Advent 2016

Well, hard to believe it is that time again...perhaps the reality to me of it being Advent was hastened yesterday, by our first snow of the season here in Chicago. A good six inches that covered everything in a white, downy blanket. I love the silence that the first snow brings.

As in other years, I find myself meditating on the drama of that first Christmas, and which personage in the drama I identify with the most this season. This season, it has to be Mary.

I think this is because although full of a desire to be obedient to the unique call of God on her life, I cannot help but think that a few days after she had that short interchange with the angel Gabriel, she began to wonder...and think to herself, "What on earth have I signed up for?" I think that would be a very normal, human reaction for Mary to experience. Especially after her fiancee Joseph, upon hearing of her being pregnant, initially considered divorcing her. Great. Just what she needed. Thankfully--God sent an angel to him too--and things were worked out on that relational front.

Nonetheless, the plan of God for this young couple did not mean a life of ease--instead it resulted in them having to leave their home and homeland, and be guided by angels in a foreign land. God will guide, but it doesn't mean it will be easy. If you feel like Mary this year too, may God send his angels to guide and protect you on your way of His path for you.

Holy Week and the Body

Several years ago, I attended a church of the Anglican tradition. This was more than a few twigs away from the Pentecostal roots of my childhood (and yes, there are still some deep roots there!). I had rarely seen a crucifix...but they are very present in the Anglo/Catholic branch of the Christian  family tree. So, when I went to Massage Therapy School in 2011, something in me began to reflect on the significance of the visual impact of the Suffering Servant, Jesus Christ depicted on the cross.

Christianity is the faith tradition that takes our embodiment the most seriously...after all, we believe that God came to Earth IN THE FLESH. This is no small matter. If He came in the flesh--that means he had a heart, skin, blood, and bones like all of us. He experienced life like we do. He enjoyed the sun onhis face, hearing singing birds, a home cooked meal (I wonder what his favorite was), a swim in the Sea of Galilee, etc. But his being one of us also means he suffered. And this is a very important point,because many people wonder if God really cares. 

See, many folks picture God as being distant and untouched by life here on earth. Yet the very name given to Jesus at his birth was Immanuel, which means "God With Us." He is not distant. For humans, suffering is excruciating in itself, but if isolated, it is unbearable. On the other hand, if God is with us,then we are not alone in our suffering and pain. I had a history prof in undergrad who stated that the depictions of Jesus have changed throughout the centuries...and that the crucifixion of Christ did not show up in art until relatively late...like the Middle Ages when the Plague hit. Why he asked? Because when all chaos and hell broke loose--we needed to know God was in it with us. 

Why had we not wanted to be more aware of this? At the high point of his earthly ministry, right in the middle of Holy Week (during the last supper) Jesus said, "This is my body, broken for you." Pain, suffering, hurt...this is why this Pentecostal girl bought a crucifix for the first time in her life several years ago. To remind herself that He knows about suffering in our broken world.

Advent Meditation...2015

You know,
Why didn't God do it different?
It all could have been so much less scandalous...
Could have waited until Mary and Joseph were married,
    So people wouldn't later accuse him of being a bastard.
Could have been born in a higher social class,
Could have belonged to the race in power,
Could have spoken to only his own people,
Could have not turned a lot of water into over 360 bottles of $50 wine at a party,
Could have waited a day or two--and not healed on the sabbath,
        After all, what was one more day of suffering?
Could have not talked to so many women,
        And not let them be the first witnesses of His Resurrection.
Could have had fewer meals with all those people whose lifestyle we won't condone,
Could have not actually cast demons out by name,
Could have not rebuked the esteemed religious leaders of the day,
Could have not challenged people quite so much,
So that he would have not been accused of blasphemy and murdered.

You know,
He should have followed the appropriate 'chain of command,'
and showed some respect.
He could have been more mindful of how things had always been done,
They were working so well.

God came,
In Person.
To show us a new way.
God's way. The Good Way.
The way of love and sacrifice.
Because we still had it wrong.

11/27/2015 --P Trice