A Pondering Pause

  • December 26, 2024
  • /
  • John Tillman

Links for today’s readings:

Read: Nehemiah 8 Listen: (4:07), Read: Revelation 17 (3:19)

Scripture Focus: Luke 2.17-18

17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

Reflection: A Pondering Pause

By John Tillman

Do you crash after Christmas?

For many, the pressure of making and having a “perfect Christmas,” sends our activity and stress levels soaring like magic reindeer. Once the day passes, we can crash emotionally, physically, or even spiritually.

The disciplines of the church calendar can help prevent this. Advent’s weekly themes of hope, peace, joy, and love, moderate the influence of our splurge and purge, dash and crash culture. But we still may sense the need for a rest. A pause.

Mary surely rested following the excitement, stress, and danger of the day of Jesus’ birth. She had messages of angels and shepherds to ponder. But the revelation that began with the annunciation and continued in her prophetic song was incomplete. There was more to be revealed.

No. Mary didn’t know everything.

She had not yet heard Simeon’s or Anna’s prophecies in the Temple of her child’s importance and the sword that would pierce her. She had not yet received strange foreign Magi and their grand, yet prophetically disturbing, gifts. She had not yet fled into Egypt to protect her child’s life. She had not yet seen him, twelve years old in the Temple, confounding religious leaders with his wisdom. She had not yet heard him call God his father and the Temple his home. She had not yet seen him turn water to wine, protecting the dignity of the unfortunate. She had not yet heard his first sermon, proclaiming liberty for the captives. She had not yet seen the audience for this sermon attempt to kill him for his words.

There was much Mary did not yet know and much we do not yet know. Like Mary, you have not yet seen all that God will do. Like the Magi, you will discover Jesus is so much more than a star, a baby, or an earthly king.

Following Christmas Day, instead of collapsing in exhaustion, despair, or regret, take a more positive, pondering pause. Instead of a post-Christmas crash, find comfort in the slow burn toward Epiphany. Epiphany means “manifestation” and is another gift of the church calendar falling on January 6th.

The days in between can be a beautiful time to ponder the past while leaning forward in anticipation. Take a breath in these days following Christmas and prepare your heart for new revelations.

Rest in what we know and reach toward what will be revealed.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Morning Psalm

In you, O Lord, have I taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness.
Incline your ear to me; make haste to deliver me.
Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe, for you are my crag and my stronghold; for the sake of your Name, lead me and guide me.
Take me out of the net that they have secretly set for me, for you are my tower of strength.
Into your hands I commend my spirit, for you have redeemed me, O Lord, O God of truth. — Psalm 31.1-5

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more about Mary’s Story — Love of Advent

God can dramatically transform, and God can dramatically indwell. No matter our story, we belong within the love of Jesus.

Mary’s Story — Love of Advent

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What About Those Shepherds? — Joy of Advent

  • December 19, 2024
  • /
  • Jon Polk

Links for today’s readings:

Read: Nehemiah 1 Listen: (2:06)
Read: Revelation 10 Listen: (1:59)

Scripture Focus: Luke 2:13-20

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Nehemiah 1:8-9

8 “Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, 9 but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’”

Reflection: What about those Shepherds? — Joy of Advent

By Jon Polk

In Luke’s nativity narrative, an unlikely group of shepherds takes center stage. These poor guys are out in the middle of the night, minding their own business, doing what shepherds do night after night, guarding against wild animals and thieves.

Nothing. Exciting. Ever. Happened.

As for career choices, they were the blue-collar of the blue-collar. We romanticize shepherds as if they stepped out of a Thomas Kinkade painting, but reality was harsh.

Shepherding was a despised occupation. They were considered shifty and untrustworthy, often grazing their flocks on other people’s lands. If Mike Rowe had been around in the first century, shepherding would have been featured on Dirty Jobs Israel.

Not only were they social outcasts, but the nature of their work kept them ceremonially unclean according to Jewish laws.

So when the angel showed up in the middle of the night with a big proclamation, they were dumbfounded by what they were hearing.

It was customary in the Roman Empire for the birth of an emperor to be heralded by poets and orators declaring peace and prosperity across the land. These angelic messengers, however, proclaimed not a new emperor, but one they called Savior, Messiah, and Lord.

This royal birth announcement came not to the secular or religious rulers of the day, but out in the fields to the poor and lowly, to the most common of common folk.

Jesus would later inaugurate his own ministry by quoting from the prophecy of Isaiah:

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners… (61:1)

Indeed, the good news was first announced to these poor shepherds, social outcasts of Jesus’ day.

There are many reasons to be unhappy at Christmastime. Financial difficulties, health issues, difficult job or family situations. It can be a dark and difficult world we live in. It’s not surprising that many people have difficulty with the holiday season.

Jesus came to bring hope, peace, and joy to the lowest of the low, the poorest of the poor, the saddest of the sad. Those shepherds remind us that no matter who we are or what we have experienced in this life, the good news is for us!

As the prophet Isaiah proclaimed, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light!” (9:2).

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

Truly, his salvation is very near to those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land. — Psalm 85.9

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle.

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What’s in a Sign? — Joy of Advent

  • December 18, 2024
  • /
  • Jon Polk

Links for today’s readings:

Read: Ezra 10 Listen: (6:19)
Read: Revelation 9 Listen: (3:30)

Scripture Focus: Luke 2:8-12

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Reflection: What’s in a Sign? — Joy of Advent

By Jon Polk

It is one of the most familiar parts of the nativity narrative, “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy!”

Shepherds shocked. Angels rejoicing. What a scene. As the shepherds attempt to process the stunning news, the angel provides confirmation for them in the form of a sign.

What kind of royal sign do you suppose these frightened shepherds were expecting? Perhaps a regal procession of dignitaries arriving in Bethlehem. That’d be a pretty good sign. How about some sort of supernatural proof, like a fire to light up the night sky! Now that would really be a sign!

Wait. What was that? The sign of this new king is that he’ll be clothed in rags and lying in a cattle trough? What kind of king is that?

It is, after all, a distinctive and remarkable sign, isn’t it? Not only did the news of Jesus’ birth first break to these shepherds, social outcasts of the day, but the sign of his birth was as common as any other baby born to the working-class poor.

But the shepherds understood, didn’t they? Later, they find the baby in a manger exactly as the angel said and when they leave Mary and Joseph, they glorify and praise God for what they have seen and heard.

Is it possible that the shepherds saw that, in his birth, this Savior Jesus was not all that different from them? Could they have somehow recognized the amazing humility of God’s divine condescension?

The eternal, immortal, omnipotent God, creator of the universe, squeezed his divinity and his identity into a tiny helpless infant, born to an average Jewish couple. He was not born as a great general or an emperor or some kind of public hero. Not our God.

Instead, he was born as a poor kid in a sleepy little town on the south side of Jerusalem. Talk about being from the wrong side of the tracks.

Truly God’s ways are not our ways and this unusual sign of his birth—a dingy manger and a ragged hand-me-down onesie—is evidence that God’s ways of ruling and bringing about his kingdom are far from obvious to us and certainly not based on power or coercion.

A king who profoundly identifies with his subjects, even to the point of being born among them? This is indeed a great joy for all people.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer

My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord; let all flesh bless his holy Name forever and ever. — Psalm 145.22

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more about Humility and Joy — Joy of Advent

Ezra and Mary sought a spirit of humility as they spoke to God. Both were blessed by the hand of God through miraculous protection.

Humility and Joy — Joy of Advent

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Hope Against All Odds — Hope of Advent

  • December 2, 2024
  • /
  • John Tillman

Links for today’s readings:

Read: Esther 3 Listen: (3:12)
Read: Hebrews 13 Listen: (3:31)

Scripture Focus: Esther 3.13-15

13 Dispatches were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces with the order to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews—young and old, women and children—on a single day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods. 14 A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued as law in every province and made known to the people of every nationality so they would be ready for that day.

15 The couriers went out, spurred on by the king’s command, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa. The king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was bewildered.

Luke 2.34-35

34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

Reflection: Hope Against All Odds — Hope of Advent

By John Tillman

Every year we wait for Christmas, birthdays, or other pleasant days which are joyous to experience and anticipate. But what about future days of loss?

We wait for some losses with no specific date, such as our deaths or the deaths of loved ones. Some losses are more precisely scheduled. You might have the misfortune of knowing when you will lose your job, when your savings or retirement will run out, when your insurance policy will expire or be canceled, or when your pension or other benefits will be reduced or eliminated. There is no joy in anticipating these days.

But imagine for a moment waiting a year for a day of wrath, destruction, and robbery decreed against you, your family, and your people. That’s what Esther, Mordecai, and the Jews experienced.

Purim takes its name from the Hebrew word for “lots.” This refers to the lots Haman cast to choose the month he would destroy the Jews. The lot was cast in the first month and fell on the twelfth. A year of waiting for destruction.

The odds fell against the Jews of Esther’s day and they frequently fall against us. Jesus told us trouble was coming and we believe him. Our world bears a curse. Our dice are loaded by sin to lose. We are more likely to roll snake eyes than sevens.

We know how to wait for presents and parties but how do we wait for pain and persecution?

We can wait with hope even when disaster looms. We can have hope when the odds fall against us. In Esther’s case, God’s providence turned the coming day of disaster and loss into a day of victory. Their enemies died instead of them.

As we wait for Advent, we join with the faithful who have waited in the dark hoping for light and waited under a curse hoping to become a blessing. Waiting with hope is a spiritual discipline. Perhaps, like Daniel, we must pray prophetically for a restoration we won’t live to see. Perhaps, like Esther, we must lend our voice to bring God’s salvation today. Perhaps, like Mary, we must accept a scandalous task and a future day of loss.

In whatever way the Spirit directs, wait in hope. Jesus is the reverser of fortune who changes lots with us and redefines our fate. He is why we can wait in hope against all odds.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

This is the Lord’s doing and it is wonderful in our eyes. — Psalm 118.23

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more about Mercy Seat and Manger

David met an angel, made a sacrifice, and prepared a place to welcome God’s presence. Generations later, David’s daughter, Mary, did the same to welcome Jesus.

Mercy Seat and Manger — Hope of Advent

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Exclusive Claims, Inclusive Hope — Readers’ Choice

  • September 6, 2024
  • /
  • John Tillman

Scripture Focus: 2 Chronicles 6.18-21
​​18 “But will God really dwell on earth with humans? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built! 19 Yet, Lord my God, give attention to your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence. 20 May your eyes be open toward this temple day and night, this place of which you said you would put your Name there. May you hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place. 21 Hear the supplications of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place; and when you hear, forgive.

Luke 2.28-38
28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 
29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, 
you may now dismiss your servant in peace. 
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 
31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: 
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, 
and the glory of your people Israel.” 

36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 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.

Originally published on December 6, 2023, based on readings from 2 Chronicles 6 and Luke 2.

Readers’ Choice is here: There’s still time to tell us about your favorite, most meaningful posts of the year. If you shared it with someone, or it helped you, let us know via email, direct message, or filling out the linked form.

Advent in September: Several of the choices from readers were from last year, during Advent. We are putting these posts together in this first week of Readers’ Choice. We pray as Summer winds down that the spirit of Christmas has continued in your heart and that these posts will help you look forward to and anticipate the coming seasons.

Readers’ Choice posts are selected by our readers:
Diane — I absolutely love this paragraph: “God’s exclusivity is not a bragging point or an insult. Our hope is exclusively in God yet inclusively welcomes all people. Jesus is the light of the world, not the light of our region, race, or nation. His existence is exclusive—He is the only God. His invitation is inclusive—He will be anyone’s God.

Reflection: Exclusive Claims, Inclusive Hope — Readers’ Choice
By John Tillman

It was a common belief in the ancient world that gods were territorial.

When Assyria conquered the northern kingdom of Israel they exiled much of the population and imported captured peoples from other regions to take their place. When animal attacks became a problem, the Assyrians reasoned that the imported non-Israelites were not properly worshiping “the god of that country,” so they sent back an Israelite priest to train the foreigners in worshiping Yahweh. (2 Kings 17.26-28)

Jews did not worship Yahweh as a regional god. Yahweh was God in Israel, Judah, Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, and everywhere else. Yet, they still struggled to comprehend God’s presence. Solomon marveled that God’s presence would enter the Temple when even the highest heavens failed to contain him. Solomon pondered how this everywhere-god could “dwell on earth with humans.”

God’s enormity does not limit his intimacy, and Solomon’s Temple is not the smallest or humblest place God will enter.

Centuries later, standing in a reconstructed Temple, Simeon held in his arms the same presence that filled Solomon’s Temple. The prophetess Anna, who never left God’s presence in the Temple, recognized it in Jesus and proclaimed about him to Jerusalem.

How astounded Solomon would be at Simeon standing in the Temple holding Jesus in his arms! How astounded we should still be!

Yahweh is God, and Jesus is Lord everywhere, at all times, all at once. This exclusive claim was odd to some and offensive to others. “Who is the Lord that I should obey him?” (Exodus 5.2) “Bow down before this statue I have made!” (Daniel 3.15) “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” (Acts 19.34)Exclusive claims are no less odd or insulting today. Christians face versions of these same objections now. “Why should I obey God?” “You must assent to and support my belief!” “My belief is greater than yours!”

God’s exclusivity is not a bragging point or an insult. Our hope is exclusively in God yet inclusively welcomes all people. Jesus is the light of the world, not the light of our region, race, or nation. His existence is exclusive—He is the only God. His invitation is inclusive—He will be anyone’s God.

The gospel offers everyone, everywhere, an opportunity to say, as Simeon did, “My eyes have seen your salvation.” God is their God, too. Jesus loves them, too. He longs for them and desires to come closer to them than Solomon, Simeon, or Anna could imagine.

From John: The Divine Hours prayers will return in October. This month we will pray one scripture passage or verse each week.

Prayer:
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. — John 1.14


​Today’s Readings
Jeremiah 32 (Listen 7:21)
1 Corinthians 8 (Listen 6:09)

​This Weekend’s Readings
Jeremiah 33 (Listen 7:21), 1 Corinthians 9 (Listen 6:09)
Jeremiah 34 (Listen 7:21), 1 Corinthians 10 (Listen 6:09)

Read more about He Stoops to Raise
The equally interesting, intimate glory of God is how infinitely small he is willing to shrink in order to meet us, save us, and lift us up.

He Stoops to Raise

Readers’ Choice is here!
During Readers’ Choice, we share your favorite posts from the past year. Tell us your faves via email, direct message, or the linked form.

https://forms.gle/9vyYwVxa1kZZn7AKA