CHRISTMAS LESSONS LEARNED (Advent 18)

Mary’s song continued . . .
LUKE 1: 50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,from generation to generation.
51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. 52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble. 53. He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful 55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.” 56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home. (NIV)

“Why do I never seem to have enough?” Enough time, enough money, enough appreciation, enough acceptance, enough love, enough Christmas presents under the tree. Some lessons are eternal. Why then does it take an eternity to learn them?

Over two-thousand years ago, Mary told of the glorious works of God. Those stories had been handed down over the ages through the scriptures and stories of the ancestors that went before her. And still, we do not learn the lessons so vital to our life. Let this be the first Christmas we read the great song of Mary, the Magnificat, and let the words change us. Let us believe the consequences for our behavior and our attitude. Let the Christmas lessons be learned. Let us pray:

“Mighty and great and Holy God, may this be the Christmas that you whisper through the sweet music and sparkle brighter than the shiniest tree, so that we might finally take in the lessons of Christmas. Let us not just hear of love and redemption and grace and hope, but let us learn lessons of pride, power, radical generosity, and your awesome steadfastness from generation to generation. Thank you Father for continuing to call to your people down through eons of time. This Christmas, may your message be heard, and not from far off, but heard with the ears of our heart and seen with the eyes of our soul. ‘Hallelujah,’ your angels sang, ‘Praise ye the Lord!’ For you found favor in your servant Mary and trusted her with the life and rearing of your son, our Lord. Hallelujah! May we be trustworthy with the things of Heaven that you give us. In the name of the dear baby who was and is, the Christ, we pray. Amen”
Doris
“God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine.”
Copyright 2011 Doris Gaines Rapp, Ph.D.