she refuse to be consoled because her children are no more?  If so, evil is at work.

Joseph and Mary whisk Jesus away from harm to a safe nation.  The government of King Herod kills children in hopes of future security.  When comparing the two, the love of God clearly resides in Joseph and Mary, and evil clearly resides in those who do not protect the innocent children.   

Of course, such a murderous political declaration is easy for King Herod to make.  Rulers of nations never have to see any of these horrors face to face.  The brunt of the soul-crushing turmoil is cast upon those soldiers who carry out the task of slaughtering little hands and little feet.  And, the weight of the evil is equally shared by the shoulders of all those who do not speak up against the injustice.

Do you want to know what is good and what is evil?  Matthew tells us to take a look at the treatment of children.  That will, in part, give us a clue to what is good, and true, and right. 

As I continue to stare at my tree and as the tune of, “What Child Is This” soars through the air; I am led by God to focus of the Christ Child himself.  He is there, lying in the hay on multiple ornaments strewn across the tree.  And, in that baby in the hay I see the necessity of caring for the children, because his all too early loss would have been catastrophic.  Any child’s loss is catastrophic. 

“A little child will lead them” says Isaiah 11:6.  And, as I stare at that child in the straw, I am thankful that I have had the opportunity to follow him and learn the whole story…to learn of the healing, the forgiveness, and the grace that that little baby eventually brings to us; a story that almost was not. 

And, it creates in me a desire to do as Matthew urges: always consider the children. 

“Let the little children come to me,” Jesus teaches “and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs” (Matthew 19:14).

Reflection on Luke 2:1-20

The message of Christmas is for those who do not matter. 

You see, the nostalgic and fuzzy feelings that the Christmas spirit bestows is typically felt by those who matter.  Plenty of children, of course, matter on Christmas.  Plenty of children are lovingly given gifts.  Santa, of course, will make sure to make a stop.  But, I sometimes wonder if there are some children who are not seen?  Are there children who do not matter?

Spouses surely matter.  Necklaces and nice clothes are gifted and worn to parties and family gatherings.  I am certain that around these parts more than one guy will get a new gun.  “You’ll shoot your eye out kid!”  But, I wonder if there are couples out there upon whom the spirit of Christmas has not entered?  Are there people who no longer matter?

Certainly, there are aunts, uncles, and grandparents in full Christmas spirit mode with Christmas sweaters on, gifts ready, and arms outstretched for hugs as their family gathers around them…unless the family does not, of course, and they do not actually matter. 

Some people maybe just are not feeling it this year, because there has just been too much to worry about.  And, for some reason, no one is worrying about them. 

Do you see what I mean?  The Christmas spirit is felt mostly by those who matter.  But, the message of Christmas is different from the Christmas spirit.  The message of Christmas is most certainly for those who do not matter.

The shepherds, for example, were some of those who did not matter.  Have you ever noticed that while everyone in the land is traveling so that they may be counted in the Roman census that the shepherds are not traveling?  They are still living in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night.  They are literally not important enough to be counted.    

But, those who are not important to governments are important to God.  All of us are important to God.  The angel of the Lord chooses to stand before the shepherds, of all people, so that they might be the first to hear the good news of the birth of the Messiah.  Why them?  Why the shepherds?  Maybe it is because the message is precisely for those who do not matter.

Emmanuel, “God with Us,” could have been born in a palace surrounded by gold trimmings and servants.  Jesus could have been born in the presence of the upper crust, with royalty as family and a crib suited for a king. 

But, God chose a manger.  And rather than silk sheets like some will wrap up and give in order to celebrate Christmas this year, God chose some straw. 

Maybe, Christmas is for those who cannot afford anything more than straw.  Maybe the message is for those who do not matter.

Do not forget the gift those unimportant people receive.  They get the healer of the sick.  They get the forgiver of sins.  They get the one who multiplies the food.  They get the one who is able to overcome death and bring new life.  They get the savior of the world.  They get Jesus.

After-all, we do not need Christmas spirit; we need Jesus.  We do not need the nostalgia of Christmas’ past; we need Jesus.  What we desperately need is for God to be with us, and that is the gift that Christmas promises.

Jesus is the gift given to all those who relate more to straw and feeding troughs than gold encrusted cribs.  Jesus is the gift given to those who have fields to live in rather than palatial homes.  Jesus is the gift given to those who do not matter.  Jesus is God’s gift to especially the lowest of the low, but also you…and me.

A number of Christmases ago I was invited to a Christmas dinner in a family’s apartment.  As I walked in, I immediately saw the tree.  It was taped to the wall, cut out from construction paper with paper ornaments.  There were just a few gifts under the tree, nothing that anyone would call extravagant, or even appropriate.  And, when I was invited to the meal, we sat at a wiggly card table and feasted on bologna sandwiches, chips, and apples. 

But, I was not invited to this feast because they wished to show me their greatness or their wealth, obviously.  No, I was invited because I had something that the family quite literally did not have.  I was asked to please bring my Bible and read the Christmas story to the children. 

So I did. 

Sitting on the floor, because there were only a couple of chairs in the entire home, I read the Christmas story to the children who placed their heads near my knees.  And, I placed the Bible in the children’s hands as I left because this family fully understood that the message was a gift for them…children who matter to God. 

And, it was OK that their Christmas was simple, because the first Christmas was simple.  But, their Christmas had Jesus, and that is all that matters to God.  May your Christmas be full of the gift of Jesus.

Reflection on Matthew 1:18-25

Plan number one was very simple.  Joseph was to get married to Mary, and they would have a simple, but happy life together as a family.  They would likely have some kids, Joseph would support the family through his woodcraft, Mary would care for the little ones, they would laugh together, and it would be normal and wonderful.

Joseph’s first plan may seem a little general in nature, but no one hopes that very real and very specific hardships of life will appear.  The dream of the future is usually pretty simple and pretty happy.  Unfortunately, simple and happy rarely plays out as we had imagined.  Joseph’s plan for a simple and happy life is upset dramatically when he finds out that Mary is pregnant.

So, plan number two is hard and heart wrenching.  Should Joseph strike out in anger and ruin this woman who has ruined his plans in life?  Should Joseph publically disgrace this woman with whom he thought he was going to build a happy future? 

Destroying other people in retaliation is not righteous.  “Vengeance is mine,” says the Lord.  So, though Mary’s pregnancy and the unfaithfulness that it implies is a knife to Joseph’s heart, Joseph takes the high road. 

Plan number two consists of dismissing Mary quietly.  Their relationship together will just disappear and dissolve into the background of life.  Joseph is not the type of guy who would post his relationship problems all over social media.  Rather, he is the guy who would post recent vacation pictures of him in front of the Dead Sea, smiling with thumbs up, as people briefly wonder, “What happened to Mary?” and then go on about the task of fixing their morning coffee.

This plan is not going to go any better than the first. 

You see, we have a habit of making plans and God has a habit of doing whatever it is that God wants to get accomplished.  If you ever want to make God laugh, make a plan for your life.  Right? 

God has something much bigger in mind for Joseph than either simple married life or vacationing as a single man near the Dead Sea.  I am making up the vacationing stuff by the way.  I do not know if Dead Sea vacations were even a thing back then. 

In any case, whatever Joseph’s new plans for single life entailed, God has another idea.  God has plans to enter into the world.  God has plans to save the world from its sin.  God has another idea of what the future holds for Joseph, and the plans that Joseph tries to establish make no difference what-so-ever.

At the very moment when Joseph decides to end the relationship with Mary, God sends an angel of the Lord to him in a dream.  And, it was at that moment when plan number three is revealed.  But, plan number three is not Joseph’s plan; it is God’s plan.

"Joseph, son of David,” Joseph hears in a dream, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."  We are told by the gospel writer that “All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: ‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,’ which means, ‘God is with us.’"

Now, I desperately wish that when plans one and two do not work out in my life, that a dream might clearly reveal what God’s plan might be.  Would that not be nice?  Not that God never reveals to us plan number three, but the reality is that most of time when plans one or two do not work out, we have no idea what to do from there. 

This dream with specifics is nice.  Joseph is told to take Mary as his wife, name the baby Jesus (which means “savior”), and watch his future as he saves the people of God from their sins.”  That is nice.  The road laid out for Joseph is clear.  It is actionable.  And, rarely do we get such a clear plan handed to us through a dream from God.

Maybe, that is why Matthew’s birth story is placed on the fourth Sunday of Advent rather than Christmas Eve, because this is still about waiting. 

Advent is the season of waiting.  It is the season of the church year where we learn to slow down and listen and wait for the Lord to do what the Lord desires to do.  Advent is the space that occurs between plans one and two and God’s own plan.  So, if we have not gotten the dream from God yet, if God’s desires have not yet been revealed, maybe the lesson here is to not rush too fast into yet another plan of our own devising.  Maybe the lesson here is to simple wait. 

Wait and listen to see what God desires to do.

So, what has been eating at you?  What has been on your mind?  What issue in life have you tried to solve multiple times through multiple mental scenarios, all of which do not turn out well?  Maybe, the answer right now is to decide to not make a plan.  Maybe, the answer right now is to simply wait and see what God desires to do.

After-all, there once was a man who thought his life was coming apart because he was convinced that the love of his life was cheating on him.  He tried to fix what he could, but in the end, the man found out that God’s plan was so much better than he could have ever conceived.  Just when life seemed to be falling apart and it seemed that God had abandoned him, Joseph discovered that God was with him the whole time with a future that Joseph could not have even made up if he tried. 

In other words, God was with Joseph the whole time.  Is it any wonder that Jesus is “Emmanuel” which means, “God is with us.”

And, God is with you.  Especially, when plans one and two and seventy two do not play out life we had hoped, God is still with us.  Take the time to listen for the dream.  Take the time to wait and see what God will do because God is with us.  Jesus is born.  And, he is named Jesus, which means “savior.”  Our savior is with us.

Reflection on Matthew 3:1-12

As they made their way through the trees, it was the waters they could not wait to see.  It was the waters that they hoped would wash them clean.  It was the waters of the Jordan that they hoped would heal them and make them whole. 

You see, it was the waters that that parted and allowed God’s holy people to cross into the Promised Land.  It was the waters of the Jordan in which Naaman the Syrian bathed which healed the all consuming sores on his skin.  And, it was the waters of the Jordan that reverberated the voice of John the Baptist, "Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” 

Lives of straight paths are what the crowds hoped for as they made their way into the refreshing waters.  Their deep desire was that everything that creates roadblocks to God’s mercy and goodness in their lives might be washed away.  They wanted the Lord’s path to them to be straight.  They wanted the Lord’s path to be clear of roadblocks.  They wanted the Lord’s path to be free of sin and illness and everything else that gets in the way of the wonders of the Lord.

So, they were baptized in the waters of the Jordan.  It was not a Christian baptism which would make them a part of God’s people (they already were family with God through Abraham presumably), but rather, it was a baptism that washed away sin and made them feel clean and good and ready for the coming of the Lord.

And, we still make those sort of pilgrimages today.  People pay good money at spas to have the troubles of their lives washed away in mineral rich waters and toxins removed through therapeutic hands.  Others seek the cleansing smoke of Native American rituals, bathing in an ever rising river of natural fragrance.  Still others wash their sin and pain away in a bath of beer and whiskey. 

I prefer wash away my troubles with a cleansing bath of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.  There’s nothing that a glorious mouth wash of sweet and salty goodness cannot fix…at least for a couple of minutes.

And, that is the problem, is it not?  A nice, relaxing dinner always comes to an end, and the problems of the world return.  The massage that rejuvenated the soul is shaken off in a matter of minutes as you leave the spa and walk to the car that will return you to real life. 

Even John the Baptist admits that his watery baptism of repentance that washes away sin and leaves you ready for the Lord is merely temporary.  The cleansing waters may bring forgiveness, but the cause of sin and pain still remains.  “I baptize you with water for repentance,” John the Baptist declares, “but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me.” 

You see, there is only so much that we can do to heal our souls.  We can ease each other’s pains temporarily.  We can listen to each other’s problems and guide each other in paths forward.  We can even forgive sins committed against us, setting free our friends and family from guilt. 

One fact of which each of us is keenly aware is that none of these things get to the root of the problem.  None of these things fixes the soul.  Each of these things may repair the harm that the soul creates, but the soul is still wounded and will create harm again.  So, the amazing thing that John the Baptist promises is that the one coming after him will baptize us not only with water, but also “with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

You see, the purpose of a baptism of fire is not to wash the outside clean, but to purify the very soul itself.  When you take some metal and melt it down into a molten soup, all of the impurities raise to the top.  It is at this point that the sword smith or skillet maker can scrape off all the impurities that do you belong in the metal.  That way, the pure metal can be poured into a new mold and a new creation can be made. 

In the same way, Jesus comes not to just wash our sin and pain off of the outside, but to transform us into something new and pure.  In other words, John is saying, “a baptism of water is fine, but give me Jesus.”

“Give me Jesus.”  That reminds me, before my wife and I went to seminary we worked regular jobs and lived a regular life in a regular neighborhood.  And, in that regular neighborhood was a wonderful old woman, the neighbor across the street, who looked out for us and made sure this young couple was taken care of. 

Dorothy would take us out to have Chinese food periodically…or rather, she would enlist our help in taking her out for Chinese food.  At the Four Seasons Chinese Buffet, she would encourage us to partake in her favorite dessert: those warm, fried sugared rolls.  Her face would transform from revealing a life of age related aches and pains to one of pure ecstasy. 

However, being a good Christian woman, she would remark each and every time, “These are absolutely delicious, but I still wouldn’t trade them for Jesus.  Give me Jesus.”  That was her life.  It was one of enjoying life, but never confusing that enjoyment with the life that Jesus provides.  She would give it all up in order to have Jesus.

Only Jesus can melt down our souls, scrape out the impurities that lead us in the wrong direction and scrape away the pain that holds us hostage, and then pour us out into a mold to create something new for the world to see.  I have seen it happen over and over again as addicts are transformed into therapists, and those with disabilities are transformed into motivational speakers.  I have seen it happen as enemy soldiers who are filled with hate are transformed into people bearing mercy, and long estranged brothers are brought back together. 

Having a beer or two to relieve the pressures of life is all well and good for the short term, but in the end, give me Jesus.  You can have all this world and all its riches and all its fixes, but as for me, give me Jesus.

Give Me Jesus

(Afro-American spiritual)

I heard my mother say

I heard my mother say

I heard my mother say

Give me Jesus

Give me Jesus

Give me Jesus

You can have all this world

But give me Jesus

Dark midnight was my cry

Dark midnight was my cry

Dark midnight was my cry

Give me Jesus

Give me Jesus

Give me Jesus

You can have all this world

But give me Jesus

In the morning when I rise

In the morning when I rise

In the morning when I rise

Give me Jesus

Give me Jesus

Give me Jesus

You can have all this world

But give me Jesus

And when I've come to die

When I've come to die

Oh, when I've come to die

Give me Jesus

Give me Jesus

Give me Jesus

You can have all this world

But give me Jesus

You can have all this world

But give me Jesus