Devotions - December 27, 2009 - January 2,2010
By, Pastor Jennifer Johnson Wrege
Assistant to the Bishop, Northern Great Lakes Synod
Sunday, December 27
Hungry for Meaning
“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you now dismiss your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the sight of all people,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel” Luke 2:29-32
It’s the Third Day of Christmas!!! That delicious and huge Christmas meal is long gone. The presents have been set aside or put away. Many of us have already moved on to the next thing. We moved away from pondering the birth of Jesus to wondering how the Packers will do today. We’re done thinking about the true meaning of Christmas and beginning to consider new year resolutions or, if we are planners, what Valentine’s Day will bring.
But Simeon insists that we recall, remember, and reflect on the birth of Jesus and what it means for the whole world – that salvation and light have entered into human history and straight into our loves.
Have you ever experienced hunger for meaning in your life? In Jesus we discover the meaning and the purpose of our lives and then begin to live out that purpose and meaning as we live as followers of Jesus.
Gracious God, like Simeon you give each of us meaning and purpose for our lives. Enable us to discover this purpose and then give us courage to embrace it. Amen.
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Monday, December 28
Hungry for Understanding
The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him.
Luke 2:33
Before, during, and following the birth of Jesus, both Mary and Joseph had heard a number of announcements about their firstborn. In fact, there are several places in the beginning of Luke where it is written, “But Mary treasured up all these things and PONDERED them in her heart.”
I wonder what questions swirled in Mary’s heart and mind. Where did the ponderings of her heart take her? How could she know her son would eventually take her to the cross and then to the empty tomb?
It’s tough sometimes to try and figure out how Jesus is working in our lives, let alone the world. We hunger for understanding thinking that if we could only understand how Jesus is at work, especially in situations that are tough or challenging, that whatever is happening it would not be so painful and hard.
It took years for Mary to begin to understand the first words spoken prophetically about the little one she was carrying in her womb. And, we too often find we need to have patience when trying to understand how Jesus might be a work in us and through us for the sake of the world
Loving God, you cause questions to rise up within us. Help us to trust you as we seek to understand how you are at work in the world. Use us as your witnesses to your work and mission to love and bless the world. Amen. |
Tuesday, December 29
Hungry for Justice
This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel,
and to be a sign that will be spoken against,
so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.
Luke 2: 34-35
Even young children recognize when something is unfair. The cry out, “That’s not fair!” If an adult is around, “Life isn’t fair – deal with it!” or something like that, is likely to be heard.
While it is true that there are many examples of how life is just not fair, there are also many examples of how life is unfair where it doesn’t have to be that way. For example, if all the farmers around the planet produce enough food for everyone to have enough to eat, which we are told they do, why are people starving to death or dying from diseases related to hunger? I’m thinking that for the food delivery system around the globe to change radically enough so that everyone on the planet would have enough to eat, the rising and falling of many, as it is written, would need to take place. As a consumer of more than my share of the world’s food, I may among those who will need to fall in some way so that others will have enough food to eat.
How hungry am I for justice? Hungry enough to change a behavior? Hungry enough to be transformed by the Holy Spirit? Hungry enough to embrace a specific action or activity?
God of all mercy, give us the heart and eyes to see how we participate in injustice around the world and close to home. Forgive us and lead us in the ways of your justice. Amen |
Wednesday, December 30
Hungry for Hope
Coming up to them at that very moment,
she gave thanks to God and spoke about the
child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
Luke 2:38
Anna was very old, a widow, and a woman who took worship, prayer, and fasting seriously. She was also a woman of hope and recognized in the baby Jesus the sure and certain hope of the redemption of Jerusalem.
Do you hunger for hope? Where are you looking for hope? What are you hoping will happen in 2010? What feeds your hope?
Hope is elusive in a way. In hope, we imagine something is before we can actually see it is. In hope, we follow a direction even though it is like seeing in a mirror dimly. In hope, we take action in the absence of concrete evidence.
God of all hopefulness, bring us hope and be our hope that in all things we may be faithful to you. Amen |
Thursday, December 31
Hungry for the Word
Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.”
Luke 2:47
The biblical story about twelve year old Jesus teaching in the temple is the only one in the Bible about Jesus between his infancy and adulthood. But even this story points to a truth about Jesus that turns out to be real in our lives: Like those gathered in the temple that day long ago, we too hunger for the word that gives us life, forgiveness of sins, mercy, and grace. While we hunger, Jesus feeds us with his word – the Living Word – the word that is alive and makes us alive as well.
What word from Jesus are you longing to hear?
Jesus, Word of life, be for us our teacher and our savior. Make your word dwell in us, change and transform us so that we may bear witness to your gracious acts of mercy and grace. Amen |
Friday, January 1
Hungry for Relief from Anxiety
Son, why have you treated us like this?
Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.
Luke 2:48
I can hardly blame Mary and Joseph. I would be anxious too if I had ever lost track of my son in a crowd. While that particular problem never happened when Shauen was a child, I have known my share of anxieties – many of them self-induced driven by fear.
It may be the first time that we know about, but it won’t be the last time Jesus is confronted by the fears of those who love him and are his followers. Later, the disciples will become afraid as they ride in a boat when a huge storm revs up as they cross the Sea of Galilee. Peter will become fearful when he is questioned about being a follower the evening before Jesus’ crucifixion. Peter, James and John will experience fear as a cloud descends on them on the Mountain of Transfiguration.
In the face of our fears and anxieties, Jesus responds with the words: Fear not!
What triggers fear or anxiety for you?
Loving God, free us from our fears and anxieties and bring us to safely rest in you. Amen |
Saturday, January 2
Hungry for What’s Next
And Jesus grew in wisdom and statue, and in favor with God and men.
Luke 2:52
When you get right down to it, we are not very good at doing nothing or at being bored. We want to be doing something, sometimes anything to fill up our days and our hours even if it gets us in trouble.
We know very little about the years between the day twelve year old Jesus taught in the temple and his entrance into his public ministry around the age of thirty. What we do know is that Jesus grew in wisdom, stature and in favor with God and others. One of the things that took place during that time was Jesus’ preparation for the mission that was before him. He was being prepared for what was coming next.
What’s next in your life? How is God preparing you for what’s next?
Jesus our Guide, you alone knows what lies ahead for us. Guide us, protect us and prepare us for all that lies ahead so that we may be faithful witnesses to your saving grace. Amen |
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