Discovered. Christmas 2016

Christmas 2016

[___01__]    I would like to speak about CHRISTMAS as a DISCOVERY.

What does the word DISCOVER or DISCOVERY mean ?

[responses by children]

·        Finding

·        Discovery Channel  - seeing places which are unfamiliar or distant

What are some things that people try to discover?

Or – what would be some things – or objects – that we would try to discover, or find, if these were to be lost:

• keys  • phone • shoes, • soccer ball • wallet • money • tickets • glasses •homework • hearing aid

• medication, medicine

And, what are you and I doing – how do we behave – after we lose or misplace an object, one of these things?

What does your mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, teacher tell you to do? Perhaps, you do not want to do it .. but you are asked to:

• SEARCH  • LOOK AROUND •DISCOVER

[___02__] When we search, we are sometimes successful, sometimes we are not successful.

And, I think the success of our search depends not on our STRENGTH, not on our SPEED.

The  success of our search depends on our MEMORY.

And, we might say that Joseph and Mary in the search – their journey – through Bethlehem, are successful. They succeed because they remember their mission, that God has called them to Bethlehem for the birth of their Son, Jesus, and our Savior.

When we are searching for something, we are often trying to recall not only WHERE we put something, but WHY.

When we are searching for wisdom in our lives, in an important decision, we are called to remember not only WHERE we are going but WHY.

[___03__]  Why Joseph and Mary are in Bethlehem.  Joseph and Mary are in Bethlehem because this is the city of the great King David and Jospeh  is of the ancestry and line of David.   Joseph logs into ANCESTRY-dot-Com… and he sees King David.

For this reason, Jesus is also King. Joseph and Mary are successful in their search because they know WHERE (destination) and WHY (reason, God calls them to be the parents of our Savior).

[___04__]  When we are searching for something, we are often trying to recall not only WHERE we put something, but WHY.

Regardless of our YOUTH or our AGE, regardless how old or young we are, sometimes, we need the help of others to remember and locate certain objects.

We also need God’s help and grace and wisdom and guidance, in case certain other people are not so helpful.

[___05__]  In the Gospel of Christmas, it would seem – on the surface and at first glance – that Joseph and Mary are lost, or just wandering around Bethlehem, un-successful.

We read that when they went to “check in”, to make a reservation, that they were turned away.  There was no room at the inn. They have nowhere to go.

Nevertheless, they trust in God’s guidance and know that Bethlehem is the right destination and that the birth of their son is the right reason for their journey. They know WHERE and WHY.

[___06__]   When you and I are lost, or wandering, what do we do? What are we tempted to do? How are we tempted to behave?

• MOVE FASTER  • MOVE MORE RAPIDLY  •  STEAL 2^ND BASE ? • WALK FASTER • TALK FASTER • TYPE MORE QUICKLY • TEXT AT LIGHT SPEED.

We want mobility. However, with all of this mobility, we also have less bandwidth to listen to others, and reduced connectivity in true and intimate relationships.

Prayer and meditation and quiet are important so that we know the WHY and the WHERE.

I may want to keep moving. But, do I know WHY, do I know WHERE.

[___07__]  Joseph and Mary know that they are not lost. They know and trust that God is watching over them, even in darkness.

And, while many of us would be included to movement and motion,

They recognize the importance of:

• SILENCE, as we sing SILENT NIGHT, we also gather round yon virgin mother and child for heavenly peace.

• CONNECTIONS, they stick together and stay together, though others have turned them away.

• STILLNESS, they stop not only so that Jesus can be born but also so that Jesus can be recognized and seen by the shepherds of Bethlehem, by the 3 Kings of the East, and by you and me of West Orange.

[___08__] Recently, my mother described (announced) her new strategy and philosophy regarding lost objects.

“I’ve stopped searching. It’s too frustrating. I don’t look around anymore. I just wait for them to appear.”[1]

What great faith, confidence. I’m glad this works for you, Mom.

And, it seems that my mother successfully reconnects with many of her personal effects and possessions through this strategy, in this manner.

“I lost my reading glasses the other day. The next morning, they were right there at the front door, on the front step, on top of the newspaper.”

In this case, USA Today did not actually deliver a pair reading glasses (find synonym or technical specs to describe this …) to a rightful owner, but if Gannett Publishing / USA Today were to offer this, I (you?) would probably have a subscription.

(I don’t think the Times or the Ledger does this. )

In this case, a kind neighbor put 2 and 2 together, made 4, and delivered the Tuesday’s paper and glasses to the door. 

This is Christmas, the Nativity of our Lord.   Jesus Christ is also the Good News at our door and in our home.  He is our vision, the light of our world who helps us to see.

Through our love of God and neighbor and relationships, we also draw closer to him. We are found, called, discovered. It is his plan and timeline not ours.

Come, let us adore him.

[___fin__]

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[1] “LOST” also are items to do…we think of things and then they escape us…we recall later..in prayer, through rest… even sometimes on holiday or retreat. “Psalm 127:2  ___  It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.”  ß God will present to us what we need at the proper time.