Dear friends and members of University UMC:
This weekend we begin our Advent journey as we prepare once again to celebrate the birth of Christ. In the scriptures, this child we are waiting for has many names. Jesus. The Good Shepherd. Bread of Life. Light of the World. Savior. Son of God. Healer. Teacher. Friend. As one of my seminary professors taught me, we need many metaphors to help us grasp the fullness of the Divine Mystery.
One name often heard at this season of the year is Emmanuel which means “God with us.” The miracle that the Creator of the entire universe comes to dwell with us in the form of a newborn baby takes my breath away. This is one of the reasons Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year. The mysterious paradox of power and vulnerability embodied in God fills me with wonder and awe. The miracle of the Incarnation - God coming to us in Jesus - is a reminder that the holy and sacred are found in the seemingly mundane and ordinary.
Diana Butler Bass wrote her book “Grounded” in 2017 and it still is perhaps my favorite of all of her writings. The subtitle “Finding God in the World - A Spiritual Revolution” captures much of what I believe. And yet, I still need to be reminded that God is present in the here and now, in all the moments of my day-to-day living.
I wonder where it is that you discover God? In this season of Advent and Christmas, when are you filled with awe and wonder? Moments like Christmas Eve worship with candles lit naturally come to mind. But there are likely other moments, too. Simple moments can bring great joy. Simple moments can be holy. As a child, I remember decorating the Christmas tree with my family. We’d listen to Christmas music and drink hot chocolate. One evening we’d pile in the car and make our way to Corpus Christi to see all the boats decorated in the harbor and view the Christmas light decorations on houses along Ocean Drive.
This year the theme carrying us through the Advent season is “Ancestral Knowledge.” It is an invitation to reflect on the traditions and rituals that have shaped who we are. This Sunday in worship we will hear part of the reading of Jesus’ genealogy. At first glance, this scripture lesson may seem nothing more than a long list of names, but the stories told through the names are a fascinating reminder that God is at work through the lives of ordinary (and even imperfect!) people. I know that family can be complicated. Sometimes it is true that a person is born into a loving home surrounded by supportive family members. Sometimes it is true that family is made in the holy work of adoption. Other times it is tragically true that the home into which one has been born only causes harm. In these situations, I pray for the grace to be embraced by the love and support in chosen family. The genealogy of Jesus tells of a God who works through imperfect people to demonstrate God’s perfect love. And regardless of the blood family of which we are a part, and regardless of the home we find ourselves living in, our story rests within the large and great story of God’s love.
Below I leave you with two additional reflections. First, you’ll find a link to a reading of the genealogy of Jesus found in Matthew Chapter 1. This version is from The First Nations Version of the Bible, an Indigenous Translation of the New Testament. In this translation we receive yet another name for Jesus - “Creator Sets Free.” The second reflection is written by a United Methodist laywoman named Jalisa D. Ross. Jalisa is a member of the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference and I’ve had the privilege of getting to know her as we serve together on the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women. In this article, Jalisa writes about where she experiences the presence of her Creator. It’s a wonderful read as Native American Heritage Month draws to a close. Wherever you find yourself this season, I hope you can carve out some time and space to intentionally remember the people in your life who have taught you about the love of God.
What a joy to be your pastor!
Teresa
