Stand and See – Christmas Day 7

•December 31, 2012 • 2 Comments

Simeon Praises the Lord

22 The time came for Mary and Joseph to do what the Law of Moses says a mother is supposed to do after her baby is born.

They took Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem and presented him to the Lord,

25 At this time a man named Simeon was living in Jerusalem. Simeon was a good man. He loved God and was waiting for God to save the people of Israel. God’s Spirit came to him 26 and told him that he would not die until he had seen Christ the Lord.

27 When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple to do what the Law of Moses says should be done for a new baby, the Spirit told Simeon to go into the temple. 28 Simeon took the baby Jesus in his arms and praised God,

29 “Lord, I am your servant,
and now I can die in peace,
because you have kept
your promise to me.
30 With my own eyes I have seen
what you have done
to save your people,
31 and foreign nations
will also see this.
32 Your mighty power is a light
for all nations,
and it will bring honour
to your people Israel.”

Henri Nouwen encourages us today, not to intellectualise, but to just be there.  To be with Mary and Joseph as they travel to the Temple; offer their gifts, the gifts of the not well off; bring their son to God; and hear with them the words of Simeon and Anna – who had been waiting so long to see what God was going to do.  We are to step into the events and let them surround us.  Can we stand with Simeon, and say,

my eyes have seen your salvation

Shall we wait awhile, as long as is necessary, and see what God is going to say and do?

And the prayer from the book:

Lord,

prepare us for your presence

then,

now

and forever

Amen

This year for Advent – and into Christmas, some friends and I are using Advent and Christmas Wisdom from Henri J. M. Nouwen.   You’re welcome to join us on this journey.  Feel free to comment here, or on Twitter using #adventbookclub

Also blogging on the #adventbookclub are:

http://www.likeasthehart.me.uk/

http://drbexl.co.uk/

http://clairemaxim1.wordpress.com/

http://runninglife.wordpress.com/

http://dorothy726blog.wordpress.com/

Posted in Advent Book Club, faith, Jesus, Religion, theology
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Which Way? – Christmas Day 6

•December 30, 2012 • 1 Comment

Sorry I just couldn’t resist By Alexander Minaev [Attribution], via Wikimedia Commons

When I was pregnant with our eldest son, we went on holiday to Windermere.  Out on our walks we encountered several kissing gates.  When you are pregnant, a kissing gate is a narrow gate and has to be manoeuvred through!  Similar to trying to pass through a gate with huge antlers I would imagine (though I’ve never tried it with antlers!). Yet it is often through  the narrow gates that lie the most interesting and beautiful places – protected from the hoards.

And, Nouwen reminds us, through the narrow gate is the way of God’s kingdom.  It may not be the easiest way, the obvious way, or the way that most people would choose to travel – but it is God’s way.

Exploring always seems much more exciting through the eyes of a child – not daunted by steep inclines, rough ground, squeezing into gaps. Children see to the heart of things, they don’t see the “complications” that adults see.  Nouwen suggests we need to see the world through the eyes, not just of a child, but of the Christ-Child – born that we might with him become a child again and re-enter the Kingdom of God that way.  Seeing not with our eyes, but with his.

Blessings and Troubles

20 Jesus looked at his disciples and said:

God will bless you people
who are poor.
His kingdom belongs to you!
21 God will bless
you hungry people.
You will have plenty
to eat!
God will bless you people
who are crying.
You will laugh!

Lord,

grant me your way of seeing things,

your way of doing things.

May I not be swayed by the easy way,

or blinded by my perceived complications.

Lord,

guide me,

I pray,

on the path you are calling me

This year for Advent – and into Christmas, some friends and I are using Advent and Christmas Wisdom from Henri J. M. Nouwen.   You’re welcome to join us on this journey.  Feel free to comment here, or on Twitter using #adventbookclub

Also blogging on the #adventbookclub are:

http://www.likeasthehart.me.uk/

http://drbexl.co.uk/

http://clairemaxim1.wordpress.com/

http://runninglife.wordpress.com/

http://dorothy726blog.wordpress.com/

Posted in Advent Book Club, bible, faith, God, Religion, theology
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Giving – Christmas Day 5

•December 29, 2012 • 3 Comments

2012-12-28 10.12.36

Anyone who knows me, will appreciate what an excellent gift my Sister-in-law found for me – and thanks again to her for it!

Choosing gifts is always a risky business, especially if someone wants something specific or technical.  This year Mr Pamsperambulation selected his own gift and brought it home for me to wrap, because what he wanted wasn’t available, so he had to make a different choice, and he knew what features were important to him.

Yet sometimes giving a physical gift is the easy bit.

Henri Nouwen reminds us that true giving requires,

the giving of self

and that may really cost us… To be available, even when it’s not convenient; to be a friend; to support; to forgive; to keep going; to be open…

That is really giving – holding nothing of ourselves back, giving our all, allowing ourselves to be used.

The Wise Men

2 When Jesus was born in the village of Bethlehem in Judea, Herod was king. During this time some wise men from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and said, “Where is the child born to be king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”

9 The wise men listened to what the king said and then left. And the star they had seen in the east went on ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 They were thrilled and excited to see the star.

11 When the men went into the house and saw the child with Mary, his mother, they knelt down and worshipped him. They took out their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh and gave them to him.

As we journey this Advent and Christmas, as we look to a new year dawning, what are we offering to God?

Are they the things he needs?  Or just something we feel we can give up?

Are we offering him part of us?  Or all of us?

Are we just sharing the good, shiny bits of our lives?  Or everything?  Can we also give the tough bits of our life to God, for him to use?

And do we give ourselves to others?  Today’s action is about giving gifts of signposts to those who need it.  Are we generous with ourselves and what we give to others?  Are we willing to give, even when we don’t know why?

 

I find today’s prayer in the book powerful:

Lord,

as the wise visitors from afar

laid their gifts at the feet of the Holy Babe,

let us also lay our worries,

our defeats,

our hungers,

our needs,

and our wants

so that we may journey unencumbered

to the final revelation with you in heaven.

Give us, we pray,

food and song for the journey

This year for Advent – and into Christmas, some friends and I are using Advent and Christmas Wisdom from Henri J. M. Nouwen.   You’re welcome to join us on this journey.  Feel free to comment here, or on Twitter using #adventbookclub

Also blogging on the #adventbookclub are:

http://www.likeasthehart.me.uk/

http://drbexl.co.uk/

http://clairemaxim1.wordpress.com/

http://runninglife.wordpress.com/

http://dorothy726blog.wordpress.com/

Posted in Advent Book Club, Christmas, faith, God, Religion, theology
Tags: , , ,

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