God wants the chaff too. Everything you do, all that you experience, every tear, and crushed dream, each droll moment is important in one way or another. Let’s not be limited by the merely comprehensible. There are forces at play which we don’t understand, but of which we are somehow — blessedly — a part.
When King Herod heard this, he was frightened…
So, what kind of a mother was Mary? How did she mother? And what can we learn from her, to draw closer to her Son?
It’s really about our counterfeit lives, the ways we choose violence over love, our unrealistic expectations. We can let those things fall to the floor. It’s safe to let them be burned. What remains is the full human you were created to be.
Don’t be swept up in the traumatic events of the day. Live an examined life; get a grip on your purpose; compare it to your practice; correct your ways; comply with those of the Lord.
Make this Advent different. Every day, let’s turn our vague intentions into a single, deliberate act of love. God knows and loves us in our fears and foolishness as well as in our courage and goodness.
The inclination to do violence is strong, but “That day, ” and “these things” require gentleness, restraint, the keeping of our souls. As we enter Advent, be sober and alert. Don’t let yourself get caught up in blame, revenge, violence. And light your candle. Hold it high.
…as we enter Advent, the challenge before us is: How will our Chronos advance God’s Kairos? How will we spend our time to bring about God’s time… in this Advent, this Christmas and beyond?
Before Advent gets here take some time to identify the ways the world tries to lie to you and remember that those things are not true. You belong to God’s kingdom, and the truth is that you there are no accusations against you.
It’s in our national DNA to distrust kings. Yet here we are, preparing to celebrate “Christ the King” Sunday. Actually, it goes deeper than that.