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by Stephen Sterner, Interim Minister and President
December 2005 /January 2006
If you take the time to really think about the Scriptures and the way God is revealed through them, you probably can’t help but conclude that God is a little naive. That is especially the case when entering the Scriptures that form the lessons for Advent and Christmas celebrations. And if God isn’t naive, then surely the people in the Christmas story must be. Mary hearing angels, Joseph accepting a surprising pregnancy, shepherds seeing a baby and believing the Angel’s Good News of peace; now really! Yet the Christmas message captures our hearts and spirits in ways nothing else does. We embrace that naiveté, or perhaps it is the boldness of faith, in many of our seasonal rituals.
In another year when disasters have overwhelmed our senses, and economies ebb and flow, and there are lots of fears about what is going to happen next, we light a little candle for hope. In another year of wars and rumors of wars, we light a little candle for peace. In a year in which angry words have flowed in abundance and disrespect and disregard for others has been too often present, we light one little candle for love. In a time that demands a sober mood and serious thought, and endless hours of hard work, we take the time to light one little candle of joy. Talk about naive!
There is absolutely no reason to believe that anything will change or be different in the days and months and years ahead. There is no reason to light four candles, or four hundred, or four hundred thousand. But most of us will do it anyway. Not because we expect things to change, but because we believe they can.
In a world in which too many families are left outside in the stables and streets of our day, we dare to talk of extravagant welcomes and radical hospitality. In a world that is so often too poorly lit to find its way to justice and peace, we will keep lighting candles and telling the story of Joseph, Mary, Jesus, angels, shepherds, and God. We will keep lighting and telling until our candles and our story do not flicker in the darkness but rather add to the brightness of the light in which we live.
May God grant us the bright light of hope, peace, love, and joy for this and every season of the year.