Spiritual

December 25 Jesus Star             You are here! Emmanuel is here! Yet, you are always here. You were already among us before Bethlehem, and you are with us now. Wishing you a happy birthday seems trite. Instead, I wish for your return. Be born in us again this day and every day, until you return in

December 24 Mary Lilies             Where did she get the faith to trust that everything Gabriel promised would work out alright? She, a young unwed girl, was going to have a baby who was going to be pretty special, yet she was given no idea how this would work out! She must have wondered what her

December 23 Joseph Carpenter Tools             Joseph is the hero of Matthew’s Gospel. He is also in Luke’s infancy narrative, but not it’s hero. He is given a large role in Matthew, but one interesting fact is that he never says a word. Joeseph does not speak anywhere in sacred scripture. He dreams, follows Gabriel’s instructions,

December 22 John the Baptist Shell             How did John know who Jesus was? Why did he baptize Jesus when he knew Jesus was not in need of forgiveness? How did John know that his work was to point the way to Jesus and then to fade away? What can we learn from his understanding of

December 21 Elizabeth Mother and Child             What must have Elizabeth thought when her husband returned home unable to speak! How cumbersome for him to write it all down. How Elizabeth must have rejoiced as she read what Zachariah wrote—that they were to have a son. She had faith. She believed. Prayer: O God, when a prayer

December 20 Zachariah Pen and Paper             He saw a vision, was told his prayers had been heard and would be answered—he would be a father. Yet, he questioned. Zachariah’s disbelief at the words of Archangel Gabriel caused his rath to enflame. Zachariah was stuck dumb. Even though he was a priest and therefore knew the

December 19 Bethlehem The city             Nothing but a backwater of a village. A tiny place of no great bearing, even though King David hailed from Bethlehem. A place to be written off except by God. The prophet Micah foretold that even though you are small, Bethlehem, from you will come a ruler, a shepherd for

December 18 Isaiah Candle             Known as the prophet of Advent, Isaiah comforts and arouses people. Isaiah calls the Israelites (us) to follow God’s ways, walking forward, and not back, to be faithful and believe in the promises of redemption. He is the lamp for feet as much now as he was then. Let his words

December 17 Elijah Chariot of Fire             The greatest of all prophets was Elijah. He called down fire from heaven, raised a boy from the dead, ended a terrible famine, and shouted the truth to a people who needed to hear it. John the Baptizer is patterned after him. Elijah was jealous for his God—allowing no

December 16 Bathsheba Bathtub             Who can say no to the king? It had to have been flattering to be noticed and desired by the king. Yet, Bathsheba’s actions were wrong, she was a married woman. But how do you say no to the king? You can’t, he has all the power, so Bathsheba consented and