Here Am I

This week I have been thinking about Mary, the chosen mother of the Christ child.  I have read about her encounter with the angel Gabriel numerous times in the gospel of St. Luke.  I find myself drawn into her story and the situation that she found herself in so many years ago.  I try to imagine what it would have been like to be told wondrous news from a messenger of God.

I have tried to enter into the story as an active participant instead of simply a passive listener.  I have tried to imagine the feelings of Mary and the thoughts that would have been racing through her mind as she was called blessed.  As I practiced this method of Scripture study, I was reminded of a song recorded by Amy Grant several years ago.  Take a moment to listen to the words of this song.




As I listened to this song, I truly began to feel the pressures and great expectations that Mary must have felt as she carried the Son of God within her womb.  In the song she states, "I am frightened by the load I bear; In a world as cold as stone, Must I walk this path alone?"  I understand these words.  So many days I too feel the burden of carrying a heavy load.  It seems as though the world around us is cold as stone and is getting colder day after day.  Sometimes being a Christian is lonely.  It seems as though no matter what you do or say, it is the wrong thing.  It seems as though you are walking along a road all by yourself.

In another verse of the song, Mary asks this, "Do you wonder as you watch my face; If a wiser one should have had my place; But I offer all I am."  This verse of the song came flooding over me.  I think about God's call on my life and his insistence that I go forth to be a pastor.  Mary's words from the song ring true in my life.  Does God look at me and regret his decision?  Does God hear me preach and teach and realize that perhaps there was someone wiser, someone better, someone who would certainly have done a better job?

But here is the lesson I have learned from Mary.  My reply, my desire, my entire life can only respond with "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word."  Mary trusted God.  St. Paul tells us that we "have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us."  God knows our insecurities.  He understands our inabilities.  God is more aware of what we can't do than we are.  And yet he has chosen us to carry his Son into a dark world.  Instead of angels announcing the Christ child to all people, he trusts you and me.

So to answer the question, no we are not able.  However, as the song says, "Breath of heaven, hold me together, be forever near...light up my darkness, pour over me your holiness, for you are holy."  Its only through the Breath of Heaven, the Holy Spirit, that we are worthy and that we are able to live up to our calling.  Mary's story reminds us to respond to God's call on us and to allow him to work through us.  Regardless of what we think of ourselves, God knows the desires of our hearts and he will enable us to go forth and do incredible things for his glory alone.  Until next time...

+May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you.






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It Snowed in Haskell!

When I taught English, I would save one particular poem until we had our first snowfall of the season.  I remember reading this poem for the first time.  The words leapt from the page and found their way directly to my heart.  Each time I read this poem, the same feelings come rushing over me.  That is the true beauty of poetry.  Since I no longer have "class," I suppose this blog will have to suffice.  I share this poem with you because my current home town received her first snowfall of the winter season yesterday.  May Lowell's words touch you as they have touched me for so many years.

James Russell Lowell--American Poet

The First Snow-Fall

by James Russell Lowell

The snow had begun in the gloaming,

And busily all the night

Had been heaping field and highway

With a silence deep and white.

Every pine and fir and hemlock

Wore ermine too dear for an earl,

And the poorest twig on the elm-tree

Was ridged inch deep with pearl.

From sheds new-roofed with Carrara

Came Chanticleer's muffled crow,

The stiff rails softened to swan's-down,

And still fluttered down the snow.

I stood and watched by the window

The noiseless work of the sky,

And the sudden flurries of snow-birds,

Like brown leaves whirling by.

I thought of a mound in sweet Auburn

Where a little headstone stood;

How the flakes were folding it gently,

As did robins the babes in the wood.

Up spoke our own little Mable,

Saying, "Father, who makes it snow?"

And I told of the good All-father

Who cares for us here below.

Again, I looked at the snow-fall,

And thought of the leaden sky

That arched o'er our first great sorrow,

When that mound was heaped so high.

I remembered the gradual patience

That fell from that cloud like snow,

Flake by flake, healing and hiding

The scar that renewed our woe.

And again to the child I whispered,

"The snow that husheth all,

Darling, the merciful Father 

Alone can make it fall!"

Then, with eyes that saw not, I kissed her;

And she, kissing back, could not know

That my kiss was given to her sister,

Folded close under deepening snow.

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Prepare the Way of the Lord

I was talking with a good friend of mine and fellow pastor this week.  He has been a pastor for many years now and I always appreciate the wisdom that he brings to our conversations.  I admitted to him that when I started preaching from the lectionary back in November that I thought it would be easier, but just the opposite  has proved true.  It has gotten even harder the last two weeks as I have prepared my sermons for Advent.

Many people think of Advent as the days that count down until we celebrate Christmas, the birth of our Lord and Savior.  While that is true, that is only part of the purpose of Advent.  The bigger message of this season is that Jesus Christ will return in his full glory and we will meet him in the sky as a new day of celebration.  However, until then we are to be working.

This week, the lectionary readings focused on proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ the Son of God.  The primary text that I am using is found in St. Mark 1:1-8.  Mark uses these verses as background information about John the baptizer who appeared in the wilderness ahead of Jesus to a message of repentance before he moves on to tell about Jesus' ministry.

John Preaching in the wilderness.  (Corbis)

I've been thinking about John's message as he preached about the coming Kingdom of God and what that means for contemporary Christianity.  It seems as though we have lost our voice.  Our churches no longer are interested in preaching in the wilderness.  We prefer to write checks and call that our ministry.  I'm not so sure that is what we are called to do.  But I'm afraid that until our hearts are broken, until our eyes fill with tears for those we are called to proclaim the wondrous message of Jesus Christ, our voices will remain mute.  I'm afraid that Advent has become like other parts of the church whereby we have sanitized it to the point where we no longer get dirty.  We no longer wander forth into the messiness of the world and touch those who need to be touched.

I'm as guilty as anyone else in this area.  I too need to get dirty and to come in contact with those who need to encounter Emmanuel.  After all, perhaps it is only through us that God truly becomes present to others.  The way we live our lives should reflect the message of Advent.  That message is summed up by this early proclaimer of Advent when he stated "The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop and untie the thong of his sandals.  I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."  Let it be so.

Until next time...

+May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you.

"Let us not be satisfied with just giving money.  Money is not enough, money can be got, but they need your hearts to love them.  So, spread your love everywhere you go."--Mother Teresa






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