Day 11: Practice Living Well

When the magi had departed, an angel from the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up. Take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod will soon search for the child in order to kill him.” Joseph got up and, during the night, took the child and his mother to Egypt. He stayed there until Herod died. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: I have called my son out of Egypt.

When Herod knew the magi had fooled him, he grew very angry. He sent soldiers to kill all the children in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding territory who were two years old and younger, according to the time that he had learned from the magi. This fulfilled the word spoken through Jeremiah the prophet:

A voice was heard in Ramah,

weeping and much grieving.

Rachel weeping for her children,

and she did not want to be comforted,

because they were no more.

Matthew 2:13-18 CEB

I love Joseph. Here again we see him responding in obedience to an angel from the Lord. I long to be a person who can hear, understand and then do God’s will.

We’re going to have some rather simple and clear opportunities during this holiday season to choose wisely. We will have moments when, under stress, we will decide whether to extend grace or act our frustration, especially as we wind down a difficult year. Can we find a little kindness for others?

Can we be kind to ourselves? This is different from self-indulgence. Can we continue to take time to exercise, prepare healthy food for ourselves…step away from the Christmas cookies after a modest two! I find for myself that I tend to listen and respond more appropriately when I am treating my body, mind and heart with respect. This means taking care of it. I will also need to choose whether or not I’m going to continue to practice spiritual disciplines over hiding out in my room watching Christmas movies. This year it has been easy to hide behind quarantines and zoom calls. It’s been a bit easier to disconnect.

But we have a chance to end the year reasonably well. But we cannot pretend that we are living well…we must actually practice living well. Joseph practiced. Can we?

Day 11: Practice Living Well

When the magi had departed, an angel from the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up. Take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod will soon search for the child in order to kill him.” Joseph got up and, during the night, took the child and his mother to Egypt. He stayed there until Herod died. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: I have called my son out of Egypt.

When Herod knew the magi had fooled him, he grew very angry. He sent soldiers to kill all the children in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding territory who were two years old and younger, according to the time that he had learned from the magi. This fulfilled the word spoken through Jeremiah the prophet:

A voice was heard in Ramah,

weeping and much grieving.

Rachel weeping for her children,

and she did not want to be comforted,

because they were no more.

Matthew 2:13-18 CEB

I love Joseph. Here again we see him responding in obedience to an angel from the Lord. I long to be a person who can hear, understand and then do God’s will.

We’re going to have some rather simple and clear opportunities during this holiday season to choose wisely. We will have moments when, under stress, we will decide whether to extend grace or act our frustration, especially as we wind down a difficult year. Can we find a little kindness for others?

Can we be kind to ourselves? This is different from self-indulgence. Can we continue to take time to exercise, prepare healthy food for ourselves…step away from the Christmas cookies after a modest two! I find for myself that I tend to listen and respond more appropriately when I am treating my body, mind and heart with respect. This means taking care of it. I will also need to choose whether or not I’m going to continue to practice spiritual disciplines over hiding out in my room watching Christmas movies. This year it has been easy to hide behind quarantines and zoom calls. It’s been a bit easier to disconnect.

But we have a chance to end the year reasonably well. But we cannot pretend that we are living well…we must actually practice living well. Joseph practiced. Can we?

Day 12: The Journey of the Magi

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in the territory of Judea during the rule of King Herod, magi came from the east to Jerusalem. They asked, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We’ve seen his star in the east, and we’ve come to honor him.”

When King Herod heard this, he was troubled, and everyone in Jerusalem was troubled with him. He gathered all the chief priests and the legal experts and asked them where the Christ was to be born. They said, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is what the prophet wrote:

You, Bethlehem, land of Judah,

by no means are you least among the rulers of Judah,

because from you will come one who governs,

who will shepherd my people Israel.”

Then Herod secretly called for the magi and found out from them the time when the star had first appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search carefully for the child. When you’ve found him, report to me so that I too may go and honor him.” When they heard the king, they went; and look, the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stood over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy. They entered the house and saw the child with Mary his mother. Falling to their knees, they honored him. Then they opened their treasure chests and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Because they were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back to their own country by another route.

Matthew 2:1-12 CEB

Herod had no intentions of honoring the newborn king. Kings don’t like competition! King Herod was troubled, as was everyone in Jerusalem. The magi were not troubled, although they went to a lot of trouble to travel and honor the newborn. They brought gifts too.

I find this remarkable. The story says these magi were from another country – and yet they travel far to pay homage to one who is not their own. I imagine these magi made a series of life choices to arrive at a place in life where they could empty themselves for the purpose of showing up and bringing gifts to a child.

Who is the most vulnerable and weakest friend, acquaintance or enemy you know? How might you extend yourself in a way that offers them a gift? Maybe they are not a person who is someone you feel safe around - can you pray from afar? Can you love, expecting nothing in return? It’s ok if the answer is no, because God’s love is not dependent on your behavior or even your attitude. But it might be something to think about as you move toward a new year with perhaps new desires and goals for your life.

Day 12: The Journey of the Magi

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in the territory of Judea during the rule of King Herod, magi came from the east to Jerusalem. They asked, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We’ve seen his star in the east, and we’ve come to honor him.”

When King Herod heard this, he was troubled, and everyone in Jerusalem was troubled with him. He gathered all the chief priests and the legal experts and asked them where the Christ was to be born. They said, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is what the prophet wrote:

You, Bethlehem, land of Judah,

by no means are you least among the rulers of Judah,

because from you will come one who governs,

who will shepherd my people Israel.”

Then Herod secretly called for the magi and found out from them the time when the star had first appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search carefully for the child. When you’ve found him, report to me so that I too may go and honor him.” When they heard the king, they went; and look, the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stood over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy. They entered the house and saw the child with Mary his mother. Falling to their knees, they honored him. Then they opened their treasure chests and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Because they were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back to their own country by another route.

Matthew 2:1-12 CEB

Herod had no intentions of honoring the newborn king. Kings don’t like competition! King Herod was troubled, as was everyone in Jerusalem. The magi were not troubled, although they went to a lot of trouble to travel and honor the newborn. They brought gifts too.

I find this remarkable. The story says these magi were from another country – and yet they travel far to pay homage to one who is not their own. I imagine these magi made a series of life choices to arrive at a place in life where they could empty themselves for the purpose of showing up and bringing gifts to a child.

Who is the most vulnerable and weakest friend, acquaintance or enemy you know? How might you extend yourself in a way that offers them a gift? Maybe they are not a person who is someone you feel safe around - can you pray from afar? Can you love, expecting nothing in return? It’s ok if the answer is no, because God’s love is not dependent on your behavior or even your attitude. But it might be something to think about as you move toward a new year with perhaps new desires and goals for your life.

Day 13: It Was Not a Silent Night...

About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire. This was the first census when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown to be accounted for. So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David’s town, for the census. As a descendant of David, he had to go there. He went with Mary, his fiancée, who was pregnant.

While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the hostel.

There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.”

At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises: Glory to God in the heavenly heights, peace to all men and women on earth who please him.

As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. “Let’s get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us.” They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed.

Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they’d been told!

Luke 2:1-20 The Message

Who says it better than singer/songwriter Jill Phillips, “It was not a silent night…”

And in all these things, Mary holds this experience deep in her heart. It is almost like she knows that someday she will need to remember this day in order to keep her faith. What do you need to remember? When was that time that you held something deep within yourself - is today the day you need to re-remember?