Lectio Divina
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9
Under the image of the Trinity we discover that we do not know God by defining him but by being loved by him and loving in return.
Eugene Peterson
Prayer
God of Nearness
You come to us
not in spectacle
but in skin and breath,
in the weight of a child
I remember holding Zoe
for the first time.
Her life and body
settling into my arms…
My entire world
took pause,
everything else
would wait.
No theology was needed
No sermon, no lecture,
No discourse on spirituality
Only my attention,
My love for her
beginning to take form
Her trust, her self
given, as gift
and holy task
So you arrive,
O Christ,
your Glory in
our feeble arms
Asking
to be received
to be hallowed
to be loved
Teach me again
to make room for what is small
to recognize glory
wrapped in flesh.
May my life be a cradle
May my weakness be a manger
Lord, make my love real
Blessing
Dear Sister
Dear Brother
Merry, Merry Christmas
May Christ be born anew
this day, and everyday, in you
May you cherish him
and exalt his holy Name
May you know his love
and may you offer him, yours
in the way Mary and Joseph
held their boy, Jesus
See him make all things new
In the Name of God
Who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
God known only by love
Amen
Merry Christmas, Mike!