Christmas

Dec 09 2024

Obedience—a Dirty Word?

Jesus got lost in the temple, yes. But what do we know about all those years after Jesus got found? Luke says that he grew in “favor” before God. “Favor” is the same Greek word, charis, for the graciousness that the angel Gabriel used to describe Mary. Favored: God’s face shone upon them and was gracious to them. Isn’t that cool?

What does Luke say before that? Jesus went home with his parents and was obedient to them.

Ooh. Not so cool. Obedient. It’s a dirty word in parenting these days. In some cultures, “Obey!” may be something that parents still say to their kids. But nowadays, there’s a trend for parents to explain to children why they shouldn’t run in the road or stick a fork into the electrical outlet. Out of respect for the child, they are asked how they feel. Straight-up “obedience” is, well, a bit passé.

At the same time, I have noticed an odd thing. Among the young adults with whom I work in spiritual direction, those who are flourishing are those who have a strong sense of duty. They are not floundering like those who are left to “find their own way” in today’s sea of options.

So, is there a way to inculcate a sense of responsibility toward God and family while at the same time nurturing respect for the growing human person?

An unlikely place to turn for parenting advice is to the theology of the Trinity. Yet the early church Fathers spoke of the relationship of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as a perichoresis, a dance, a bowing to one another in service, a willing of the good of the other—respect and obedience at the same time.

Jesus learned mutual respect and responsibility from Mary and Joseph. He was so highly favored. But he was also obedient, obedient to his heavenly Father, all the way to the cross. Lord, help us!

Consider/Discuss

If we believe that the Lord of the universe wills our good, then it is a joy to obey, to follow, and to allow ourselves to be led, isn’t it? If we don’t believe that God wills our good, why should we follow at all? Think about your own relationship with God. How does that affect your willingness to obey, to follow, and to be a disciple?
Families are a place of struggle. Families can be messy. The Holy Family also had their struggles—being refugees, perhaps homeless, perhaps jobless, suffering the death of a spouse—how is that being favored? In times of trial, how do mutual respect and a deep sense of responsibility toward each other help a family to get through?

Living and Praying with the Word

I close my eyes and say, “Yes, sir! What would you like today, Lord?” And then I look away. To follow you, God, is my will. Strengthen my will. It wanders. It weaves. Keep me on your straight path. I don’t always know what that path is. Make it clear.

Thank you for respecting me and loving me and guiding me. Knowing that you will my good and the good of this world, I want to follow. I believe that you want to impact this world for the good, through me. You know that I am weak. You are strong. Shine your face upon me and be gracious to me! Holy Family, pray for me!

Dec 09 2024

Scripture Study for

The story of Hannah is one of many in the Bible in which a child who will be significant in Israel’s history is born to a previously “barren” woman. Hannah eventually became pregnant after praying fervently to God for a male child, promising to “give him to the Lord” as a consecrated person, a Nazirite (1 Samuel 1:9–11). God heard her prayer and she bore a son, who would become the prophet Samuel. Now she is fulfilling her promise to God and is bringing the child to the sanctuary at Shiloh. The story of Hannah illustrates both God’s providential care and the devotion of a mother to the God who answered her prayer.

A central theme in the First Letter of John is the love of God, which “begets” God’s children. Those whom God has loved and who respond in love “may be called children of God.” This is all effected through and in Christ. To be a child of God is not merely to be loved by God but to be assured of an inheritance, which is to abide or remain in Christ—and therefore in the Father—and thus to obtain eternal life. The way to show that one is a child of God is to reflect the nature of the parent, which means in effect to imitate and obey God’s Son. Jesus manifested above all God’s love, which is why all children of God must “love one another.

As the Son of the Most High (1:32), Jesus is eager to claim his identity and the work associated with it. Thus we have the story of the child who is drawn to the temple, the house of God, and who already is able to speak and teach there. While one might consider any other child disobedient or at least thoughtless in remaining behind without telling his family, in the case of Jesus this is perfectly justified—he is exactly where he needs to be, which is with his heavenly Father. At the same time, he honors his human parents and respects their authority. The person and role of Jesus is thus shown in this short vignette to be unique and, well, rather complicated.

Dec 09 2024

Wow, God! Thanks!

The dark night has become day. The rescue has come. God has lifted our sorrows. Have you seen it? A man emerges from the doors of the hospital when his family thought that they’d never see him again. Have you felt it? A woman hugs her son, whom she thought was lost, but here he is! Do you know that jubilation, that moment when light rises out of darkness? A little girl, who thought that she was going to drown, finds herself safely on the shore. Have you ever been so low that rescue feels so good? The night has passed! This is the day!

Isaiah describes the Israelites returning home from Babylon: their eyes brim with tears, seeing through prisms of joy, wondering at a deliverance so profound and so unexpected. O God, thank you!

Has this wonderment been part of your life, too? Not just any joy, but the gut-level amazement at having been rescued? “Break out together in song, O ruins of Jerusalem,” Isaiah sings. The deliverance has come. “Shout with joy!” today’s psalmist says.

I love to look at the stars at night, even in winter. It’s so dark, as only winter can be dark. The constellation Orion glitters in the south. The Big Dipper shines in the north. The air smelled crisp with cold. A sense of wonder crept into my heart and shivered in my spine. It was Christmas Eve. The people who lived in darkness have seen a great light. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

This morning, the sun is up. Christmas is here. There is food to be cooked. There are people to see. The wonder of night has turned to the miracle of day. Baby Jesus has come. It is Christmas! “Joy to the world, the Lord has come!”

Consider/Discuss

Look at the joyous events of your life—the holy births, the sacred deaths, the healings, and the reconciliations. Since your experience of Christmas last year, how have you experienced light coming out of darkness? How has God lifted you? On this Christmas day, what does rescue mean to you and those whom you love? For what do you give thanks?
In the midst of this Christmas day, find a moment to cultivate a sense of wonder at the beauty of creation—look, just look! The people, the sun, the babies, the snow, the Christmas tree, and the clouds—how does God sing to you through the world around you, saying, “Look, I am here!” After one minute of savoring creation, pray this simple prayer: “Wow, God! Thanks!”

Living and Praying with the Word

Take time to wonder? Lord, that’s not very grown up. I gave that up when I became an adult. You have to get real. Do important things. I don’t have time for awe. I don’t have time to spend in wonderment. That’s just “fluffy” and I am not fluffy. What’s that you say? It is Christmas? Well, yes, it is. Be childlike, just this one day, and spend time in amazement? Allow you to fan the flame of wonder within me? For one minute? Well, okay, if you say so. Hey, um, yeah, by the way . . . Wow. Thanks!

Dec 09 2024

Scripture Study for

The oracle of salvation in Isaiah stems from the late exilic period, which the prophet announces is coming to an end. This part of Isaiah makes clear that many in Babylon were doubtful either of God’s intentions toward Israel or God’s ability to achieve those intentions. Thus the prophet assures the people that God is indeed announcing the “glad tidings” (in Greek euangelion) that God is the sovereign King, and thus able to carry out the divine will. In fact, “sentinels” can already see that God is doing this by restoring Jerusalem and bringing the people back. As God’s holy city, and something of a representative of God’s people, the restoration of Jerusalem is in fact the restoration of God’s people.

The Letter to the Hebrews opens with a majestic announcement that, after centuries of partial and imperfect revelation, God has at last been perfectly revealed in the Son. Drawing on later, Greek-inflected theology of the book of Wisdom (7:23–27), the author describes Jesus Christ as the perfect reflection of the divine glory and power through whom all things were created, and which sustains them in being. This Son, although far above all natural and supernatural creatures, nevertheless took on human flesh and offered himself once and for all for the sins of humanity. Thus in the perfection of God’s revelation we see the extent of God’s gracious will for the salvation of all.

The Prologue to John’s Gospel focuses not just on the person of Jesus Christ, but also on the significance of his coming into the world. Jesus himself, as God, is the source of everything in creation; nothing exists apart from him and thus everything is “his own.” Yet not everyone will welcome the one who brings light and life. Already at the beginning of this Gospel we encounter the gracious will of God for the world (3:16), but also the darkness that the Light will encounter when he comes. John challenges the readers of his Gospel to decide whether or not they will accept the “grace and truth” offered or remain in the dark.