Tag: Jesus is coming

#Advent Day 15 Christ is Coming Anyway

Dr. Wil Gafney “Christmas is not Canceled. Festive Christmas celebration and public displays are. But the Feast of the Incarnation will continue to be observed. There will be church services for the local residents. Tourism is strongly discouraged.” Layla Darwish: Most average Americans doesn’t even know Christmas is cancelled in Bethlehem.

Christ Incarnates
Christ always comes
that is the promise

That is what I said
when I took my ordination question
I said that I believe that
Christ will come
and every knee shall bow

And someone stood and asked me
How?

Aren’t you worried about Universalism
(Worried that Jesus might save everyone??
HA!)

And I said
I don’t know
It is not my job to understand it

Just to believe it
and to declare the good news

That even in the midst of war
and rubble
and horrific devastation
where humans dehumanize one another
Christ
will keep his promise

I believe that somehow
Christ is still with us
and will be incarnate
for everyone

Because the Bible says
Good News for All People
All people will stream
Every Knee shall bow

I did not see any asterisks
or footnotes

I did not see any guns
or calls for coercion
or force

Last I saw
Jesus said to kneel
to one another
And wash each other’s feet

(I have suspicions about
this is why we will be kneeling
to be besides the Christ
who is already kneeling
to serve us)

But right now
I am just hanging on to
the faith
that Jesus is here
And Coming

Because it’s not my job
to bring Jesus

Or to bring anyone to him
God has already done all of that work

Jesus is coming
Hear the Good News
Alleluia,
Amen.

Feel free to use/share/adapt with credit to Katy Stenta “KatyandtheWord”

Christmas is not Cancelled: The Struggle is Real!

A gentle reminder that Christmas is not cancelled. Because it can’t be.

It’s never been about the presents (Grinch) or the to do lists (Charlie Brown) or even the beautiful worship (Best Christmas Pageant Ever).

It has never been dependent on family being able to make it: there has always been weather and travel delays, there has always been illness and other unforeseeable hurdles (Skipping Christmas).

It has never just been about being joyful (Blue Christmas worship and song).

It hasn’t even been about being home (I’ll be Home for Christmas).

Or being perfect (A Christmas Carol, Gift of the Magi).

And sometimes it’s just chaos! (Mixed Nuts, “A Lot Like Christmas” by Connie Willis).

My housekeeping style is best described as "There appears to have been a struggle." Teeheehee...Yep! Nowadays that is a fact. | Funny pictures, Haha funny, Funny

And reaches out unexpectedly (Dear God).

Why do we have all of these stories and songs and movies about how Christmas happens anyway?

Jesus was born in the middle of the first census, in the middle of an unjust system, where his people were occupied and oppressed, where the powers and principalities only cared about their own comfort and wealth.

Jesus was born unexpectedly, in a weird place, to an unmarried self-possessed woman and an open minded and understanding father. He was born far away from his home, and had to flee to Egypt where he probably lived with distant relatives for a while.

Jesus comes in the most imperfect circumstances to remind us, Christmas is not dependent on us.

Just like we said at the beginning of the pandemic the hope and love and family is not cancelled; Christmas is not cancelled, it can’t be.

And if you feel overwhelmed, or mournful that’s ok. Those are legitimate feelings for Christmas.

And if you need to tell yourself one of the many, many Christmas Stories to comfort yourself, do.

Look at how many disastrous Christmases we’ve thought of, because disaster is a part of Christmas, but it’s ok because Christ is too.

Christ is not cancelled, and neither are we. Let us mourn, be lonely, love and celebrate in whatever way we can this year, because I promise God understands.

That’s why Jesus is coming in the first place.

Image

Feel free to share/use with Credit to Pastor Katy Stenta