Advent, Day Twenty-Seven

Wednesday, 25 December: ⁷ And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. Luke 2:7

The house is quiet. Once again, the dishwasher hums. Most of the guests have left with cherry, “Merry Christmases,” ringing into the fading sunset. Presents exchanged, favorite foods eaten, and traditional movies watched, all the boxes have been checked. Once again we gathered as a family and enjoyed each other’s presence. Now as I rest, I consider the impact of that long-ago birth in a tiny hamlet on a Judean ridge. Immanuel, God with us, changed everything. Somehow God managed to shed all that stood between us, becoming one of us, knowing us with a breathtaking intimacy, bearing our sins and shame. But all of that is to come. Now this evening, this quiet moment belongs to Mary. She cares for God. He’s drooly and totally helpless, unaware of what’s to come. Tonight though, he’s content to depend upon his mother and rest.

Advent, Day Twenty-Six

Tuesday, 24 December: ¹⁶ But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 17 Truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it. Matthew 13:16-17

The house is quiet. Christy, our houseguests, and Kimmy the cat have all retired for the eve. A few minutes ago our house fairly rang with laughter and conversation. All of the Robinson clan gathered for our traditional Christmas Eve meal of tamales, refried beans, guacamole, and leche-flan. Tomorrow everyone will return to exchange gifts, share another meal, and watch some favorite Christmas movies. Once again the house will be full of laughter and genial banter. Now, however, quiet reigns and I reflect. Some two thousand years ago, all of creation held its breath while a young Hebrew girl strained her way through labor. Then, in a rush, a child was born, and everything changed. Melina of expectant breathless waiting for a promise, fulfilled all at once. Prophets, kings, and wise men longed to see this day. They ached to see God’s breakthrough into our meager existence. And so I too wait; wait for the coming of Immanuel, the renewal of my tired old heart, the promised new wine, the dreaming of dreams.

Advent, Day Twenty-Five

Monday, 23 December: ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. Matthew 2:10

I’m thankful for the Magi in the Advent story. They remind me of three great truths, truths that bring me great comfort each year when I meditate on what God has done. First, the Magi tell me that God makes room for me, a non-Jew in His family. He seeks me out and wraps me in. Second, God is doing things, big things, wonderful things, mind-blowing things that do not fit into my vision. God works in ways gross and ways sublime His wonders to perform (to quote Cowper’s great hymn). And third, when God reveals Himself to those who seek, they rejoice. The Magi undertook a long, arduous, and dangerous journey to find the Christ-child. We do not know the specifics of their origin. The Bible remains silent about so much that I’d like to know. But, I do know that they responded to Jesus with exceedingly great joy, and so do I.

Advent, Day Twenty-Four

Sunday, 22 December: ¹ Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. ² Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins. Isaiah 40:1-2

God chooses to comfort. He specifically chooses to restore, reconcile, and resolve, ending the estrangement that keeps us enemies. I remember returning to Germany from Iraq. We landed in Ramstein Air Force Base. The unit armorer boarded the C-17 as we sat on the ramp. He and his assistants took our weapons and ammunition. I had deployed with one unit and then transferred to another when the first redeployed. For over a year, my weapons had not left my side; now in a safe and secure environment, I felt oddly unbalanced. I had become used to living in a combat zone. It took quite a while, months really, but slowly the tension slipped away and I relaxed. I often forget that sin separated me from God. My ill-conceived choices led to a state of open warfare with God, but His choice was to send His son into the broken darkness that I created. He chose to take actions designed to bring peace. Immanuel is here, the hostilities are over and peace is declared.

Advent, Day Twenty-Three

Saturday, 21 December: ¹⁵ When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” ¹⁶ And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. Luke 2:15-16

Despite all His power and ability to coerce, God, ever kind and gentle, allows us choice. There is something He loves about a heart that is drawn to and freely chooses to seek Him. Astounded by the angelic visitation, the Shepherds dropped all they were doing and hurried off to see their newborn savior. Perhaps this was why He chose them as recipients of His big reveal, He knew that they would be lost in the wonder of the moment and respond accordingly. I wonder, when was the last time that I dropped all that I was doing to hurry off and find the Lord?