PONDER: GRACE AND TRUTH

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. 15 (John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’”) 16 From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ~John 1:14-17

He will send from heaven and save me when those who would trample me down mock me. (Selah) God will send his grace and his truth. ~Psalm 57:4 Complete Jewish Bible (CBJ)

You will show truth to Ya‘akov and grace to Avraham, as you have sworn to our ancestors since days of long ago. ~Micah 7:20 (CJB)

For your grace is there before my eyes, and I live my life by your truth. ~Psalm 26:3

For his grace has overcome us, and Adonai’s truth continues forever. Halleluyah! ~Psalm 117:2 (CBJ)

I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your grace and truth; for you have made your word [even] greater than the whole of your reputation. ~Psalm 138:2

Adonai, don’t withhold your mercy from me. Let your grace and truth preserve me always. ~Psalm 40:12 (CBJ)

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; grace and truth attend you. ~Psalm 89:15 (CBJ)

May he be enthroned in God’s presence forever! Appoint grace and truth to preserve him! ~Psalm 61:8 (CBJ)

Not to us, Adonai, not to us, but to your name give glory, because of your grace and truth. ~Psalm 115:1 (CJB)

For your grace is great, all the way to heaven, and your truth, all the way to the skies. ~Psalm 57:11 and Psalm 108:5 (CBJ)

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ~John 14:6

• What words or phrases stand out to you (what is the Spirit highlighting to you)? Why do you think this is?
• How would you describe God’s grace and truth? How have experienced it?
• What might God be saying to you? To your neighbours?
• How might the Spirit be nudging you to respond?

You might want to journal your responses.

Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, in truth and love. ~2 John 1:3

PRAYER PROMPTS

Word become flesh
Show us Your grace and truth.
Your light before, Your Light ahead
Your grace
Sustaining, Attending, Setting free
Your truth
Making things right
Mitigating mercy
Flooding the darkness with light
Calming our dread with Life
Present, active, among us –
Grace and truth within and without.
And all the way to heaven on earth.

PRACTICE: SHARING LIFE

How might you share gratitude for light, grace and truth with your friends or neighbours this week?

• How about a virtual games night or trivia game?
• Or a front yard or park meet-up to share some holiday highlights?

PONDER: REDEMPTION

And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. ~Luke 2:33-38

He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name. ~Psalm 111:9

O Israel, wait and watch for God— with God’s arrival comes love, with God’s arrival comes generous redemption. No doubt about it—he’ll redeem Israel, buy back Israel from captivity to sin. ~Psalm 130:7-8 MSG

… Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. ~Luke 2:19

• What words or phrases stand out to you (what is the Spirit highlighting to you)? Why do you think this is?
• What does redemption mean to you? What might it mean for our world, especially today?
• What might God be saying to you? To your neighbours?
• How might the Spirit be nudging you to respond?

You might want to journal your responses.

PRAYER PROMPTS

Calm us to wait for the gift of Christ;
Cleanse us to prepare the way for Christ;
Teach us to contemplate the wonder of Christ;
Touch us to know the presence of Christ;
Anoint us to bear the life of Christ. Amen

Ray Simpson, Celtic Worship Through the Year,

PRACTICE: CREATION CARE

Express gratitude for the beauty and wonder of God’ creation.

• How does creation communicate God’s redemptive presence and work?
• How can you demonstrate this week that you care for creation?

PONDER: TEMPLE PEOPLE

After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”), and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,
“Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” ~Luke 2:21-32
… Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. ~Luke 2:19

• What words or phrases stand out to you (what is the Spirit highlighting to you)? Why do you think this is?
• Notice how Simeon was in synch with the Spirit (mentioned 3 times). – how are you/we?
• What does God’s salvation look like to you? How have you ‘seen’ it? (v.30)
• What might God be saying to you? To your neighbours?
• How might the Spirit be nudging you to respond?

You might want to journal your responses.

PRAYER PROMPTS

Holy Spirit, as you rested on Simeon, rest on us.
May we too look forward to Your coming—again!
That there might be light for all and Your Kingdom come on earth.
Holy Spirit, give us eyes to see your salvation in the small and ordinary things—
The tenderness of a newborn baby
The chirp of the chikadees
The smell of gingerbread, cinammon, grace.
The smile from across the street
The moments of laughter shared, a memory, a hug
Love embodied in flesh and blood
The snow that sparkles in the sun.
Holy Spirit, You have already prepared all things!
Like Simeon, dismiss us in peace
Dismiss us of covid, cruelty, poverty and pain
Dismiss us of pride, greed and selfishness
Dismiss us of worry, injury and despair
Dismiss us to share Your glory and walk in Your Light and
The Glory of the One-of-a-kind Son, full of grace and truth.
Come, Lord Jesus. Amen

PRACTICE: ENCOURAGEMENT

• Like Simeon, how might you recognize the Spirit at work and encourage a Joseph and Mary?
• How, like Mary and Joseph, have you been encouraged as you have heard the Spirit speak to you through another?
• Encourage a neighbour(s) who is in quarantine by making a Spotify playlist for or sharing an ebook/ audiobook/ podcast/ Ted Talk with them and spending time in conversation about it.

PONDER: THE LIFE-LIGHT

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light: On those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. ~Isaiah. 9:2

The Life-Light was the real thing: Every person entering Life he brings into Light.
He was in the world, the world was there through him, and yet the world didn’t even notice.
He came to his own people, but they didn’t want him.
But whoever did want him, who believed he was who he claimed and would do what he said, He made to be their true selves, their child-of-God selves.
These are the God-begotten, not blood-begotten, not flesh-begotten, not sex-begotten.
The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighbourhood. 

We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, Generous inside and out, true from start to finish. ~John 1:9-14 MSG

• What words or phrases stand out to you (is the Spirit highlighting for you)? Why do you think this is?
• What does it mean to you that “The Life-Light [Jesus] was the real thing”?
• How have you experienced “the true Light that comes to all the people of the world and [shines] on everyone” including your neighbours? (v.9)
• How might the Spirit be nudging you to respond?

You might want to journal your response.

PRAYER PROMPTS

In the beginning, O God, was your Word:
     a light in the darkness shining.
Your Word came to life in Jesus,
     a light in the darkness shining.
Your grace has come to us with salvation,
     a light in the darkness shining.
A child has been born among us,
     a light in the darkness shining.
Your love comes to life within us,
     a light in the darkness shining.
May your love chase away all evil,
     a light in the darkness shining.
May your mercy come fill and transform us,
     a light in the darkness shining.
May we live with your love in this world,
     a light in the darkness shining.  Amen.   

PRACTICE: GENEROSITY

• Where do you see signs of God’s grace and generosity?
• On each of the 12 Days take a photo, draw a picture, or journal these ‘signs’ .

 

The 12 days of Christmas begins on 26 December

Most of us are accustomed to marking Advent. But the celebration of the 12 Days of Christmas is less familiar. I think a lot of this has to do with the Christmas marketing season – which seems to begin right after Halloween and ends abruptly on boxing day with a return to ‘regular’ music and yet another huge marketing initiative, namely boxing day/week sales!

But observing the 12 Days of Christmas is a 1500-year-old Christian tradition. In 567, the Council of Tours proclaimed the twelve days from Christmas to Epiphany (traditionally January 6th) as a sacred and festive season, focused on celebrating the nativity of Jesus.

Over these 12 Days of Christmas, I will have a short post to help us ponder and pray on these 12 Days. We will continue to dwell in the Story of Jesus’ infant years, on John 1 and its themes of light, glory, grace and truth.

How do we experience the Light of Christmas – trust it, see it and share it?

PONDER

Long ago in the time before all days, before the creation of all things, the one who is known as the Word was there, face to face with the Great Spirit. This Word fully represents Creator and shows us who he is and what he is like. He had always been there from the beginning for the Word and Creator are one and the same. Through the Word, all things came into and not one thing exists that he did not create.

Creator’s life shined out from the Word, giving light to all human beings. This is the true Light that comes to all the people of the world and shone on everyone. The Light shines into the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it or put it out.

Into the wilderness of the Land of Promise (Judea) came a man named Gift of Goodwill (John). He was sent to the Great Spirit to tell what he knew about the Light so everyone could believe. He was not the Light but came to speak the truth about the Light. The true Light that shines on all people was coming into the darkness of this world.

He came down into this world, and even though he made all things, the world did not recognize him. Even his own tribe did not welcome or honour him. But all who welcome and trust him receive their birthright as children of the Great Spirit. They are born in a new way, not from a human father’s plans or desires, but born from above—by the Great Spirit.

Creator’s Word became a flesh-and-blood human being and pitched his sacred tent among us, living as one of us. We looked upon his great beauty and saw how honourable he was, the king of honor held only by this one Son who fully represents his Father—full of his great kindness and truth… No one has ever seen the Great Spirit but the one Son, who is himself the Great Spirit and closest to the Father’s heart has shown us what he is like. John 1:1-14, 18, First Nations New Testament

• What words or phrases stand out to you (i.e. what is the Spirit highlighting)? Why do you think this is?
• What does it mean to you that “Creator’s Word became a flesh-and-blood human being and pitched his sacred tent among us, living as one of us” (v. 14)?
• How have you experienced “the true Light that comes to all the people of the world and [shines] on everyone” including your neighbours? (v.9)
• How might the Spirit be nudging you to respond? How will you?

You might want to journal your responses.

PRAYER PROMPTS

Almighty God and Father of light,
a child is born to us and a Son is given to us.
Your eternal Word leaped down from heaven
in the silent watches of the night,
and now your Church is filled with wonder
at the nearness of her God.
Open our hearts to receive His life
and increase our vision with the rising of dawn,
that our lives may be filled with His glory and His peace,
who lives and reigns forever and ever.
(International Committee on English in the Liturgy (ICEL)

It’s likely you didn’t have much time to pray and ponder yesterday. Sp take a deep breath with your favourite calming cup in your favourite comfy chair:

• Look at the names on your Prayer List. How you have seen God at work over the last four weeks in yourself, your neighbours and your neighbourhood? What are you thankful for? How will you pray for them now?
• Do some pondering with regards to this Advent journey.
  • What’s stood out for you?
  • What have you learned?
  • How have you seen God at work?
  • What might God be saying to you? – to your neighbours? – through your neighbours?
• Perhaps you’ll want to write a poem, a psalm, a song or create a visual with paint, pencils or other materials to express your responses.
  • You might want to start with a phrase that has been ‘stuck’ in your head and heart.
  • Here is an example, “Mary is pondering…”

And treasuring these things in her heart.
God’s surprise…
No earthquakes thundering… No crown, nor royal robe,
no influential people domineering…
A simple home, a little village,
ordinary couple merely adhering…
Trust and openness volunteering
Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace…
His story hearing…
Bright morning star, now in flesh appearing…
God is nearing
Light of Lights unfaltering
Infant-God; human- Divine entwining
Mystery and miracle.
Kingdom here and not yet.
Pondering–
We ponder too, can God impart
To mortal life, to human heart?
Can we open ourselves to paradox?
Can we figure out how to live without our box…
Pondering…
Healing in the suffering
Calm in the chaos
Joy in despair
Gratitude in grief
Rest in fatigue
Light in the darkness
Truth embodied. Glory in humility.
What child is this?
King in a stable.
Paradox is grace.

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5

PRACTICE: ABIDING IN CHRIST

• Listen to, ponder and/or sing a Christmas song throughout the day.
  • Sing it with, for and over your neighbourhood—
  • Allow the song to dwell in your mind and keep your heart attentive to God with us, Emmanuel, praying come Lord Jesus!
  • A few Song Suggestions:
    • Light of the World
    • We The Kingdom – Light of the World (Sing Hallelujah)
    • Noel Chris Tomlin
    • The Heart of Christmas
• Pause and ponder some Advent art, nativity scenes, Christmas decorations…
• You may want to focus particularly on a piece of art that communicates to you light, grace and truth.
  • How do the depictions make you feel?
  • What do you appreciate?
  • What do you wonder about?
• How might you envision, look for, carry with you, and share the gifts of Christmas today?
• You might want to take a picture of it on your phone for future pondering.