“When the Wise men saw the star, they were overcome with joy.” (Matthew 2:10)
Dear Friends,
As Dave and I walked our dog Mariah this morning, we ran across people who are preparing to celebrate Christmas by going to family in another state or welcoming them in their home here in Florida. You can sense the excitement and also their concern over everything turning out fine.
All of us are like the Wise men journeying all over the country to spend time with family and friends, and we are also like Martha who spent so much time preparing the appropriate meals for Jesus. In her worry and hurry she became stressed and asked Jesus to tell Mary to help her with all this work she had taken on.
And what did Jesus say but “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:42)
Now I get Martha’s concerns because we are expecting my sister-in-law Elaine, and Maegan and Ryan, my niece and nephew in January. They are traveling from Michigan and will stay a week visiting with us. The main reason for their trip is they want to see their father-in-law and grandfather once more.
Last night I was dreaming of all the ingredients I need so I can make some nice meals. Woe, Martha, take a breath. It’s family. They are coming to see my dad and it is the gift of Presence that matters and is remembered.
The wise men brought gifts to the Christ child. So it has ever been and so it will always be. At the moment we stop, search for and connect with our inner star, we once again are overcome with joy for we realize that our Presence is the Christ child appearing as our individual consciousness.
At that moment we transcend the human sense of “I” with all its scurry and worry and we relax our personal effort knowing that wise men always come, wise thoughts, offering gifts of Gold, (recognition of Truth) Frankincense (gifts of Prayer) and Myrrh (freeing us from the past) so we can be here now fully and celebrate and enjoy one another, for it is the Christ that lives in all of us.
This Sunday at 10 am, join us for our Family celebration of Christmas, and experience the Advent of Joy.
Merry Christmas
Love, Rev Janice
