Celebrating
the freeing, supportive presence of God. So your experience of God may
become your experience of life. It is wonderful what God can do!
“The Season of Nurturing Love”
Malachi 3:1
Luke 1:68-79; Luke 3:2b-6
December 10, 2006
A faithful and responsive young woman, a kind hearted and open minded man, an amazing and miraculous birth, angels, shepherds, wise men, lambs, and cows lowing, a bright star, a virgin’s sweet boy who laid down his sweet head, but even in a manger, no crying he makes, a holy infant, so tender and mild.
This is the season of love and of gift-giving. The season we extraordinarily reach out to those less fortunate than ourselves.
This is the season of unusual kindness and generosity. The season of joyous anticipation and warm greetings.
This is the season of cards and fresh baked cookies, brightly decorated fir trees and shiny tinsel. The season of bright lights and colorful decorations.
This is the season where the greatest number of persons get involved with the greatest amount of time and energy, than for any other holiday season. This is the season when people feel like they belong in church.
The Christmas story and all for which it stands touches us in real and powerful ways, but it also touches us in warm and gentle ways deep within us. The story engenders a sense of understanding, a sense of belonging, a sense of being nurtured and cared for by the universal power known as God.
We are told this God is the very essence and definition of love, compassion, and nurture. No one has given and sacrificed for so many people as has this God of creation. The gospel writer John puts it this way:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him, should not perish, but have ever lasting life. God did not send his Son to judge the world, but rather that the world, through him, might be saved.” (John 3:16 & 17)
God has always been about the business of saving us from ourselves because of his unconditional love for us. On a regular basis, God offers us freedom in Christ—a freedom that neutralizes the effect of our temptations, our sins, and our self-centeredness for all eternity.
The gospel writer Luke, puts it this way:
“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins. By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us … to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
Advent is that time of spiritual preparation when we open our hearts to God’s tender mercy, and allow our feet to be led into the way of peace. Nothing need get in our way of this journey. The prophet Isaiah puts it this way:
“Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” We know well both the deep valleys that confront us, and the high mountains.
One of the highest mountains we face is a warped and commercialized Christmas. It is no easy hurdle to overcome. The spiritual can so easily get lost in the hectic busyness of the season.
We are confronted by the valleys of deadlines and the frustrating search for that so-called ‘perfect gift.’ We know the crooked roads that attempt to get us lost in an array of distractions. We must not give in to it. We must remain strong and determined that the magnificent gift of God will be unhindered by all the powerful distractions; that we too “shall see the salvation of God” in this great season of nurturing love.
God says to us today and every day in Advent, “Prepare the way of the Lord,” clear the brush, and “make his paths straight” so that without detours, they lead directly to the manger of Jesus who is the good and perfect gift of God. Amen.
