What does the birth of Jesus teach me today? This is the question in my heart every time this season approaches.
As peacemakers, we should always be thankful and welcoming of all the shepherd’s and the magi that have entered and continue to enter our lives. We have been blessed with people who want to learn, who want to share our experience with others, and who want to support our work and programs. However, we must not ignore those who are always present – the Herods who never give up on their desire to remain in power and those persecute, undermine, or try to completely marginalize and destroy us.
Contemporary Reading – Keep Watch with Me: Advent Reflections of Peacemakers, Edited by Claire Brown and Michael McRay
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.
Luke 2:15-18 (NRSV)
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Matthew 2:1, 10-11 (NRSV)
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