At the Approach of Morning

Today is Christmas Eve. 
And our meditation is from Martin Luther:

"The angel said unto them, "Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people; for there is born to you this day a Savior who is Christ the Lord."   -Luke 2:10

The angel does not simply say, Christ is born, but to you he is born. Neither does the angel say I bring glad tidings, but to you I bring glad tidings of great joy. Furthermore, this joy was not to remain in Christ, but it shall be to all people…..

The Gospel does not merely teach about the history of Christ. No, it enables all who believe it to receive it as their own, which is the way the Gospel operates. Of what benefit would it be to me if Christ had been born a thousand times, and it would daily be sung into my ears in a most lovely manner, if I were never to hear that he was born for me and was to be my very own? 

(from Watch for the Light: Readings for Advent and Christmas, Orbis Press)


Today I invite us to reflect on the the approach of God on Christmas morning. What would it look and feel like if God were coming just for us? How would your life be different if you knew that the Christ child were born particularly, specifically, especially for you?

Psalm 46

א  לַמְנַצֵּחַ לִבְנֵי-קֹרַח--    עַל-עֲלָמוֹת שִׁיר.	1 For the Leader; [a Psalm] of the sons of Korah; upon Alamoth. A Song.
ב  אֱלֹהִים לָנוּ, מַחֲסֶה וָעֹז;    עֶזְרָה בְצָרוֹת, נִמְצָא מְאֹד.	2 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
ג  עַל-כֵּן לֹא-נִירָא, בְּהָמִיר אָרֶץ;    וּבְמוֹט הָרִים, בְּלֵב יַמִּים.	3 Therefore will we not fear, though the earth do change, and though the mountains be moved into the heart of the seas;
ד  יֶהֱמוּ יֶחְמְרוּ מֵימָיו;    יִרְעֲשׁוּ הָרִים בְּגַאֲוָתוֹ סֶלָה.	4 Though the waters roar and foam, though the mountains shake at the swelling. Selah
ה  נָהָר--פְּלָגָיו, יְשַׂמְּחוּ עִיר-אֱלֹהִים;    קְדֹשׁ, מִשְׁכְּנֵי עֶלְיוֹן.	5 There is a river, the streams make glad the city of God, the holiest dwelling-place of the Most High.
ו  אֱלֹהִים בְּקִרְבָּהּ, בַּל-תִּמּוֹט;    יַעְזְרֶהָ אֱלֹהִים, לִפְנוֹת בֹּקֶר.	6 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, at the approach of morning.
ז  הָמוּ גוֹיִם, מָטוּ מַמְלָכוֹת;    נָתַן בְּקוֹלוֹ, תָּמוּג אָרֶץ.	7 Nations were in tumult, kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted.
ח  יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת עִמָּנוּ;    מִשְׂגָּב-לָנוּ אֱלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב סֶלָה.	8 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our high tower. Selah
ט  לְכוּ-חֲזוּ, מִפְעֲלוֹת יְהוָה--    אֲשֶׁר-שָׂם שַׁמּוֹת בָּאָרֶץ.	9 Come, behold the works of the LORD, who has made desolations in the earth.
י  מַשְׁבִּית מִלְחָמוֹת,    עַד-קְצֵה הָאָרֶץ: קֶשֶׁת יְשַׁבֵּר, וְקִצֵּץ חֲנִית;    עֲגָלוֹת, יִשְׂרֹף בָּאֵשׁ.	10 God makes wars to cease unto the end of the earth; He breaks the bow, and cuts the spear in sunder; He burns the chariots in the fire.
יא  הַרְפּוּ וּדְעוּ, כִּי-אָנֹכִי אֱלֹהִים;    אָרוּם בַּגּוֹיִם, אָרוּם בָּאָרֶץ.	11 'Let be, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.'
יב  יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת עִמָּנוּ;    מִשְׂגָּב-לָנוּ אֱלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב סֶלָה.	12 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our high tower. Selah

Lead Me to a Rock That is Too High For Me

Today's psalm is written by one who has absolute trust in God. 

Hear what the Spirit is saying to God's people.
Thanks be to God.

Psalm 61

א  לַמְנַצֵּחַ עַל-נְגִינַת לְדָוִד.	1 For the Leader; with string-music. [A Psalm] of David.
ב  שִׁמְעָה אֱלֹהִים, רִנָּתִי;    הַקְשִׁיבָה, תְּפִלָּתִי.	2 Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.
ג  מִקְצֵה הָאָרֶץ, אֵלֶיךָ אֶקְרָא--    בַּעֲטֹף לִבִּי; בְּצוּר-יָרוּם מִמֶּנִּי    תַנְחֵנִי.	3 From the end of the earth will I call You, when my heart faints; lead me to a rock that is too high for me.
ד  כִּי-הָיִיתָ מַחְסֶה לִי;    מִגְדַּל-עֹז, מִפְּנֵי אוֹיֵב.	4 For You have been a refuge for me, a tower of strength in the face of the enemy.
ה  אָגוּרָה בְאָהָלְךָ, עוֹלָמִים;    אֶחֱסֶה בְסֵתֶר כְּנָפֶיךָ סֶּלָה.	5 I will dwell in Your Tent for ever; I will take refuge in the cover of Your wings. Selah
ו  כִּי-אַתָּה אֱלֹהִים, שָׁמַעְתָּ לִנְדָרָי;    נָתַתָּ יְרֻשַּׁת, יִרְאֵי שְׁמֶךָ.	6 For You, O God, have heard my vows; You have granted the heritage of those that fear Your name.
ז  יָמִים עַל-יְמֵי-מֶלֶךְ תּוֹסִיף;    שְׁנוֹתָיו, כְּמוֹ-דֹר וָדֹר.	7 May You add days unto the king's days! May his years be as many generations!
ח  יֵשֵׁב עוֹלָם, לִפְנֵי אֱלֹהִים;    חֶסֶד וֶאֱמֶת, מַן יִנְצְרֻהוּ.	8 May he be enthroned before God for ever! Appoint mercy and truth, that they may preserve him.
ט  כֵּן אֲזַמְּרָה שִׁמְךָ לָעַד--    לְשַׁלְּמִי נְדָרַי, יוֹם יוֹם.	9 So will I sing praise unto Your name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.

Lift Your Heads and Open Your Doors

This morning's psalm call us to follow Mary's lead. To open our hearts to the magnificent possibilities that await our relationship with the Living God. To ascend the mountain and stand on holy ground….even when the climb is steep…..even when the ground feels shaky…..even when we are not sure where we are going. Even when the call seems unreasonable. As writer Madelyn L'Engle wrote of  this season called Advent:

Behold the irrational season
When love burns bright and wild.
Had Mary been filled with reason,
There'd have been no room for the child.


The message in this morning's psalm and in Madelyn L'Engle's poem is clear: 
let go of our senses and let God in!

Psalm 24

א  לְדָוִד, מִזְמוֹר: לַיהוָה, הָאָרֶץ וּמְלוֹאָהּ;    תֵּבֵל, וְיֹשְׁבֵי בָהּ.	1 A Psalm of David. The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
ב  כִּי-הוּא, עַל-יַמִּים יְסָדָהּ;    וְעַל-נְהָרוֹת, יְכוֹנְנֶהָ.	2 For Hashem has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
ג  מִי-יַעֲלֶה בְהַר-יְהוָה;    וּמִי-יָקוּם, בִּמְקוֹם קָדְשׁוֹ.	3 Who shall ascend into the mountain of the LORD? and who shall stand in His holy place?
ד  נְקִי כַפַּיִם,    וּבַר-לֵבָב: אֲשֶׁר לֹא-נָשָׂא לַשָּׁוְא נַפְשִׁי;    וְלֹא נִשְׁבַּע לְמִרְמָה.	4 You who have clean hands, and a pure heart; who have not taken My name in vain, and have not sworn deceitfully.
ה  יִשָּׂא בְרָכָה, מֵאֵת יְהוָה;    וּצְדָקָה, מֵאֱלֹהֵי יִשְׁעוֹ.	5 You shall receive a blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of your salvation.
ו  זֶה, דּוֹר דֹּרְשָׁו;    מְבַקְשֵׁי פָנֶיךָ יַעֲקֹב סֶלָה.	6 Such is the generation of them that seek after God, that seek Your face, even Jacob. Selah
ז  שְׂאוּ שְׁעָרִים, רָאשֵׁיכֶם,    וְהִנָּשְׂאוּ, פִּתְחֵי עוֹלָם; וְיָבוֹא,    מֶלֶךְ הַכָּבוֹד.	7 Lift up your heads, O you gates, and be you lifted up, you everlasting doors; that the King of glory may come in.
ח  מִי זֶה,    מֶלֶךְ הַכָּבוֹד: יְהוָה, עִזּוּז וְגִבּוֹר;    יְהוָה, גִּבּוֹר מִלְחָמָה.	8 'Who is the King of glory?' 'The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.'
ט  שְׂאוּ שְׁעָרִים, רָאשֵׁיכֶם,    וּשְׂאוּ, פִּתְחֵי עוֹלָם; וְיָבֹא,    מֶלֶךְ הַכָּבוֹד.	9 Lift up your heads, O you gates, yes, lift them up, you everlasting doors; that the King of glory may come in.
י  מִי הוּא זֶה,    מֶלֶךְ הַכָּבוֹד: יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת--    הוּא מֶלֶךְ הַכָּבוֹד סֶלָה.	10 'Who then is the King of glory?' 'The LORD of hosts; God is the King of glory.' Selah

Cast Your Burden Upon the Lord

Today is the winter solstice. The shortest day and the longest night of the year. It is the most difficult of days for those of us who have issues with diminishing light. 

But today's psalm offers an approach to hope for our anxiety and distress. Verse 23 says: Cast your burden upon the Lord and God will sustain you. And sometimes that is the only option, to give our burdens up to God. To put them down. To hand them over. To rise to the sweet breath of freedom from whatever is weighing us down.

As we prepare for our Blue Christmas Taize this afternoon, I invite us to cast our burdens upon the Lord. As a start, for just this one day. Join us at 3pm for an hour of quiet time in community, and then for a service of solace and unburdening.

For no weight is too heavy with God's help.

Psalm 55

א  לַמְנַצֵּחַ בִּנְגִינֹת, מַשְׂכִּיל לְדָוִד.	1 For the Leader; with string-music. Maschil of David.
ב  הַאֲזִינָה אֱלֹהִים, תְּפִלָּתִי;    וְאַל-תִּתְעַלַּם, מִתְּחִנָּתִי.	2 Give ear, O God, to my prayer; and hide not Yourself from my supplication.
ג  הַקְשִׁיבָה לִּי וַעֲנֵנִי;    אָרִיד בְּשִׂיחִי וְאָהִימָה.	3 Attend unto me, and hear me; I am distraught in my complaint, and will moan;
ד  מִקּוֹל אוֹיֵב--מִפְּנֵי, עָקַת רָשָׁע:    כִּי-יָמִיטוּ עָלַי אָוֶן, וּבְאַף יִשְׂטְמוּנִי.	4 Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked; for they cast mischief upon me, and in anger they persecute me.
ה  לִבִּי, יָחִיל בְּקִרְבִּי;    וְאֵימוֹת מָוֶת, נָפְלוּ עָלָי.	5 My heart writhes within me; and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.
ו  יִרְאָה וָרַעַד, יָבֹא בִי;    וַתְּכַסֵּנִי, פַּלָּצוּת.	6 Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror has overwhelmed me.
ז  וָאֹמַר--מִי-יִתֶּן-לִי אֵבֶר, כַּיּוֹנָה:    אָעוּפָה וְאֶשְׁכֹּנָה.	7 And I said: 'Oh that I had wings like a dove! then would I fly away, and be at rest.
ח  הִנֵּה, אַרְחִיק נְדֹד;    אָלִין בַּמִּדְבָּר סֶלָה.	8 Lo, then would I wander far off, I would lodge in the wilderness. Selah
ט  אָחִישָׁה מִפְלָט לִי--    מֵרוּחַ סֹעָה מִסָּעַר.	9 I would haste me to a shelter from the stormy wind and tempest.'
י  בַּלַּע אֲדֹנָי, פַּלַּג לְשׁוֹנָם:    כִּי-רָאִיתִי חָמָס וְרִיב בָּעִיר.	10 Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongue; for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
יא  יוֹמָם וָלַיְלָה--יְסוֹבְבֻהָ עַל-חוֹמֹתֶיהָ;    וְאָוֶן וְעָמָל בְּקִרְבָּהּ.	11 Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof; iniquity also and mischief are in the midst of it.
יב  הַוּוֹת בְּקִרְבָּהּ;    וְלֹא-יָמִישׁ מֵרְחֹבָהּ, תֹּךְ וּמִרְמָה.	12 Wickedness is in the midst thereof; oppression and guile depart not from her broad place.
יג  כִּי לֹא-אוֹיֵב יְחָרְפֵנִי,    וְאֶשָּׂא: לֹא-מְשַׂנְאִי, עָלַי הִגְדִּיל;    וְאֶסָּתֵר מִמֶּנּוּ.	13 For it was not an enemy that taunted me, then I could have borne it; neither was it my adversary that magnified herself against me, then I would have hid myself from her.
יד  וְאַתָּה אֱנוֹשׁ כְּעֶרְכִּי;    אַלּוּפִי, וּמְיֻדָּעִי.	14 But it was you, my equal, my companion, and my familiar friend;
טו  אֲשֶׁר יַחְדָּו, נַמְתִּיק סוֹד;    בְּבֵית אֱלֹהִים, נְהַלֵּךְ בְּרָגֶשׁ.	15 We took sweet counsel together, in the house of God we walked with the throng.
טז  ישימות (יַשִּׁי מָוֶת), עָלֵימוֹ--יֵרְדוּ שְׁאוֹל חַיִּים:    כִּי-רָעוֹת בִּמְגוּרָם בְּקִרְבָּם.	16 May God incite death against them, let them go down alive into the nether-world; for evil is in their dwelling, and within them.
יז  אֲנִי, אֶל-אֱלֹהִים אֶקְרָא;    וַיהוָה, יוֹשִׁיעֵנִי.	17 As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.
יח  עֶרֶב וָבֹקֶר וְצָהֳרַיִם, אָשִׂיחָה וְאֶהֱמֶה;    וַיִּשְׁמַע קוֹלִי.	18 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I complain, and moan; and Yahweh has heard my voice.
יט  פָּדָה בְשָׁלוֹם נַפְשִׁי, מִקְּרָב-לִי:    כִּי-בְרַבִּים, הָיוּ עִמָּדִי.	19 He has redeemed my soul in peace so that none came; for they were many that strove with me.
כ  יִשְׁמַע אֵל, וְיַעֲנֵם--    וְיֹשֵׁב קֶדֶם, סֶלָה: אֲשֶׁר אֵין חֲלִיפוֹת לָמוֹ;    וְלֹא יָרְאוּ אֱלֹהִים.	20 God shall hear, and humble them, even The One that is enthroned of old, Selah such as have no changes, and fear not God.
כא  שָׁלַח יָדָיו, בִּשְׁלֹמָיו;    חִלֵּל בְּרִיתוֹ.	21 Hashem has put forth his hands against them that were at peace with him; one has profaned God's covenant.
כב  חָלְקוּ, מַחְמָאֹת פִּיו--    וּקְרָב-לִבּוֹ: רַכּוּ דְבָרָיו מִשֶּׁמֶן;    וְהֵמָּה פְתִחוֹת.	22 Smoother than cream were the speeches of his mouth, but his heart was war; his words were softer than oil, yet they were keen-edged swords.
כג  הַשְׁלֵךְ עַל-יְהוָה, יְהָבְךָ--    וְהוּא יְכַלְכְּלֶךָ: לֹא-יִתֵּן לְעוֹלָם מוֹט--    לַצַּדִּיק.	23 Cast your burden upon the LORD, and God will sustain you; He will never suffer the righteous to be moved.
כד  וְאַתָּה אֱלֹהִים,    תּוֹרִדֵם לִבְאֵר שַׁחַת-- אַנְשֵׁי דָמִים וּמִרְמָה,    לֹא-יֶחֱצוּ יְמֵיהֶם; וַאֲנִי,    אֶבְטַח-בָּךְ.	24 But You, O God, will bring them down into the pit; men of blood and deceit shall not live out half their days; but as for me, I will trust in You.

Put A New Song In My Mouth

Today's psalm hopefully declares that the God of Creation has put a new song in our mouths. As today's meditation, I suggest that a part of this new song is gorgeously articulated in a poem/prayer written by the Rev'd. Dr. Carter Heyward, and included in her Christmas card this season:

Beyond the Pale

We sing about the birth of one whose life draws us
far beyond all religion into the core
of our humanity, pushes us down
into our soul where we connect with friends
and, yes, enemies and elephants,
fraser firs, stones and snakes, slimy and
tough and dangerous and endangered,
everyone of us here, all of us present
in the beginning, together
where it all starts, in these wildly
creative bursts of energy like stars and imagination.

And now, because he grew up standing
with the marginalized and poor, outcast and bullied,
disabled, battered, and, yes, women and
because he lived deeply in the Sophia of God,
and only because he lived and died so fully with Her,
we catch a flash of Spirit in the manger,
and ourselves yearning and swept up
in wonder and joy!

Today, I invite us to hear, and to sing, this new song with every breath we take!

Psalm 40

א  לַמְנַצֵּחַ, לְדָוִד מִזְמוֹר.	1 For the Leader. A Psalm of David.
ב  קַוֹּה קִוִּיתִי יְהוָה;    וַיֵּט אֵלַי, וַיִּשְׁמַע שַׁוְעָתִי.	2 I waited patiently for the LORD; who was inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
ג  וַיַּעֲלֵנִי, מִבּוֹר שָׁאוֹן--    מִטִּיט הַיָּוֵן: וַיָּקֶם עַל-סֶלַע רַגְלַי;    כּוֹנֵן אֲשֻׁרָי.	3 Yahweh brought me up also out of the tumultuous pit, out of the miry clay; and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
ד  וַיִּתֵּן בְּפִי, שִׁיר חָדָשׁ--    תְּהִלָּה לֵאלֹהֵינוּ: יִרְאוּ רַבִּים וְיִירָאוּ;    וְיִבְטְחוּ, בַּיהוָה.	4 And Yahweh has put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God; many shall see, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.
ה  אַשְׁרֵי הַגֶּבֶר--    אֲשֶׁר-שָׂם יְהוָה, מִבְטַחוֹ; וְלֹא-פָנָה אֶל-רְהָבִים,    וְשָׂטֵי כָזָב.	5 Happy are you who have made the LORD your trust, and have not turned to the arrogant, nor to such as fall away treacherously.
ו  רַבּוֹת עָשִׂיתָ,    אַתָּה יְהוָה אֱלֹהַי-- נִפְלְאֹתֶיךָ וּמַחְשְׁבֹתֶיךָ,    אֵלֵינוּ: אֵין, עֲרֹךְ אֵלֶיךָ--אַגִּידָה וַאֲדַבֵּרָה;    עָצְמוּ, מִסַּפֵּר.	6 Many things have You done, O LORD my God, even Your wonderful works, and Your thoughts toward us; there is none to be compared unto You! If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be told.
ז  זֶבַח וּמִנְחָה, לֹא-חָפַצְתָּ--    אָזְנַיִם, כָּרִיתָ לִּי; עוֹלָה וַחֲטָאָה,    לֹא שָׁאָלְתָּ.	7 Sacrifice and meal-offering, You hast no delight in; my ears have You opened; burnt-offering and sin-offering You have not required.
ח  אָז אָמַרְתִּי, הִנֵּה-בָאתִי:    בִּמְגִלַּת-סֵפֶר, כָּתוּב עָלָי.	8 Then I said: 'Lo, I am come with the roll of a book which is prescribed for me;
ט  לַעֲשׂוֹת-רְצוֹנְךָ אֱלֹהַי חָפָצְתִּי;    וְתוֹרָתְךָ, בְּתוֹךְ מֵעָי.	9 I delight to do Your will, O my God; yes, Your law is in my inmost parts.'
י  בִּשַּׂרְתִּי צֶדֶק, בְּקָהָל רָב--    הִנֵּה שְׂפָתַי, לֹא אֶכְלָא: יְהוָה,    אַתָּה יָדָעְתָּ.	10 I have preached righteousness in the great congregation, lo, I did not refrain my lips; O LORD, You know.
יא  צִדְקָתְךָ לֹא-כִסִּיתִי, בְּתוֹךְ לִבִּי--    אֱמוּנָתְךָ וּתְשׁוּעָתְךָ אָמָרְתִּי; לֹא-כִחַדְתִּי חַסְדְּךָ וַאֲמִתְּךָ,    לְקָהָל רָב.	11 I have not hidden Your righteousness in my heart; I have declared Your faithfulness and Your salvation; I have not concealed Your mercy and Your truth from the great congregation.
יב  אַתָּה יְהוָה--    לֹא-תִכְלָא רַחֲמֶיךָ מִמֶּנִּי; חַסְדְּךָ וַאֲמִתְּךָ,    תָּמִיד יִצְּרוּנִי.	12 You, O LORD, will not withhold Your compassions from me; let Your mercy and Your truth continually preserve me.
יג  כִּי אָפְפוּ-עָלַי רָעוֹת,    עַד-אֵין מִסְפָּר-- הִשִּׂיגוּנִי עֲו‍ֹנֹתַי,    וְלֹא-יָכֹלְתִּי לִרְאוֹת; עָצְמוּ מִשַּׂעֲרוֹת רֹאשִׁי,    וְלִבִּי עֲזָבָנִי.	13 For innumerable evils have encompassed me, my iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart has failed me.
יד  רְצֵה יְהוָה, לְהַצִּילֵנִי;    יְהוָה, לְעֶזְרָתִי חוּשָׁה.	14 Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me; O LORD, make haste to help me.
טו  יֵבֹשׁוּ וְיַחְפְּרוּ, יַחַד--    מְבַקְשֵׁי נַפְשִׁי, לִסְפּוֹתָהּ: יִסֹּגוּ אָחוֹר, וְיִכָּלְמוּ--    חֲפֵצֵי, רָעָתִי.	15 Let them be ashamed and abashed together that seek after my soul to sweep it away; let them be turned backward and brought to confusion that delight in my hurt.
טז  יָשֹׁמּוּ, עַל-עֵקֶב בָּשְׁתָּם--    הָאֹמְרִים לִי, הֶאָח הֶאָח.	16 Let them be appalled by reason of their shame that say unto me: 'Aha, aha.'
יז  יָשִׂישׂוּ וְיִשְׂמְחוּ, בְּךָ--    כָּל-מְבַקְשֶׁיךָ: יֹאמְרוּ תָמִיד, יִגְדַּל יְהוָה--    אֹהֲבֵי, תְּשׁוּעָתֶךָ.	17 Let all those that seek You rejoice and be glad in You; let such as love Your salvation say continually: 'The LORD be magnified.'
יח  וַאֲנִי, עָנִי וְאֶבְיוֹן--    אֲדֹנָי יַחֲשָׁב-לִי: עֶזְרָתִי וּמְפַלְטִי אַתָּה;    אֱלֹהַי, אַל-תְּאַחַר.	18 But, as for me, that am poor and needy, the Lord will account it unto me; You are my help and my deliverer; O my God, do not delay.

Today's O'Antiphon speaks of the root of Jesse, and it echoes several snippets of scripture from Isaiah and Habakkuk:

O Radix Jesse - O Root of Jesse, you stand for the ensign of all humankind (Isa 11: 10); before you kings shall keep silence and to you all nations shall have recourse (Isa 52: 15). Come, save us, and do not delay (Hab 2: 3).

Come save us, and do not delay. Depending on one's understanding of salvation, this may well be THE most prayed prayer of all time. Come and save us…..now. But the image of the root, the shoot of Jesse, pushing life out of the ruins and the rubble of destruction reminds us that there may be a disconnect between our expectation of some immediate salvation….at some particular time, and the creative process that requires time and growth. Life does not pop onto the scene as a rabbit pops out of a magician's hat. Life comes from a tiny seed, a tiny shoot of green hope that sticks up out of a desert.

This is our lineage, as Christians. The promise of a shoot of Jesse poking its hopeful head out of the hopelessness of our despair. The promise of a new round of new life, brought to us with love from our God of second chances. For as this morning's psalm declares:

The world is Mine, and the fullness thereof.

Today I invite us to reflect upon the shoots of Jesse that stand as signs for us. And the margins in our lives through which God's new life is emerging and growing. Where are the buds of hope in your life, in our community, and in God's good world?

Psalm 50

א  מִזְמוֹר, לְאָסָף: אֵל, אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה--    דִּבֶּר וַיִּקְרָא-אָרֶץ; מִמִּזְרַח-שֶׁמֶשׁ,    עַד-מְבֹאוֹ.	1 A Psalm of Asaph. God, God, the LORD, has spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto its going down.
ב  מִצִּיּוֹן מִכְלַל-יֹפִי--    אֱלֹהִים הוֹפִיעַ.	2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God has shined forth.
ג  יָבֹא אֱלֹהֵינוּ,    וְאַל-יֶחֱרַשׁ: אֵשׁ-לְפָנָיו תֹּאכֵל;    וּסְבִיבָיו, נִשְׂעֲרָה מְאֹד.	3 Our God comes, and does not keep silence; a fire devoured before Him, and round about Him it storms mightily.
ד  יִקְרָא אֶל-הַשָּׁמַיִם מֵעָל;    וְאֶל-הָאָרֶץ, לָדִין עַמּוֹ.	4 Yahweh calls to the heavens above, and to the earth, that He may judge His people:
ה  אִסְפוּ-לִי חֲסִידָי--    כֹּרְתֵי בְרִיתִי עֲלֵי-זָבַח.	5 'Gather My saints together unto Me; those that have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.'
ו  וַיַּגִּידוּ שָׁמַיִם צִדְקוֹ:    כִּי-אֱלֹהִים, שֹׁפֵט הוּא סֶלָה.	6 And the heavens declare God's righteousness; for God is judge. S
ז  שִׁמְעָה עַמִּי, וַאֲדַבֵּרָה--    יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְאָעִידָה בָּךְ: אֱלֹהִים אֱלֹהֶיךָ    אָנֹכִי.	7 'Hear, O My people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against you: God, my God, am I.
ח  לֹא עַל-זְבָחֶיךָ, אוֹכִיחֶךָ;    וְעוֹלֹתֶיךָ לְנֶגְדִּי תָמִיד.	8 I will not scold you for your sacrifices; and your burnt-offerings are continually before Me.
ט  לֹא-אֶקַּח מִבֵּיתְךָ פָר;    מִמִּכְלְאֹתֶיךָ, עַתּוּדִים.	9 I will take no bull out of your house, nor he-goats out of your folds.
י  כִּי-לִי כָל-חַיְתוֹ-יָעַר;    בְּהֵמוֹת, בְּהַרְרֵי-אָלֶף.	10 For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.
יא  יָדַעְתִּי, כָּל-עוֹף הָרִים;    וְזִיז שָׂדַי, עִמָּדִי.	11 I know all the fowls of the mountains; and the wild beasts of the field are Mine.
יב  אִם-אֶרְעַב, לֹא-אֹמַר לָךְ:    כִּי-לִי תֵבֵל, וּמְלֹאָהּ.	12 If I were hungry, I would not tell you; for the world is Mine, and the fulness thereof.
יג  הַאוֹכַל, בְּשַׂר אַבִּירִים;    וְדַם עַתּוּדִים אֶשְׁתֶּה.	13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?
יד  זְבַח לֵאלֹהִים תּוֹדָה;    וְשַׁלֵּם לְעֶלְיוֹן נְדָרֶיךָ.	14 Offer unto God the sacrifice of thanksgiving; and pay your  vows unto the Most High;
טו  וּקְרָאֵנִי, בְּיוֹם צָרָה;    אֲחַלֶּצְךָ, וּתְכַבְּדֵנִי.	15 And call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall honour Me.'
טז  וְלָרָשָׁע, אָמַר אֱלֹהִים, מַה-לְּךָ, לְסַפֵּר חֻקָּי;    וַתִּשָּׂא בְרִיתִי עֲלֵי-פִיךָ.	16 But unto the wicked God says: 'What have you to do to declare My statutes, and that you have taken My covenant in your mouth?
יז  וְאַתָּה, שָׂנֵאתָ מוּסָר;    וַתַּשְׁלֵךְ דְּבָרַי אַחֲרֶיךָ.	17 Seeing you hate instruction, and cast My words behind you.
יח  אִם-רָאִיתָ גַנָּב, וַתִּרֶץ עִמּוֹ;    וְעִם מְנָאֲפִים חֶלְקֶךָ.	18 When you saw a thief, you had company with him, and with adulterers was your portion.
יט  פִּיךָ, שָׁלַחְתָּ בְרָעָה;    וּלְשׁוֹנְךָ, תַּצְמִיד מִרְמָה.	19 You have let loose your mouth for evil, and your tongue frames deceit.
כ  תֵּשֵׁב, בְּאָחִיךָ תְדַבֵּר;    בְּבֶן-אִמְּךָ, תִּתֶּן-דֹּפִי.	20 You sit and speak against your brother; you slander your own mother's son.
כא  אֵלֶּה עָשִׂיתָ, וְהֶחֱרַשְׁתִּי--    דִּמִּיתָ, הֱיוֹת-אֶהְיֶה כָמוֹךָ; אוֹכִיחֲךָ וְאֶעֶרְכָה    לְעֵינֶיךָ.	21 These things have you done, and should I have kept silence? You had thought that I was altogether such a one as yourself;  but I will reprove you, and set the cause before your eyes.
כב  בִּינוּ-נָא זֹאת, שֹׁכְחֵי אֱלוֹהַּ:    פֶּן-אֶטְרֹף, וְאֵין מַצִּיל.	22 Now consider this, you who forget God, lest I tear in pieces, and there be none to deliver.
כג  זֹבֵחַ תּוֹדָה, יְכַבְּדָנְנִי:    וְשָׂם דֶּרֶךְ--אַרְאֶנּוּ, בְּיֵשַׁע אֱלֹהִים.	23 Who offers the sacrifice of thanksgiving honors  Me; and to you who order your way rightly will I show the salvation of God.'

You Have Made Me Hope

When we can get our arms around the divine message that we were loved by God, who knew us in the womb before our birth, and that we will be loved, as well, long after we have shuffled off this mortal coil, then we can begin to put our "successes" and "failures" in this world, into perspective. We can begin to see our lives in a much broader creative context than the one that is bounded by our daily doings. We can begin to see our lives in a perspective that is grounded in God's goodness and our own worthiness.

Advent is the season of such divine perspective; a season that is all about stretching our understanding of reality; a season that introduces us to the already here and yet not quite realized notion of the kingdom of God. A season that we have experienced every year since our birth, and yet….who knows where it will take us this year. This is the stuff of which hope is made. This is the season of Advent.

Today I invite us to truly awake to this day in a spirit of unfettered possibility. I invite us to spend some time this day very intentionally opening our hearts to the weight of the mystery that is about to be born; and to envision ourselves and our lives as a part of that mystery. How does the hope of the Incarnation live in us?

Psalm 119:49-72

מט  זְכֹר-דָּבָר, לְעַבְדֶּךָ--    עַל, אֲשֶׁר יִחַלְתָּנִי.	49 ZAIN. Remember the word unto Your servant, because You have made me hope.
נ  זֹאת נֶחָמָתִי בְעָנְיִי:    כִּי אִמְרָתְךָ חִיָּתְנִי.	50 This is my comfort in my affliction, that Your word has quickened me.
נא  זֵדִים, הֱלִיצֻנִי עַד-מְאֹד;    מִתּוֹרָתְךָ, לֹא נָטִיתִי.	51 The proud have had me greatly in derision; yet have I not turned aside from Your law.
נב  זָכַרְתִּי מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ מֵעוֹלָם יְהוָה;    וָאֶתְנֶחָם.	52 I have remembered Your ordinances which are of old, O LORD, and have comforted myself.
נג  זַלְעָפָה אֲחָזַתְנִי, מֵרְשָׁעִים--    עֹזְבֵי, תּוֹרָתֶךָ.	53 Burning indignation has taken hold of me, because of the wicked that forsake Your law.
נד  זְמִרוֹת, הָיוּ-לִי חֻקֶּיךָ--    בְּבֵית מְגוּרָי.	54 Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.
נה  זָכַרְתִּי בַלַּיְלָה שִׁמְךָ יְהוָה;    וָאֶשְׁמְרָה, תּוֹרָתֶךָ.	55 I have remembered Your name, O LORD, in the night, and have observed Your law.
נו  זֹאת הָיְתָה-לִּי:    כִּי פִקֻּדֶיךָ נָצָרְתִּי.	56 This I have had, that I have kept Your precepts.
נז  חֶלְקִי יְהוָה אָמַרְתִּי--    לִשְׁמֹר דְּבָרֶיךָ.	57 HETH. My portion is the LORD, I have said that I would observe Your words.
נח  חִלִּיתִי פָנֶיךָ בְכָל-לֵב;    חָנֵּנִי, כְּאִמְרָתֶךָ.	58 I have entreated Your favour with my whole heart; be gracious to me according to Your word.
נט  חִשַּׁבְתִּי דְרָכָי;    וָאָשִׁיבָה רַגְלַי, אֶל-עֵדֹתֶיךָ.	59 I considered my ways, and turned my feet toward Your testimonies.
ס  חַשְׁתִּי, וְלֹא הִתְמַהְמָהְתִּי--    לִשְׁמֹר, מִצְו‍ֹתֶיךָ.	60 I made haste, and did not delay to observe Your commandments.
סא  חֶבְלֵי רְשָׁעִים עִוְּדֻנִי;    תּוֹרָתְךָ, לֹא שָׁכָחְתִּי.	61 The bands of the wicked have enclosed me; but I have not forgotten Your law.
סב  חֲצוֹת-לַיְלָה--אָקוּם, לְהוֹדוֹת לָךְ:    עַל, מִשְׁפְּטֵי צִדְקֶךָ.	62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You because of Your righteous ordinances.
סג  חָבֵר אָנִי, לְכָל-אֲשֶׁר יְרֵאוּךָ;    וּלְשֹׁמְרֵי, פִּקּוּדֶיךָ.	63 I am a companion of all those who are in awe of You, and of those who observe Your precepts.
סד  חַסְדְּךָ יְהוָה, מָלְאָה הָאָרֶץ;    חֻקֶּיךָ לַמְּדֵנִי.	64 The earth, O LORD, is full of Your mercy; teach me Your statutes.
סה  טוֹב, עָשִׂיתָ עִם-עַבְדְּךָ--    יְהוָה, כִּדְבָרֶךָ.	65 TETH. You have dealt well with Your servant, O LORD, according to Your word.
סו  טוּב טַעַם וָדַעַת לַמְּדֵנִי:    כִּי בְמִצְו‍ֹתֶיךָ הֶאֱמָנְתִּי.	66 Teach me good discernment and knowledge; for I have believed in Your commandments.
סז  טֶרֶם אֶעֱנֶה, אֲנִי שֹׁגֵג;    וְעַתָּה, אִמְרָתְךָ שָׁמָרְתִּי.	67 Before I was afflicted, I erred; but now I observe Your word.
סח  טוֹב-אַתָּה וּמֵטִיב;    לַמְּדֵנִי חֻקֶּיךָ.	68 You are good, and do good; teach me Your statutes.
סט  טָפְלוּ עָלַי שֶׁקֶר זֵדִים;    אֲנִי, בְּכָל-לֵב אֶצֹּר פִּקּוּדֶיךָ.	69 The proud have forged a lie against me; but with my whole heart I will keep Your precepts.
ע  טָפַשׁ כַּחֵלֶב לִבָּם;    אֲנִי, תּוֹרָתְךָ שִׁעֲשָׁעְתִּי.	70 Their heart is gross like fat; but I delight in Your law.
עא  טוֹב-לִי כִי-עֻנֵּיתִי--    לְמַעַן, אֶלְמַד חֻקֶּיךָ.	71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted, in order that I might learn Your statutes.
עב  טוֹב-לִי תוֹרַת-פִּיךָ--    מֵאַלְפֵי, זָהָב וָכָסֶף.	72 The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver.