Scripture Reflection for the Fourth Sunday of Advent
December 19, 2004
In the Most Unlikely of Places
Advent is truly a holy time, yet we often get swept up in the shopping rush and materialism that has all but taken over the season. Before too long we will be hearing the readings about the birth and infancy of our Lord... but do we really appreciate them? The readings call us to find wonder in the impossible and to never dismiss the way that God works in our lives. It may sound simple, but it's an awfully tall order when you really understand what that entails.
God Is With Us
For weeks we've been hearing Emmanuel -- God is with us. The readings speak of Jesus being that Emmanuel. He is the fulfillment of the hopes of God's people and the prophets.
Today, I think it's easy for us to picture Jesus as a baby and say, "God is with us." Of course God is with us when he's a precious little baby! Anyone can believe that. But I wish the gospel writers would have continued to call Jesus by his "Emmanuel" moniker later in his life. Like when he sets out on a new "career path" and even his family is worried about his sanity. God is with us?
Or when he started hanging out with the prostitutes, tax collectors, poor, abused, and defiled. Hmmm. God is with us?
Or when he failed to meet the needs of the people who called for a warrior Messiah. What kind of a King is a pacifist? God is with us?
As we see in the gospel, God is often surprising.
"Divorce Her Quietly"
In today's gospel, Joseph is surprised to find out that Mary is pregnant. Fearing that they would be disgraced, he decides to "divorce her quietly." But God reassures him in a dream that everything will be okay.
"Divorce her quietly" seems like an appropriate and logical thing to do -- and by far the easiest. But would the history of our salvation have been radically changed if Joseph had followed through with his plan? We can only imagine the ramifications if that had occurred.
I wonder how many times, throughout my day, I take the easy way out. How many people do I just "divorce quietly"? How often do I hide from opportunities to help others? And do I stereotype my co-workers and their abilities?
I think sometimes I even "divorce quietly" the poor. Over time, the plight of the poor may no longer seem so urgent to us or we eventually blame it on their own recklessness. What we must realize is that no resolution will come from just quickly doing the minimal amount of work. Real change and progress takes dedication, time and effort.
Maybe we should be more like Joseph. Rather than quietly divorcing the people around us, we should be quietly supportive. No great fanfare -- no earthly recognition. Let's simply heed the encouragement of our Father and take care of everyone we can.
An Inn Thing
I have always been intrigued by the role the innkeeper played in the Christmas story.
I wonder what it was like to turn away two people -- just another pair of travelers -- and later find out that the Savior was born in the stable outside your inn?
The story of the innkeeper is one that can be very meaningful to us today. It is a perspective we should keep in mind as we think about who we accept into our lives and who we just "divorce quietly". I'm sure we'll soon find that God works wonders in the most unlikely of places.
Life Applications:
What do you find amazing about Christmas?
In what ways do you put people in boxes and "divorce them quietly?"
How welcoming are you to new people, situations, or ideas?
Copyright 2001-2004 by Nick Popadich
All rights reserved.
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