Simply Soul Searching

ANGEL OF WARNING

All too quickly, the party is over. We are back to the reality of the world, with all of its fear, jealousy, hatred, deceit, greed, and lust for power. And so we encounter the angel of warning, the one who comes to Joseph in a dream.

Light the Prophecy, Bethlehem, Shepherd, Angel and Christ Candles.

Matthew 2:13-16 (NRSV)

Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, “Out of Egypt I have called my son.”

When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men.

Where is the peace in this angel story? At this point, we can imagine Mary and Joseph crying, “Are you kidding us, God? Could our lives be any more difficult?” Mary’s pregnancy wasn’t at a convenient time. Jesus’ birth wasn’t in the best circumstances. Now they must flee to Egypt… and Herod kills innocent babies. The angel of warning is able to protect Jesus from Herod, but we know the rest of the story. Jesus would one day suffer and die under the command of another terrible ruler.

Life will be difficult. Jesus’ life was difficult from the start. In this we find our peace:  Jesus has gone through much worse than any of our difficult times. Jesus has suffered. Jesus has endured. He has “been there, done that” to a much greater extent than we can fathom. And Jesus is with us now. Jesus is accompanying us on our journeys, whether difficult or joyful. We are not alone. Ever. We have one who completely understands our plight and offers us all we need to get through it. Jesus is our Presence of Peace. In all circumstances.

Prayer: Jesus, our source of constant peace, we are so very sorry for all that you endured to show your love for us. But we are so very thankful. Amen.

ANGELS AMONG US

Today we encounter angels of another kind: the strangers in our midst. A stranger is someone we do not know, or who has not experienced something, or who is in a new and unfamiliar place. We have all been among strangers, and we have all been strangers ourselves, many times in our lives. Strangers are everywhere. Angels are everywhere!

Light the Prophecy, Bethlehem, Shepherd and Angel Candles.

Hebrews 13:1-2 (NRSV)

Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.

Our opportunities for hospitality abound. Hospitality doesn’t necessarily mean that we need to invite complete strangers into our homes, but we do need to invite them into our spaces, our hearts, our conversations. Hospitality is our warm and caring presence, our friendly and generous treatment of those around us.

In her article, “How One Person Can Impact Your Life,” Alexandra Meyers writes:

I have known several people who have impacted my life and, unsurprisingly, those moments have all been when I am in an unfamiliar place where I am forced out of my comfort zone… Sometimes it’s hard to see that these people exist everywhere, because we are afraid to open up and be vulnerable with someone we are not familiar with…¹

Jim and I had opportunities to be Presences of Peace with our dear friend, Beth (A Tribute to Beth). As Beth often struggled with mental anguish, I tried to surround her with activities that fostered normalcy and joy, creating moments of peace for her. One of my favorite memories is when I made Christmas cookies. We chatted and laughed as she ate cookie dough and sampled some of my finished goodies.

Beth may have had a few moments of precious peace that day, but I was blessed by her uncanny insights, her joy in the simple things, and for the opportunity to be kind. Beth was God’s Presence of Peace for me, a stranger who became an angel in our lives.

Prayer: God of our deepest peace, thank you for the unexpected angels in our lives. Help us to be unexpected angels for others, too. Guide us to be hospitable, wherever we are. Amen.

¹https://www.theodysseyonline.com/how-one-person-can-impact-your-life

PEACE: THE ANGEL CANDLE

Light the Prophecy, Bethlehem and Shepherd Candles.

Luke 1:26-38 (NRSV)

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

We are now only a few days from Christmas Day! We have moved from the Prophets, to Bethlehem, to the Shepherds. Now, as we begin our time with the Angels, we encounter Gabriel. Gabriel is the angel who first visited Zechariah with the news that he and Elizabeth would bear a son. This son would make ready a people prepared for the Lord (Luke 1:17), John the Baptist. Today we read that Gabriel is the angel who also proclaimed to Mary that she would be the mother of Jesus; our Lord Jesus, for whom John would prepare the people!

Light the Angel Candle.

The Angel Candle is symbolic of the Presences of Peace we find in these biblical angel stories. Often an angel’s first words are, “Do not be afraid!” (We can easily imagine how someone would need to hear those words when encountering an angel!) Peace is so much more than a lack of fear, or an absence of conflict, or an inner calmness. The Hebrew word for peace is shalom, which means wholeness or well-being. This week, we will look for the deeper, inner peace that is demonstrated in our angel narratives, and how we may carry that peace within us, too.

In today’s passage, Mary is incredulous to learn that she will give birth to a son, Jesus. This news would be so much for an engaged young woman to absorb, especially in that time and culture! There would be so many uncertainties ahead. There would be much explaining to do. (Or not explaining- how could she?) We cannot begin to comprehend what she would face in the months and years ahead.

And yet, before the angel departs, she says, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.”

Oh, such peace! Mary understands herself- her life- as a servant of the Lord. Placing herself solely for God’s purpose, she finds the peace in understanding that this is who she is called to be. No matter what lay ahead, she has the peace of obediently following God’s will, the peace of trusting that God will provide and empower her to do what God calls her to do. In placing herself fully in God’s providence, she has the peace of trusting surrender.

Let’s make this week an invitation to grow in our trust of God’s love, wisdom, and provision. Let’s learn new ways to be Presences of Peace for others.

PRESENCES OF PEACE

We pause before this candle, this lighted candle of Peace,

And we sense, we feel, we cherish your presence with us here.

Jesus, you are loved, you are treasured, you are dear.

In our gladness may we never cease

To make your peace be clear.

Prayer: Thank you, God, for Gabriel and all messengers of good news. As we enter into this Christmas week, may we be ever mindful of ways that we may serve as your Presences of Peace – with our families, friends and communities. Instill in us your deep abiding peace, the peace of experiencing the love of your Son, Jesus. Amen.

WEEK THREE- JOY: PERSONAL REFLECTION

This week we took another look at several Bible passages about sheep and shepherds. Jesus blesses us as our dear Shepherd, as One who looks out for our good, who tends and guides us, who nurtures and protects us, who always brings us into the shelter of his love. We remembered Moses and the joy he could have in knowing that everywhere he went, God was with him; he was always on holy ground. We rejoice in that God searched for us and found us, even before we knew we were lost. We are grateful for Jesus’ kind mercy and empowerment for Peter, who had failed him three times.

~Which of these stories resonated with you most? What would be the reason it did?

~Are you generally a joyful person? What do you see as the reason for your joy or your lack of joy?

~Can you recall a moment when you felt deep, abiding joy? Have you ever felt an inexplicable joy during a difficult time?

~Can you recall a time when you felt lost- physically or emotionally? Who served as the shepherd for you?

~Have you ever been led astray by someone dear to you, someone you trusted? What insights did you gain, what lessons did you learn?

~Have you been a shepherd of joy for someone in your life? In what ways did you serve that person?

~Do you currently feel a calling from God to journey on a new adventure? How does Moses’ example help you?

~We find great joy in Peter’s story, in the knowledge that Jesus loves us anyway! In what ways are you ready for a new beginning? What might you leave behind in order to move forward?

~What is giving you the greatest joy this Advent?

Spend some time in quiet and grateful reflection.

YOU AND I: SHEEP OF THE SHEPHERD

As we wind up our week with the shepherds, learning how we might become Perceivers of Joy in these stories, today we turn our focus to us. How are we like sheep, and why do we need a shepherd?

Light the Prophecy, Bethlehem and Shepherd Candles.

Mark 6:34 (NRSV)

As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. 

How are we like sheep? Why does Jesus refer to us as sheep so often? In reading a few informational articles, I learned about a few qualities that could describe us and why we need a Shepherd.¹

I was delighted to learn that sheep are not stupid, as they have often been described. We hear stories of sheep foolishly following one another over cliffs, but this happens only because sheep band together for protection from predators. They find safety in numbers. Sheep also have a following instinct, so when one moves, they all move, in order to stay together. Sheep huddle together and move away from any danger or perceived predator, but sheep also tend to move toward perceived friends, such as the shepherd who feeds them.

Because sheep are so easily guided and moved, we can understand the importance of having a leader who truly loves and cares for them, a leader who knows best what sheep need. We too, need a shepherd who guides and protects, who feeds and shelters, who keeps us together and away from harm.

How often have we been led astray by others who do not have our best interests in mind, who are only looking out for their own self-interests? How often might we be wrongly influenced by those around us who are enticing us to follow? How often do we get caught up in the “flow” or tendencies of our culture, our family systems, or our worldviews, instead of allowing a loving and wise Shepherd to lead us along a new and better path?

We find our joy in having a Shepherd who will lead us in the right direction. We are Perceivers of Joy each time we allow our Shepherd to nurture us, care for us, guide us, keep us together, and take us home.

Prayer: Good Shepherd, thank you for the joy of being your sheep, in your care. Amen.

(Some of the articles I read…)

¹http://livestocktrail.illinois.edu/sheepnet/paperDisplay.cfm?ContentID=1; ¹http://www.sheep101.info/201/behavior.html

FEED MY SHEEP

Today’s passage occurs after Jesus appears to his disciples after his resurrection. The disciples are fishing- but without any success- when Jesus calls to them from the shore. When they recognize Jesus, they hurry to him and find that he has cooked breakfast. (Doesn’t this story just make us want to smile?)

Light the Prophecy, Bethlehem and Shepherd Candles.

John 21:15-17 (NRSV)

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.” 

Bible scholars have written of the significance of Jesus’ words to Peter. He asks Peter three times if Peter loves him. Each time Peter says that he does, Jesus then simply replies, “Feed my sheep.” We recall that Peter denied Jesus three times when Jesus was being crucified. Jesus is entrusting Peter to feed his sheep as a symbolic redemption for each time Peter denied that he even knew Jesus. Jesus asks him to declare his love, and then commands him to care for others out of that love.

We are Perceivers of Joy when we understand how Jesus saw beyond Peter’s brokenness and once again affirmed Peter’s love and obedience. Our joy comes in noticing how Jesus doesn’t seem angry with Peter. As a human himself, perhaps Jesus understood the fear that Peter must have had, and so Jesus only invites him to move on from there.

We are broken as well, and yet Jesus calls us for breakfast, to come and break bread with him. We are imperfect, and yet Jesus entrusts us to share his life and love for all people. Jesus knows we will make mistakes- Peter certainly did- but he can still use us in all circumstances or situations. At times, we see how even our mistakes can lead to greater good.

Our joy comes in knowing that as imperfect as we are, we are still included in Jesus’ invitation to partake of his perfect meal. We are invited to gather together in his presence, to be fed and nourished as only Jesus can do. As imperfect as we are, we are still included in Jesus’ invitation to take part in his perfect plan to feed his sheep. We are invited to nourish all who are hungry, and to welcome everyone who longs to gather for the meal Jesus has graciously prepared for us all.  

Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for inviting us in and sending us out. Thank you for the joy of gathering with you at the table, and for the joy of being entrusted to share what we have received at the table- your love- with the world. Amen.

THE LOST SHEEP

Today’s parable is one that Jesus tells his followers shortly after he describes true greatness as becoming like humble children. He adds, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me” (Matthew 18:5). Jesus often tells his disciples- and is telling us as well- to care for the lowest and the least of humanity. He follows up this instruction with the parable of the lost sheep.

Light the Prophecy, Bethlehem and Shepherd Candles.

Matthew 18:12-13 (NRSV)

What do you think? If a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray.

1 John 3:1 (NRSV)

See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are.

We can be Perceivers of Joy in so many ways here!

The shepherd’s joy in finding the lost sheep extends to us for several reasons. First, we find the joy in knowing that God loves and seeks us first- even before we know we are lost- and that God has joy in doing so. We find the joy of knowing that God will go to great lengths to find any one of us when we stray. (We may wonder how the shepherd could leave the 99 sheep to seek the one. Sheep huddle together for safety and protection- so the 99 still have one another.)

We also find joy when Jesus tells his disciples to welcome the children- and then to see that WE are his children! We are included as the least of these. In that humility, we recognize that all of us, all people everywhere, are merely children; but we are God’s beloved children. And we are all in this together, called to “huddle” and help and love and serve one another. We are then called to share this joy of Christ and community, reaching out for others who are longing to be embraced into the fold.

Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for seeking and finding us. Make us your joyful servants- to become beacons of your light for those who need one. Show us how to help one another, and how to welcome everyone into your loving presence. Amen.

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD

Many of us can recite Psalm 23 by memory. This psalm has brought peace and comfort to many people, especially in times of illness, death or other hardships. What is it about the image of God as our Shepherd that brings us peace, comfort- and even joy?

Light the Prophecy, Bethlehem and Shepherd Candles.

Psalm 23:1-4, 6 (NRSV)

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters
he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff—
they comfort me…

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
my whole life long.

John 10:11 (NRSV)

I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.

Jesus reaffirms the image of Psalm 23 when he calls himself our good shepherd. As our shepherd, Jesus will protect, lead, care, tend, restore and even die for us. We find our peace and comfort when we entrust ourselves to him, sheltering under his loving guidance even in our darkest valleys. We are Perceivers of Joy in knowing that we need not worry. We are held in the embrace of the One who will safely lead us home.

Our joy is also in the words, “I shall not want.” Jesus our Shepherd provides all we need and cares for us more than we can imagine. We even find that our desire for anything else lessens as our completion and wholeness in Christ increases.

Such joy! What more could we want?

Prayer: Our Good Shepherd, thank you for leading, tending and loving us, all the way home. Our joy is in you. Amen.