Full of grace and truth

John 1:14
And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.

I do not understand the mystery of grace - only that it meets us where we are and does not leave us where it found us  - Anne Lamott 

Grace be yours today

Be it in snatched moments 

away from the buzz

In the midst of chaos and noise

In the silence of loneliness

In the yearning for loved ones

May the baby

wrapped in swaddling

and laid in a manger

break free

and grace your life

with light and love

and hope and peace 

and take you

to places

you never imagined 

May God born for us

dwell in you

Mothering God

Luke 2:6
While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child.

We are all meant to be mothers of God... for God is always needing to be born
Meister Eckhart

Mothering is not easy

And it’s messy

Be it the physical exhaustion

of pushing a fragile life

into the world

through blood, sweat and tears

Or the emotional investment

in nurturing the wellbeing
of another
It is costly
and compelling
and often happens
unexpectedly
unpredictably
when we can do no other 
but respond to 
the call presented to us
The opportunity
to present good news
of great joy
even in dire straits
That is the miracle
of birthing God.
And it’s a call
that rings out clearly
all over the world today
in the obvious
and in the hidden places 
A call to all
and for all
The world is filled
with angels 
and shepherds
announcing good news
highlighting
everywhere
God needs to be born today.

Joseph’s Yes

Matthew 1:24
When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife.

Mary may be pure
But, Joseph, are you sure?
How is one to tell?
Suppose, for instance... well...
W.H. Auden The Temptation of St Joseph

Did Joseph spend his life wondering?

It was a big ask.

But from the beginning

he showed his compassionate side

He sought to extricate himself gently

from their betrothal

rather than go for stoning

which was also an option!

But then an angel’s visit

persuaded him 

to go ahead as planned

and stick with Mary

and the child she carried.

But I wonder...

When things got weird

When the boy got lost in the temple...

When he went on the road...

When the stories got back to the village

of the miracles and the curses

of the crowds who followed

and the authorities who were threatened - 

Did Joseph’s doubts

all come flooding back?

When he saw the woman he loved

grieving as no mother ever should - 

Did he wish he’d followed his first instinct

and got out while he could?

Joseph’s Yes

An important part

of birthing God.

The Christmas Concert

Luke 2:8-16

The Shepherds and the Angels

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.

The conductor raises his hands

and, for a moment,

all is silent

until

lowering them, 

the orchestra bursts into sound.

But, in that moment,

just there

is the pregnancy

of potential.

The score is

but black and white markings on a page

until the conductors baton

signals

the first cries of life

and the cacophony gushes forth.

Not as a chaotic

rushing mass

but as a carefully controlled

symphony of beauty

in which each

has a unique

and vital 

part to play.

As the baton falls

there, in that moment,

weeks and months of rehearsal

come to fruition

unfolding

bit by bit.

And, suddenly,

it all makes sense

as parts 

oft rehearsed separately

fit together

in a joyous harmony.

Angels

And shepherds

Magi

And Rulers

Mary

Joseph

Anna

Simeon

Elizabeth

Zechariah

All did their thing

All contributed uniquely

to the birthing

of a whole new melody

filled with grace notes

of love

and love notes

of Grace

as God

was birthed 

in a song

composed for us.

The longest night

John 1:5

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

We light our candles

thinking of loved ones

who aren't with us this Christmas

Some have died

some are far away

some are lost

some are estranged

we only know they are not here

and we miss them.

We light our candles

taking some time

out of the bustle of the season

to remember those we love.

We light our candles

and place them on the cross

remembering Mary

whose heart was pierced with sorrow

even as she cradled her newborn son.

We light our candles,

the flames flicker

their reflection 

spreads light

through our darkness.

We light our candles

and it is good to share with others,

to remember that we are not alone

that even the longest night

holds the promise of dawn 

Unwrapped

Isaiah 9:2

The people who walked in darkness

have seen a great light;

those who lived in a land of deep darkness—

on them light has shined.

We’ve dressed the story up

Made it cute

with shepherds and angels

and donkeys and camels

Wrapped it in tinsel just like our trees

And we’ve disguised the reality - 

That it was into a world much like today

that God was born

Born not to a serene mother

and doting surrogate father

as painted on our Christmas cards

But into a family forced to travel

to be part of a census

Forced to comply with the whims

of a corrupt and harsh government

A family for whom there was no room

and no handouts -

Like many of our benefits sanctioned families today

We’ve cleaned up the harsh reality 

of folk living in poverty

suffering from years of austerity

with leaders who were tyrants

who kept peace by violence

The story of Jesus birth

is not for churches

not for those who need things 

to be ordered

and tidy

It was into chaos that Christ was born

And it is into chaos that we welcome him today.

For we are just as desperate 

for light

for love

for hope

and for peace

to be born

For all who mourn

For all who yearn to be comforted

For all who long for change

God is born today

into the mess of our lives

and our world

God is born

not to clean things up

But to sit with us in the mess

and to bring us hope

that things will be different

Christmas is not for those

who have everything sorted

Whether we are ready or not

God is born for us.

Rejoice

James 5:7-8
Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.Rejoice!

Just as the steps begin to weary

on a journey that began

with so much promise and hope

there comes a brief respite

while we pause in our journey to Bethlehem.

That pause is filled with expectation,

of rest and renewal

of joy and anticipation.

We salute Mary the mother of God

and take a moment

to ponder, with her

how far we have come

and the journey that we continue

and resolve,

as we light the pink candle

to say yes!

to an awesome journey

with the God who loves

to take us on a journey

we would never have imagined

and who gives us the courage to go along

on a bumpy ride

of discovery.

Rejoice!

Fulfilling prophecy

Matthew 1:18-25
The Birth of Jesus the Messiah
Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, 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.” 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.” When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.

Not just Mary, the mother of  God

But Joseph too was visited by an angel 

An angel who encouraged him to stick with it

and prepared him to welcome

the birth of the Messiah

Meantime, I wonder how Mary prepared?

Her cousin Elizabeth

with whom she visited 

was also a novice in childbirth.

So who shared with Mary hints and tips

for pushing a baby into the world?

Who told her how to

breathe into the pain?

Who told her when to push?

Who told her about the afterbirth?

Was there anyone who could help her

with the toe curling pain 

of getting her baby to latch on and feed?

Or help her deal

with the cracked nipples

and bone crushing weariness

of birthing 

and sustaining

new life?

Mere details 

that don’t get a look in

when the focus is on

fulfilling prophecy.
The TMI
of the Nativity.

Grace filled moments

2 Corinthians 12:9

but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

Sometimes 

we’re trying so hard to get it right

Sometimes

we’re striving for perfection

and fail to notice

grace filled moments along the way

Thankfully

God is persistent

and keeps on confronting us

with the audacity of grace

Until

perhaps in a moment 

of defensiveness

or despair

perhaps in the depths

of anxiety

or frustration

God confronts us 

with our ridiculousness

and, with humour

or tenderness

or maybe even both,

God reminds us

that we are not God

and draws us back

to the awareness

of grace

that invades our days

reconnecting us

to the love in which we are held

and grounding us 

in the one who is the source of all life

the giver of abundant potential

in whom we are invited

to rest 

to be still

and know God.

No offence

Matthew 11:6
Blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.

In this season

it’s hard to imagine

how a baby

could cause offence

Particularly when 

we’ve wrapped that baby

in tinsel and glitter

But that baby grew

and called out

the incongruity

he saw around him

He challenged 

dearly held traditions

and pompous pronouncements

made without foundation

He questioned religious certainties

and lifted up those excluded

by institutional posturing.

If only we would be offended today

Instead, we’ve sidelined God among us

reduced the impact of the gospel

diluted the call to radical discipleship 

conveniently forgotten

God’s bias for the poor and the marginalised 

We’ve tamed Jesus’ call to action

made following Christ safe.

And God continues 

to be born among us

in vulnerability

trusting us to welcome

and be changed by

God with us 

in our everyday 

Be the change

Matthew 11:2-5
Messengers from John the Baptist
When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them.

Are you the one?

Or should we wait for another?

What are the signs?

Are the poor hearing good news?

Are the sick being healed?

Signs that will not be accomplished

by any government

or by any political party

or by any economic system

but by ordinary people

taking seriously the demands of the gospel

by caring for one another

and for all of creation.

And, when we are disappointed

in our leaders

despairing and fearful

of what is yet to be unleashed

we are called to be

counter cultural

Called to embrace hope

Called to discover joy

Called to broker peace

in the fragility

of a world in turmoil

- the kind of turmoil

into which God appeared

taking on flesh

proclaiming peace

and goodwill to all

showing us how

to live and to love

how to be the difference

we long to see.

What hope looks like...

Luke 1:46-55
Mary’s Song of Praise
And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
His mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

This is what hope looks like...

Not squeezing our eyes tightly shut

and believing everything will work out

But persisting in the face

of all the signs to the contrary

that God’s promise holds true

That a glimmer of light will persist

in the darkness

That the proud will be scattered

The lowly lifted up

The rich sent away empty handed

and the hungry will be fed

How?

By the work of those whose hope is in God

In God, who strengthens us

for the fight that lies before us

In God, who gives us courage

to never give up

but to keep on reaching for the impossible

In God, who lives among us

and walks beside us

as we work our butts off

to make a difference

where we can

however we can

because we can! 

Enough of the navel gazing

It’s time to set about Operation Hope.

My soul magnifies the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour

Sorrow and joy

Your joy is your sorrow unmasked.
And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears.
And how else can it be?
The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.
Is not the cup that holds your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter's oven?
And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives?
When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy.

When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight. 
Kahlil Gibran The Prophet

Tears come unbidden

rarely far away

and, rather than dismiss

or sweep away

or rush to be done with them

they may be the gentle nudge

of the Spirit at work

urging you to notice

inviting you to awareness

of the compassionate heart of God.

They may be a sign

not of weakness

but of the strength of the Lord

who draws us in

to love fiercely

all that God loves

to notice the sorrow

and to soar with the joy

and to live

precariously balanced

between the two

fully reliant on God

who meets us

and holds us there.

Broken for you

When Jesus took the bread and said, “This is my body which is broken for you” (1 Corinthians 11:24), it’s hard to believe that even in his wildest dreams he foresaw the tragic and ludicrous brokenness of the church as his body. There’s no reason why everyone should be Christian in the same way and every reason to leave room for differences, but if all the competing factions of Christendom were to give as much of themselves to the high calling and holy hope that unite them as they do now to the relative inconsequentialities that divide them, the church would look more like the Kingdom of God for a change and less like an ungodly mess. (Beyond Words: Daily Readings in the ABC of Faith, Frederick Buechner)

Lord, forgive our brokenness

The brokenness that demands

that we must pledge allegiance

to one form or another

to this tribe or that

to a set Liturgy

or a moveable feast.

Forgive our brokenness

that takes no account

of your unpredictable Spirit

who so often messes up

our carefully scripted worship

tossing aside our inflexibility 

and inviting us to dance.

Forgive our brokenness

which causes us to forget 

that we are your guests

invited to a feast

and not the hosts 

restricting access to the banquet 

Your table needs no bouncers

for you welcome one and all

There are no border patrols

examining certificates

of baptism

or confirmation

or even professions of faith

For with your brokenness

you hold your arms wide 

to embrace our brokenness 

and bid us come

a multi coloured people

held together as one

in your grace.

Invitation

John 1:1-4

The Word Became Flesh

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.

It’s good to have friends

with whom to let your hair down

Mad friends

with whom you can laugh

and mess about

Friends with whom

there’s no need to explain

Friends who, when  the ceilidh band 

strikes up the first chord

will just drag you up to dance

until you run out of steam 

Exuberant

Undemanding

Fun to be around

But when the music slows

and the lights dim

and the group splits off

into pairs

Who is the one 

who’ll partner you then?

Who is the one

who can go further

Move beyond friendship

to intimacy?

When the Eightsome Reel

gives way

to a slow waltz

who is the one

who will face you

take your hand

and match their step to yours?

The Lord of the Dance

loves a ceilidh.

Loves to jig and cavort.

But also on offer

is the intimacy

of a tango or a foxtrot.

And what is requested

is that we slow down

step up

and look God in the eye

so that the dance may begin.

Advent longing

Psalms 37:7
Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him;

A prayer as I enter into a time of silent retreat

In the silence, O God

may I know belonging

May I know this space

filled with your longing for me.

May my heart connect with your heart

and your will become mine.

And may my intention be

no more than that

May I be willing 

to move to your rhythm

with no agenda

no conditions

only surrender

to you.

In the silence, O God

may I be attuned 

to your song

the song that makes sense

of all that is in me

that finds expression

in who

and where

you call me to be.

Attune my longing, O God

with your longing

that I may serve you boldly

without reserve

without apology

without shame

but, rather 

with joy

and reverence

partners in the dance 

of belonging together.

According to your word

Luke 1:38
Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” 

Submission
is not passive 

To do the will of another

To be faithful

To be obedient

Do I really have it in me?

Is there space enough

not just to suppress my will

not just to tamp down my desires

but to allow them to be overcome

transformed by the will of  God?

Do I have the courage

to risk the unknown

to attract judgement

and censure

to invite speculation

Can I really make myself

wholly available?

In this Advent season

alongside the longing

alongside the expectation

penetrating the darkness

comes God’s summons.

What will it take

to be able to respond:

“Let it be to me according to your word.”

The real Nativity

Matthew 3:7-10

But when John the Baptist saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

John the Baptist - Just the sort of not-so- shadowy figure you want crashing into your Nativity scene. Motion activated - so that he can hurl insults at everyone who comes within range- “You brood of vipers” and other assorted curses.

He’d sit well alongside the asses and camels and the cute little shepherds and angels.

And his voice would easily carry over the baby who “no crying makes”.

He’s like that no-filter elderly relative who comes for Christmas dinner and spouts their narrow bigoted rhetoric, managing to take a swipe at everyone around the table, with a whole spectrum of objectionable views. The one we humour because it’s just a once a year necessary evil.

Yet people flocked to see this wild man in the wilderness.

They queued up to be insulted.

And they went back for more.

Tired of fake news, they craved the plain speaking.

With everything in turmoil, recognising that even their heritage was no longer enough to see them through, they were ready to listen to this charismatic crazy.

JtB didn’t just condemn and convict.

He offered an alternative.

And the people were just desperate enough to go for it.

As desperate as folk today, hurling hopelessly toward a General Election, where viable options seem to be in short supply.

Maybe it’s time to put away those cute sanitised nativity scenes and cribs.

And let John the Baptist crash the party.

Shaking us to our roots.

And holding us to practising what we preach - indeed stop preaching and just practice, for the love of God.