Daily Readings: Psalm 125; 2 Kings 2:9-22; Acts 3:17-4:4

When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha said, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit.” He responded, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not.” As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven. Elisha kept watching and crying out, “Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. 2 Kings 2:9-12, NRSV

It’s not an easy transition, going from apprentice-learner to master-teacher. We meet Elisha today at that transitional moment: he walks with Elijah in one role and returns without him in the other to face a world of expectations. The request for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit reveals Elisha’s fear that his own God-given internal resources and abilities won’t be sufficient. Perhaps a double portion of his master’s spirit will guarantee that he won’t ever face a situation beyond his ability to handle?

It doesn’t take long for any of us to realize that the world is full of situations we are ill equipped to handle on our own. But we don’t have to handle them on our own; life is not a solo endeavor, and recognizing our own limitations (and those of our mentors) opens us up to trusting in the gifts and compassion of others – and in the God who created us.

When and if we learn that lesson, we are well on our way to trading know-how for wisdom.

Daily Readings: Psalm 125; 1 Kings 18:1-18; Ephesians 6:10-17

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God.

Have the wiles of the devil convinced some who identify themselves as followers of Christ to target certain people or groups of people? The gospel message is clear, for Christ made it so –  share His love with the world.  Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, forgive those who hurt you, do not judge others, welcome the stranger  and love your enemies.

In his book, Radical Grace, the Catholic priest Richard Rohr claims “there is no other goal on earth for the Christian but to grow in love. Spirituality is always about love.”   He also states that “in our egocentric western culture, God, for many, becomes a projected image of the self:  what we need, like or want God to be.”  We may see this in others.  Can it be true of ourselves?  Examining our spiritual beliefs with honesty and objectivity can be difficult.  After all, much of all of what we believe to be true has been present most of our adult lives.  Paul tells us to fasten the belt of truth around our waist and take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 

Let us pray that we possess or come to possess these “pieces of armor” and that they will lead us to a better understanding of what God truly desires of us.

May both shadow and light guide you to God-With-Us.

Offered by Phil Ciulla

Daily Readings: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; Psalm 126; I Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28

The Doxology (traditional)

Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise Him all creatures here below, Praise Him above ye heavenly host, Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Do you ever visualize the scene in the song we sing before Communion? I see us standing there, hands outstretched, palms up, while angels descend into the sanctuary, meeting us halfway for a heavenly celebration.

Now, imagine this further: this song, the Lord’s Prayer, the Creed, and other songs of worship are sung the world over every Sunday morning – in every town, in every country, and through multiple time zones. There is continuous worship for hours on end, a praising of God, a sense of holy belonging, a rolling jubilation like a wave across the world, and we are part of it.

What Joy!

May both shadow and light guide you to God-With-Us.

Offered by Astri Kilburn

Daily Readings: Psalm 126; Habakkuk 313-19; Matthew 21:28-32

[Jesus said] “What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go work in the vineyard today.’ He answered, ‘I will not’; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, ‘I go, sir’; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of the father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.” Matthew 21:28-32, NRSV

The ones who are supposed to recognize holiness when they see it either don’t see it or don’t let it affect their lives. It’s the ones whose lives are a mess, either due to their own choices or circumstances beyond their control, that see their second chance at a holy life for what it is and grab it with both hands.

Do you have to be on your second chance, to regret throwing away your first chance, to change your heart and mind and run for the vineyard as fast as your feet will take you? No. But it seems spending some time in the school of hard knocks is pretty common for the citizens of the Kingdom of Second Chances.

Daily Readings: Psalm 126; Habakkuk 3:2-6; Philippians 3:12-16

When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.”

The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.

Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like the watercourses in the Negeb. May those sow in tears reap with shouts of joy. Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves. Psalm 126, NRSV

In this hymn, The Song of Ascents, the psalmist effusively describes the joy of the Hebrew people emerging from exile. He also describes their immense gratitude toward God for answering their prayers. There is a relationship between gratitude and joy. One begets the other. As Brene` Brown explains, “Leaning into joy depends on actively practicing gratitude.”

Like the Jews coming out of exile, it is easy to practice gratitude when everything in our life is going well. Yet, we know much of life is about trial and suffering. As our gaze turns to the conflict in the Middle East, we observe that the Hebrew people may have been brought out of exile, but they landed far from a utopian homeland. What’s more, the displaced modern-day Palestinians remain in exile. We watch in horror as the political conundrum inflicts unfathomable pain and suffering, taking thousands of innocent lives in “collateral damage.” 

Closer to home, many of us decry the dystopian domestic politics that surrounds us. Away from the political stage, many of us wrestle with our own demons, health challenges, financial struggles, loss of significant relationships, or profound existential hopelessness.  

HOW DO WE FIND JOY IN THIS SEASON OF JOY?  Perhaps it’s not so much about finding joy as it is being joyful. Yes, we beseech God to set things right in our lives (meaning being comfortable and avoiding suffering). We have been programmed to believe we need things to go well in our lives before we can be joyful. But perhaps our prayers should more often be prayers of gratitude: gratitude for the warmth of the sun on our faces; the smell of rain in the air; that first sip of hot coffee or tea in the morning; the loving touch of a significant other; a baby’s cry for attention; a pet’s unconditional love; or listening for the simple, holy beauty in Christmas carols. GK Chesterton said, The world will never lack for wonder; only wonderment.

Brother David Steindl-Rast wrote, Joy is the happiness that doesn’t depend on what happens. He goes on to explain, The invitation lies in developing a practice that we can return to as a touchstone, even in the most challenging times. In this way, we leave the door open for joy. We build our capacity to hold, simultaneously, life’s sorrows and its gifts.

If you’re unfamiliar with Br. David’s work, I invite you to browse his website at www.gratefulness.org. He explores the relationship between gratitude and joy and provides glimpses of God’s miracle that is life given to us for which the only authetic response is gratitude. 

Blessings and Peace.

May both shadow and light guide you to God-With-Us.

Offered by Bryan Fredrickson

Daily Readings: Psalm 126; Habakkuk 2:1-5; Philippians 3:7-11

Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 3:7-11, NRSV

The theme of virtually every Hallmark Christmas movie is that this is the season in which we should give up the rat race and focus on what is most important: sharing, caring, friends and family. And if we are lucky we will make the changes in our lives that enable that new focus to become a permanent one. That’s not a bad sentiment. The rat race is debilitating. It consumes us. It exhausts us. Giving it up can bring us joy and peace. 

But as good and important as sharing, caring, friends and family are Paul would say that Hallmark doesn’t have it right. If we are seeking real joy and peace in our lives, something more  is needed. In some ways Paul’s words in this passage seem extreme. Are we really to count all our gains as loss? Does he mean that the achievements of our lives mean nothing? Does he mean that even the sharing, caring, friends and family we cherish are to be considered as rubbish? I’m not sure I’m ready for that. I’m ready to give up the rat race, to do the kinds of things the Hallmark movies talk about. But I’m not certain I’m ready for what seems like the extreme that Paul is talking about. 

I’m forced to come to terms with Paul when I read this passage. Is it intentional hyperbole? Is he exaggerating to make a point? Both are possibilities I suppose, but if we take that approach we can very easily end up thinking that Paul’s words don’t really apply to us. So, if we take the passage seriously, if not necessarily literally, what have we got? First, it is an affirmation of the “surpassing value” of having a relationship with Christ. Second, it makes it clear that our own efforts alone are not going to get us what we really want and need in life – our own righteousness just won’t do it. And third, it provides an ordering for our lives in the sense of “If we get this one thing right, other things will fall into place.“

Advent and Christmas celebrate the birth of the one who makes it possible to live by these three affirmations. It’s a challenge to be sure, but one I’m willing to take on.  This has been a mantra of mine for a few years now, and I’m still working on it: “All I want is to know Christ and to experience the power of his resurrection, to share in his sufferings, and become like him in his death, in the hope that I myself will be raised from death to life.” (TEV)

May both shadow and light lead you to God-With-Us.

Offered by Jeff Jones

Daily Readings: Psalm27; Malachi 2:10 – 3:1; Luke 1:5-17

I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Psalm 27:13-14, NRSV

If I’m not careful, if I don’t take a few breaths and heartbeats when I open my eyes in the morning, I’ll spend the rest of my waking hours checking things off my to-do list, and adding more things to it – getting through my activities and hours rather than living into them. I’ll forget that I am a child of God, and that every single second is holy and unique. I won’t see the goodness of the Lord in this land of the living because I’m not looking for it. I need to pause, to wait, or I won’t see a damn thing or a holy thing. I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living only IF I wait. Strength, courage, and sight depend on the simple act of waiting.

I found this prayer years ago, and it’s my door into the waiting-for-the-Lord room. It’s changed my life:

Prayer at the Beginning of the Day

O Lord, grant me to greet the coming day in peace. Help me in all things to rely upon thy holy will. In every hour of the day reveal thy will to me. Bless my dealings with all who surround me. Teach me to treat all that comes to me throughout the day with peace of soul, and with firm conviction that thy will governs all. In all my deeds and words guide my thoughts and feelings. In unforeseen events let me not forget that all are sent by thee. Teach me to act firmly and wisely, without embittering and embarrassing others. Give me strength to bear the fatigue of the coming day with all that it shall bring. Direct my will, teach me to pray, pray though thyself in me. by Philaret, Metropolitan of Moscow [A Manual of Orthodox Prayers, Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir’s Seminar Press, 1991, p. 20]

Daily Readings: Psalm 27; Isaiah 4:2-6; Acts 11:1-18

For he (the Lord) will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will set me high on a rock. Now is my head lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord.

Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud, be gracious to me and answer me! “Come,” my heart says, “seek his face!” Your face, Lord, do I seek. Do not hide your face from me. Do not turn your servant away in anger, you who have been my help. Do not cast me off, do not forsake me, O God of my salvation!

If my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will take me up. Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies. Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries, for false witnesses have risen against me, and they are breathing violence. Psalm 27:6-12, NRSV

I’ve always thought of this request as something for my own benefit – teach me and lead me on a level path because I have enemies, I am afraid and ill equipped, and need the help. But what if I have it wrong? What if it’s this: teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path for the sake of/for the benefit of my enemies?

Thanks to Einstein, Bohr, and others, I know that all things in this universe are related, nothing is truly isolated or separate. Could it be that what is for my benefit is also for the benefit of my enemies? If so, then vanquishing my enemies does not mean eradicating or harming them: it means making peace with them, working for their well-being as well as my own. It means becoming allies, friends, and kin.

May both shadow and light guide you to God-With-Us.

Daily Readings: Psalm 27; Isaiah 26:7-15; Acts 2:37-42

The Lord is my light and my salvation; of whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

When evildoers assail me to devour my flesh – my adversaries and foes – they shall stumble and fall. Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident.

One thing I ask of the Lord, that I will seek after; to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.

Fear casts all things in shadow, and all people, making everything look like a threat. Fear can capture my attention with its lack of light, tempting me to close my eyes to all that is good, beautiful, and loving. Fear is a great motivator, but a terrible companion and advisor. So why do I choose to walk with fear?

It is when I seek the house of God, when I choose to listen to holy words, songs, and prayers, that I can choose another companion for the journey. That doesn’t mean that my path will be smooth and without suffering, or that I won’t stop in the house of fear for a visit or two; but it does mean that fear is not at the core of who I am, and it cannot control how I see the world.

Love and trust are much better travel companions: they know the way to the house of the Lord, and are happy to take me there.

May both shadow and light guide you to God-With-Us.

Daily Readings: Isaiah 40:1-11; Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13; Peter 3:8-15a; Mark 1:1-8

In the beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,'”

John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And the people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 1:1-8, NRSV

Last May I traveled to Germany with my younger sister Jo Ann. One of the main purposes of our 8 days of traveling together, was to visit my mother’s hometown of Zirndorf (near Nuremberg in Bavaria) where she was born and lived for 24 years before moving to Boston Massachusetts USA, and then marrying my father soon after.

While riding the bus into the city, I could imagine my mother walking to and from her work and risking her life to get home to her little daughter, only 2 years old. This was during wartime Germany 1943 with sirens and bombings everywhere. Moving forward 80 years to 2023, Zirndorf is a beautiful town with gardens and parks, lovely shops and quaint restaurants, many not destroyed during the war.

In the afternoon of Christmas Day I will be traveling to Zirndorf once again to experience what the Christmas season would have been like for my young mother. This journey will be my spiritual retreat “in the wilderness” and a pilgrimage to imagine again my mother walking safely to her home, the third floor of 13 Bogenstrasse. My journey for these 5 days will be a solo experience for me, at this magical time of year, Christmas. I believe this experience will be fulfilling for me in many ways, similar to the blessed sacrament of baptism.

May both shadow and light guide you to God-With-Us.

Offered by Robin Nielsen