A Day of Reconciliation

Matthew 1:18  Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19  Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. 20  But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21  She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." 22  All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23  "Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means, "God is with us." 24  When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, 25  but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.

Today is a national holiday in South Africa. This public holiday is rooted in two different (and separated) sections of our community:

·         For white Afrikaners December 16 was the day set aside to celebrate an 1838 victory in battle against the Zulu leader Dingane kaSenzangakhona Zulu. Afrikaner leaders were convinced that God had given this victory in exchange for aVoortrekker vow to keep this day sacred as a holy day.

·         This day marked the 1961 founding of Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the Nation), the armed wing of the African National Congress. As white South Africans celebrated an ancient victory over black people, this became a day that many black South Africans renewed their commitment to overthrow white minority rule. 

This becomes a difficult day for the new South Africa: two such different meanings make this an emotionally divisive day. Those who proposed the new list of national holidays chose this as “The Day of Reconciliation” – but we continue to be a nation divided by race, privilege and history. A New Constitution, or a majority governing party, or tough minded determination cannot force people to be reconciled to one another.

I am convinced that the Christmas story offer us the only real hope of reconciliation. Christmas begins as a story of betrayal and shame... and ends with reconciliation. A righteous young man is betrayed by his fiancé, who is pregnant and he knows it isn‘t his child. He is shamed as a man and as a faithful Jew. Yet he sets aside his personal beliefs and chooses the tougher route – the route of reconciliation. This is not romantic, and is extremely deliberate. And this is only possible because God is in it:  as Matthew points out – “Emmanuel," which means, "God is with us."    

This then becomes the hope for my South African nation – and for every nation in need of reconciliation; this is the hope of divided families, and of individuals who are divided one against another: Emmanuel

When God is with us we are enabled to embrace the gritty task of reconciliation.  The challenge of Christmas is for us to be reconciled to one another. Reconciliation is the real meaning of this season.

  

For Thought

He came down to earth from heaven,
who is God and Lord of all,
and his shelter was a stable,
and his cradle was a stall;
with the poor, the scorned, the lowly,
lived on earth our Saviour holy.
Words: Cecil Frances Alexander (1818-1895), 1848

Fourth Sunday in Advent

4.  God is with us

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 32.

This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.

Immanuel עִמָּנוּאֵל "God is with us"

Isaiah 7:10  Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying, 11  Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven. 12  But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test. 13  Then Isaiah said: "Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? 14  Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. 15  He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. 16  For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted. 17  The LORD will bring on you and on your people and on your ancestral house such days as have not come since the day that Ephraim departed from Judah--the king of Assyria."

Ahaz was King of Judah in the mid-8^th century BC. He found himself in the precarious position of being forced by the neighbouring Israel to join a coalition against Assyria,  - something he desperately wanted to avoid. In the above passage, the prophet Isaiah brings a word that Ahaz does not need the coalition to be secure, because God will protect them. He is then given a sign to ‘prove’ this prophesy: a young woman would give birth to a child, who will be called “God with us” (Immanuel). The threat from the enemy kings would be ended before this child grew up.  

Nearly eight hundred years later, Matthew draws on this history to address the fear and insecurity experienced by the followers of Jesus (Ch 1:23). Some in Israel had relied on a political arrangement with Rome to keep the peace; others had thought to build an underground movement of zealots to overthrow Rome. Most were just afraid... a fear expressed in a terrified diaspora when Jerusalem was burned to the ground by the Roman army. Matthew tells his readers not to be afraid: because the birth of another child will become the sign of God’s presence – Immanuel.  

This becomes the recurring theme for those of us who follow Jesus:  Christmas is the reminder that no matter how desperate our circumstances, we do not have to twist and turn in the wind, relying on our wits or our scheming. To be safe - we do not need to trust in our military power or our personal weapons; we do not require our financial investments or educational qualifications; we do not need our powerful families and political connections. Instead God steps out of eternity into our lives and walks alongside of us.  As with Ahaz and Isaiah, and with the generation who read the Gospel of Matthew, we too can know that God is with us – Immanuel. This Christmas – choose to trust that God has your life.

For Thought

Emmanuel, God with us
Emmanuel
Emmanuel, God with us
The son of Israel

And still he calls through the night
Beyond the days of old
A voice of peace to the weary ones
Who struggle with the human soul

All of us, travelers, through a given time
Who can know what tomorrow holds
But over the horizon surely you and I will find

Emmanuel, God with us
Emmanuel
Emmanuel, God with us
The son of Israel

Amy Grant - Emmanuel, God With Us Lyrics   

Second Sunday in Advent

4.  God is with us

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 32.

This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.

A Returning Saviour

Act 1:1  In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning 2  until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3  After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 4  While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. "This," he said, "is what you have heard from me; 5  for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." 6  So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7  He replied, "It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." 9  When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10  While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 11  They said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."

Advent is a season that reminds us of a returning Saviour. We not only look back at the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem all those years ago – but we look forward to the one who “will come in the same way” as he was taken. Christmas sits at the nexus between the past and the future. And it offer an opportunity for us to be reminded of Jesus – who came to save his people, and who continues to inspire salvation songs in our hearts.

  

For Thought

I will rise from waters deep
Into the saving arms of God
I will sing salvation songs
Jesus Christ has set me free

Hillsong - What The Lord Has Done In Me Lyrics  

Third Sunday in Advent

3.The Coming of Christ

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 26.

This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.

Be alert for his coming....

Luke 12:35  "Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; 36  be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. 37  Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. 38  If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves. 39  "But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40  You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour." 41  Peter said, "Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?" 42  And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and prudent manager whom his master will put in charge of his slaves, to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? 43  Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. 44  Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions. 45  But if that slave says to himself, 'My master is delayed in coming,' and if he begins to beat the other slaves, men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46  the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and put him with the unfaithful. 47  That slave who knew what his master wanted, but did not prepare himself or do what was wanted, will receive a severe beating. 48  But the one who did not know and did what deserved a beating will receive a light beating. From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.

This year it is particularly difficult to be excited about Christmas:

·         Hostages have been killed by the Taliban and al-Qaeda

·         Ebola ravages the lives of many in central west Africa

·         The American CIA admits to horrific torture of prisoners (and few other governments say anything)

And closer to home:

·         ESKOM denies that there is any crisis when we face repeated power cuts

·         The President of our Country denies any wrong doing on his part when his private residence is upgraded at state expense at a cost of over R220 million.

·         And the Office of our Public Prosecutor is in disarray.

The passage above is particularly appropriate for this.

This passage was written for the next generation of Jesus-followers. This is the generation who had witnessed the Roman destruction of Jerusalem, the persecution of those who did not swear total loyalty to the Emperor, and the consequent fear filled scattering of those who were loyal to Jesus. Luke writes to reassure them that despite the very difficult circumstances, they were not to lose hope because “the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour”.

This passage has continued to serve as encouragement through many generations of Christ-followers. Each Advent we anticipate once again the arrival of the Son of Man – and we encourage each other to "Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit”.  Let us not be discouraged by the gathering darkness in our country: the Son of Man was born for a time such as this.

Lig jou hande na bo (Sing Halleluja)
Gee eer aan Hom (Halleluja)
Ons Koning kom
Loof sy heilige naam
Lig jou hande na bo (Sing Halleluja)
Vertrou op Hom (Halleluja)
Ons Koning kom
Hy kom om ons te haal

Elke knie sal buig
En elke tong sal getuig
Hy't die dood vir ewig oorwin
Hy't opgestaan!

Juanita du Plessis

 Third Sunday in Advent

3.The Coming of Christ

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 26.

This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.

A new kind of Shepherd

Ezekiel 34:1  The word of the LORD came to me:

Eze 34:2  Mortal, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel: prophesy, and say to them--to the shepherds: Thus says the Lord GOD: Ah, you shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? 3  You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fatlings; but you do not feed the sheep. 4  You have not strengthened the weak, you have not healed the sick, you have not bound up the injured, you have not brought back the strayed, you have not sought the lost, but with force and harshness you have ruled them. 5  So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd; and scattered, they became food for all the wild animals. 6  My sheep were scattered, they wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill; my sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with no one to search or seek for them. 7  Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: 8  As I live, says the Lord GOD, because my sheep have become a prey, and my sheep have become food for all the wild animals, since there was no shepherd; and because my shepherds have not searched for my sheep, but the shepherds have fed themselves, and have not fed my sheep; 9  therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: 10  Thus says the Lord GOD, I am against the shepherds; and I will demand my sheep at their hand, and put a stop to their feeding the sheep; no longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, so that they may not be food for them.

Ezekiel speaks to the chaos that was left after the Babylonians had invaded Judah and carried off their leaders. Ezekiel castigates the leaders for being too busy enriching themselves to pay attention to the people. These are shepherds who failed their flocks. But God is not blind to this, and Ezekiel says that God will no longer rely on these shepherds.  Instead, God sends a new kind of shepherd. Advent marks the birth of Jesus – one who cames with love and compassion for the lost sheep.   

May this Advent season be a time when we who are lost are found by the Shepherd; and those of us who know the Shepherd learn to follow more closely in his footsteps.

For Thought.

Jesu, Shepherd of the sheep

Pity my unsettled soul

Guide, and nourish me, and keep

Til thy love shall make me whole;

Give me perfect soundness, give

Make me steadfastly believe.

Charles Wesley Hymns and Poems 1749

Third Sunday in Advent

3.The Coming of Christ

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 26.

This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.

every eye will see him

Revelation 1:1  The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place; he made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2  who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. 3  Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of the prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and who keep what is written in it; for the time is near. 4  John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5  and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, 6  and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7  Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail. So it is to be. Amen. 8  "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

This letter was written at a time when people were persecuted for giving their loyalty to Jesus rather than to the Roman Emperor. It uses language normally reserved for the Emperor: phrases such as “ruler of the kings of the earth” and “to him be glory and dominion forever” have been transferred from the Roman Emperor to Jesus. These are revolutionary words that have put the followers of Jesus in danger. But they are to remain strong “for the time is near” when Jesus will return: “every eye will see him” and he will be established as “the Almighty”.

Advent is the annual opportunity to be reminded of this rich history.... and to be challenged about our own loyalties. The true essence of Christmas asks us to place the teachings of Jesus at the centre of all our decisions and subsequent actions. Revelation challenges us to be “faithful witnesses” to a Gospel that reminds us that the one who lived amongst the poor of the earth is the ruler of our consciences and actions.

Third Sunday in Advent

3.The Coming of Christ

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 26.

This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.

A new kind of Christmas

Luke 21:25  "There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. 26  People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27  Then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in a cloud' with power and great glory. 28  Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." 29  Then he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees; 30  as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. 31  So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32  Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. 33  Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 34  "Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, 35  like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. 36  Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."

I would love to say that I know what is going on here. Some writers claim that this is a prophesy of the second coming of Jesus. Others have said that Luke wrote this after the destruction of Jerusalem, and so he drew on this experience to put these words onto the lips of Jesus.

I do not have the confidence to offer unequivocal explanations on this passage. But I do have an awareness of the irony in meeting these words of Jesus at Christmas:   "Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness“... this because Christmas becomes an excuse for the over indulgence of food, of drink and of newly acquired things – in other words ‘dissipation and drunkenness’. Jesus invites us to “Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things...”  

Let us be challenged to new Christmas practices this year: let us move beyond the immediate escape of alcohol, or food, or new possessions – and instead discover the spiritual satisfaction in standing in a stable / backyard room / shack and offering the glad tidings of comfort and joy.   

God rest ye merry gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
For Jesus Christ, our Savior
Was born on Christmas Day
To save us all from Satan's powers
When we were gone astray

Glad tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
Glad tidings of comfort and joy

"Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern"   1833 gathered by William B. Sandys. The lyrics of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen are traditional olde English and are reputed to date back to the 15th century although the author is unknown

Third Sunday in Advent

3.The Coming of Christ

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 26.

This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.