Advent Reflections: December 19

Joy

“When Israel was a child, I loved him,
   and out of Egypt I called my son.”

Hosea 11:1

 Reflection

In the silence of this moment, imagine a moment in life when you faced a particularly difficult situation. Think about that situation and all of the details that encompassed it. Perhaps you felt fear. Perhaps you felt anger. You may have felt frustration, confusion and helplessness in changing your situation. Perhaps you felt a sense of hopelessness and found that faith was difficult to cling to.

Now imagine the moment that you realized that unexpected circumstances were finally going to transform your situation, and what was once an issue of great difficulty was about to turn the corner for the good. Can you remember the overwhelming relief that you felt in the realization that everything was going to be OK? Can you remember the feeling of release as the burden seemed to be lifted from your shoulders? Do you remember the joy that suddenly overcame your fear?

Mary and Joseph also faced a difficult situation. With their new baby boy and the challenges of being young new parents, they also faced anxiety and uncertainty. Fearing that his reign and power would be threatened, King Herod forced this new family to become refugees and into exile. In fear and confusion, they were forced to flee their home in the dark of night and move to a foreign, unfamiliar and unwelcoming land. More than likely, they felt abandon and frustrated, knowing that if Jesus was really divinity in human flesh, why would God have allowed things to suddenly deteriorate? As God had delivered the tribe of Israel from Egypt through the hand of Moses, why would he not deliver them from the same land of captivity?

 

But circumstances changed, as they often do. God intervened and began to set into motion a plan that would change the course of history. Imagine the joy that overwhelmed Mary and Joseph when they finally heard the words, “It’s time to go home.” In perfect timing and within divine circumstances, God illuminated a path in the darkness that led them out of exile. They would finally bring their baby home in safety, and eventually see his Christ nature burst forth for the entire world.

God’s plans, timing and circumstances do not always line up in the way we think they should. They don't always fit the pattern of what we believe our lives are supposed to be. We often find ourselves waiting in our own places of captivity and exile. Our own Egypt. Spiritual refugees. We feel fear, frustration and anger, many times even questioning our spirituality and our very faith in God. But when we begin to see difficult situations change, and the details of God’s plans coming to perfect fruition, the burden suddenly begins to be lifted. Fear dissipates. Anger subsides. And joy overwhelms us once again. 

        

Prayer

Most Divine God, as you brought a poor family of refugees out of exile and revealed the perfection of your divine plan, let us all remember that you are always faithful, you are loving and you can always be trusted. Deliver all of us from spiritual, emotional and physical exile. Even when it is difficult to realize, enable us to come to the spiritual truth that you are our source of joy.

May Peace, Shalom and Shanti be with you all!

Haribol!    

Advent Reflections: December 14: Joy

Joy

“But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.

You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; His kingdom will never end.”

                                                                  Luke 1:30-33

Reflection

Sometimes it is not until our darkest hour that we finally hear the words from God, “Do not be afraid.” We often go about our days, rushing from one place to another, feeling as though we are spinning our wheels. We attempt to conquer our to-do lists, but they seem to end up longer than before. We pay one bill, and two more come in the mail. We strive for perfection, only come to the realization that we are far from it. We finally “get there”, wherever that may mean, only to realize that we are utterly and completely lost. This is the point that many of us know all too well: the point of complete exhaustion. The point when we feel as if we can’t take another step. We can’t handle another responsibility or deal with another disappointment, and then…

Through the silence of this cold morning. Through the pauses for a deep breath.  Through the anxiety and fear. We hear it. “Do not be afraid.”  We've heard it before. The voice that transcends our realty and calls out to you when you feel as if the final wave has crashed over you, and no amount of strength will bring you to the surface. But we hear it. “Do not be afraid,”. And suddenly, when we least expect it, we feel joy and peace. We realize that God is with us all, that his love is infinite and we have found favor with him. We always have through our Christ nature. 

It’s easy to imagine that Mary may have been in a place like this. She had been going about her life as usual, trying to make ends meet and prepare for her marriage to Joseph.  From what we know of this young couple, they didn’t have it easy. Life was not without struggles and fears, and they had both probably accepted that their future would be bit of an upward climb. Needless to say, scripture tells us that Mary was afraid when the Angel Gabriel appeared to her. But rather than first announcing to her that she would become pregnant, and that her baby would posses such an eternal purpose, the angel chose to focus on Mary’s immediate need first. One of his children was afraid and he comforts her in the most essential ,say. “Do not be afraid.” 

           

Prayer

God of the Universe and All That Exists, we thank you for the comfort that you give us when we need you the most. Thank you that none of us have to attain perfection and we journey through the imperfections of life. And as the Angel Gabriel assured Mary that she did not need to be afraid, may we all hear those same words when we face fears, uncertainties and troubles in life. Let us find our joy and peace in you and only you. Amen

 May Peace, Shalom and Shanti be with you all!

Haribol!    

Advent Reflections: December 7

Peace

“For as the soil makes the sprout come up
   and a garden causes seeds to grow,
so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness
   and praise spring up before all nations.”

Isaiah 61:11

Reflection

Peace is often a perplexing and often misunderstood state of mind. Unlike hope, peace is not a result of external circumstances. In fact, peace has very little to do with anything that occurs beyond our inner selves. Our lives may outwardly appear to be the picture of contentment and tranquility, but in reality we may fell as void of peace as a dessert barren of water. Our paths may cross others whose lives appear to be in complete chaos from an outward perspective, but inwardly they posses more peace than can be imagined. Either way, if we're honest with ourselves, most of us need much more peace in life; especially as we come to the ending of 2020.  

Peace can come in the simplest and most unexpected places. In the midst of facing difficult obstacles and walking through the most challenging of times, the light of peace can break through and overshadow even the most impossible of situations. Be it a cup of coffee, an embrace from a friend, the laughter of a baby, the silence of a morning sunrise or the reflective presence of an evening sunset, peace can transcend our circumstances and elevate us to a divine place where we can say to ourselves, “It’s going to be OK.” 

Advent reminds us to be prepared for peace. If the soil of our lives is ready to receive the seeds that God provides, the sprouts of peace will eventually grow uncontrollably and without effort. Sometimes all that is needed is soil. Even in the most unfavorable conditions, a sprout can rise up with peace and transcend our circumstances. Peace multiplies and creates more peace if we allow it to grow. 

Advent is about finding peace, even in the dark places of life. Peace transforms us, changes our perspective and restores hope that once seemed lost. Peace brings new life. Peace opens doors. Peace renews our spirit and encourages us to see life in a different way. 

As we begin the second week of Advent, let us prepare ourselves for peace. It may come in the most unlikely places, at the strangest of times and from the most unusual sources. But is that not what Advent is all about? Doesn't that encapsulate the essential and transformative meaning of Christmas? Is that not the mystery of our Christ nature?     

Prayer

God of peace, as we spend this time with you, let us remember that your peace is always available. As we begin this second week of Advent, let us see life as new and fresh. Grant us new life and let peace overwhelm us with each new day.

Amen.

 

May Peace, Shalom, Shanti, be with you always. 

  

Advent Reflections - December 5

 Hope

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.” 

Isaiah 9:6-7

Reflection

There is nothing in life more cathartic than when hope is finally fulfilled. A dream is realized. A goal has been met. A vision comes to fruition. A life passion fully comes becomes attained. A love is returned. A new day begins, and a day comes to an end. Hope is the impetus that keeps us grounded and balanced with the contentment of the present moment. 

“A child is born” 

In the birth of Jesus, our Christ nature and hope came to a divine completion that can only come through a loving God that set the universe and all of creation into motion. And it is in his birth that we can still find and cling to hope today.

As we end this first week of Advent together, we reflect on the theme of hope. We remember that hope is sometimes not easy to come by. We remember that hope requires patience, trust and faith. We see that hope is often a journey, and journeys are not always without obstacles. The journey often takes time. Sometimes days. Sometimes weeks. And sometimes thousands of years. We see that it begins with a people living in a very different time and land, and ends with common people like you and me. But in the midst of waiting, hope is always fulfilled through a God who broke into history and made all things new.

End this week with the peace of knowing that God is a God who encourages hope. He joins us as we wait. He walks with us through our journey. He mourns with us in our sadness. He rejoices with us in our pleasures. He calms us in our fears. He rests with us in our peace. And He stands with us in our hope.

The divine is within us all! Immanuel!      

       

Prayer

God of all creation, we end this first week of Advent holding on to hope, knowing and accepting that hope is not always easy. We give thanks to you for fulfilling all hope; past, present and future. It is in this hope that we trust in you, and it is in this hope that we find our peace. 

Amen. Shalom. Shanti. Haribol.

 

Advent Reflections - December 3: Hope

Hope 

“Therefore the Lord himself
will give you a sign:
The virgin will conceive and
give birth to a son,
and will call him Immanuel.”

Isaiah 7:14 

Reflection

It's cold this morning. As I sat on my patio, enjoying my first cup of coffee, the chill cut through me, almost as a physical entity that invaded my spirit. I gazed upon the dark clouds that billowed above, seemingly like a warm blanket that descended and cloaked me with comfort and warmth, and the chill suddenly dissipated. Peace and tranquility overwhelmed me, as I meditated on the beauty of the changing of the season. I felt the presence of the divine, and felt a union with nature and humanity. I experienced the revelation that I am not alone. God dwells within me.        

"Immanuel, God with us." To read and meditate on these words is to know the quintessential truth of Advent. To believe in a God that is not far off and aloof but literally within us all, is to rest in the fact that we are never alone. In the fulfillment of the words of Isaiah the Prophet, God conceived a son from a young woman in little obscure town in ancient Palestine. Christ would be born into the world through the vessel of a human being, just as each and every one of us. God is truly with us, within us and the Christ nature now resides in us all. And yet, why is it then that we often feel alone during the holidays?

It's no secret that the Christmas holidays are not always an easy time for many of us. It’s common for feelings of loneliness, depression and isolation to increase during this time of year, causing many of us to feel anything but “joyful and triumphant”. When family gatherings, parties and festivities increase, unfortunately so do painful emotions. Even while surrounded by people we love the most, the stressful pace of the holidays can make any of us feel disconnected, alone and unbalanced.  

    

These are the times that we must reach for and cling to the inner most truth of Advent: Through the birth of Christ, his divine nature lives and dwells with all of us today. The sign was given over 2000 years ago, we have seen it come to pass, and we rejoice in the reality of knowing that it is divinely true. Immanuel!  God with us! 

    

Prayer

God of all creation, may our hope lie in the truth that we are never alone. Let us rest and find hope in the knowledge that you are with us. You dwell within us. You have been. You are. You forever will be.

 

Amen. Shalom. Shanti. Haribol.