And it was told King David, “The LORD has blessed the household of O’bed-e’dom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of O’bed-e’dom to the city of David with rejoicing; and when those who bore the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling. And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the horn. — 2 Samuel 6:12-15
Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” And he rose and took the child and his mother by night, and departed to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt have I called my son.” Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, was in a furious rage, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:
“A voice was heard in Ramah,
wailing and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children;
she refused to be consoled,
because they were no more.” — Matthew 2:13-18
First reading: 1 John 1:1-4
Psalm: Ps 97:1-2,5-6,11-12
Gospel: John 20:1-8
Mary Magdalene ran and went to Simon Peter
and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them,
“They have taken the Lord from the tomb,
and we do not know where they put him.”
So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.
Cut off:
Rumi was a Muslim poet, theologian, and Sufi mystic. He lived in 13th-century Persia.
Many of Rumi’s poems center on the concept of longing and desire for union with the beloved. But this is longing and desire based on being cut off from our beloved. Our trying to find, reconnect with our beloved.
Names:
Saint John is known by many names: Apostle, Evangelist, John of Patmos, the Beloved Disciple, one of the sons of Zebedee, one of the “sons of thunder,” one of the twelve, a Pillar of the Church at Jerusalem.
John is best known as the “Beloved Disciple” mentioned about 8 times in the Gospel. John was present at every important event in the life of Jesus.
That term, beloved disciple, tells us something about the connection and relationship between Jesus and John. This is a connection between two people who love each other. Being beloved is never about being cut-off, about searching to find our beloved, but about being joined in an on-going loving relationship. Being beloved is the real presence of love in our lives. John was surrounded by, filled by, and completed by the love of Jesus.
Witnesses:
John, along with Peter and James witnessed the raising of Jairus’s daughter (Mark 5:37), the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1), and of the Agony in the Garden (Matthew 26:37). Peter and John were sent into the city to make preparations for the Last Supper (Luke 22:8). At the Last Supper John sat next to Jesus and leaned against Him (John 13:23, 25). John was the “other disciple” who followed Jesus after His arrest, and witnessed the mock trial before the Sanhedrin and Chief Priest (John 18:15). John was the only disciple to stand, along with Mary and the other faithful women, at the foot of the cross. Jesus entrusted the care of His mother to John (John 19:25-27). After the Resurrection John ran to the tomb along with Peter, as we heard in today’s Gospel, and he was the first to understand and believe that Christ had truly risen (John 20:2-10).
Being there, being together is a key part of being joined in love. John was not apart and away, or cut off from the events in Jesus’ life. Instead, as a beloved of Jesus he was present. As a faithful disciple and apostle, in love with Jesus, he remained with Him throughout it all, good and bad, and he understood Jesus.
Long life:
John went on to live a long life with his ministry and home primarily in Ephesus where he served all of Asia Minor, guiding the Churches of that province as their bishop. John was the only apostle who was not martyred. That’s not to say that some didn’t try. Church Tradition teaches that Domitian tried to boil John in a vat of hot oil. John emerged unhurt. He was then exiled to Patmos where he wrote the Revelation. On this day we recall that event, when John was given a chalice of poisoned wine. He prayed over the cup and the poison left the wine in the form of snakes. John then drank the wine without harm.
Death and suffering are a big fear, and are often the times when we feel most isolated, most alone. When we are sick, in trouble, threatened, we can feel cut off and alone, unloved.
We see that John’s life was marked by moments of suffering. The key is that John knew he was not cut off or alone. He knew that Jesus was with him throughout it all, through loneliness, struggle, suffering, and exile.
Witness to love:
On this feast, we should focus on our connection to Jesus. Do we know that He loves us as He loved John? You and I are the beloved of Jesus. No matter our state or situation, we are never abandoned, alone, or cut off. The whole reason for Jesus’ coming was to connect us as individuals and as a community to God.
Witness to constancy:
Jesus’ love is constant. It can be hard to conceptualize that constant connection. We can find it hard to remain connected even to those we love the most. We can find it difficult to overlook the sins and breakdowns in our relationships. We can sit and wonder whether those we love really love us. St. John’s feast reminds us that there is no such thing as being cut off from God. Jesus’ coming and His relationship with John, teaches us that We are His beloved.
Share in the chalice:
John bore witness to the gospel’s message, to the overriding love of God that is at the center of our lives. Jesus told John and James “My chalice indeed you shall drink” (Matthew 20:23). When we hear those words, we might think about their share in Jesus’ suffering. Today, let us recall and remember that Jesus’ chalice, the wine that He offers, is abundant love, an on-going relationship, and the promise that we will never be cut off from Him.
As we share later in the wine we will bless, remember that we are His beloved. That little warm feeling isn’t the wine, it is the warmth and love of Jesus who loves us completely. Amen.
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life — the life was made manifest, and we saw it, and testify to it, and proclaim to you the eternal life which was with the Father and was made manifest to us — that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you may have fellowship with us; and our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. — 1 John 1:1-3
“You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.” Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth against him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God.” But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together upon him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him; and the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And he knelt down and cried with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. — Acts 7:51-60
When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they saw it they made known the saying which had been told them concerning this child; and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. — Luke 2:15-20
First reading: Isaiah 9:1-6
Psalm: Ps 96:1-3,11-13
Epistle: Titus 2:11-14
Gospel: Luke 2:1-14
Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields
and keeping the night watch
Insight:
My son, Adam and I were in the car. He began talking about Christmas. He said: “I love midnight mass.” He went on to explain that all of his friends are typically in bed, “none of my friends are awake, but I get to experience the coming of Christmas.” He told me that it is so special that he is here, in church. He told me that the waiting and the expectation is suddenly fulfilled. In a moment, at the ringing of the bell, it is Christmas. He is here, awake, joy filled, and present.
Named:
In our tradition, holy mass at midnight is the Pasterka, the Shepherd’s Holy Mass. That seems odd. We are here to experience Jesus’ coming, this entry of God into the world, and we are focused on the shepherds? But we have good reason to focus on these men. Because like Adam, like you and me, they were watching and expecting.
Odd situation:
It also seems odd that Jesus would be revealed first to the shepherds. The Master, the Eternal King, the Lord of Lords, the creator of all that is didn’t bother with revealing Himself to other kings. We know that when a king or foreign leader visits another county, they go to the king or leader of that county first. Yet the Eternal King sent His messengers to shepherds.
He didn’t go to:
Jesus messengers did not go to Caesar Augustus, to Quirinius, to Herod, not even to the mayor of Bethlehem. Instead they went to shepherds.
They watched:
The gospel tells us that the shepherds were keeping watch. This is true, both in the literal sense, and in a much broader way. They watched because they knew their savior would come.
They expected:
The shepherds also expected. The gospel doesn’t say it outright, but we know that they were taught in synagogue to expect the Messiah. They, like every other person in Israel, knew the commandments, a bit of the scriptures, and most importantly, God’s promise of a Messiah.
They received:
Tonight, like us, they received. This Advent we focused on the miracle to come. Like the shepherds, we have the fulfillment of our watching and expectation. Jesus is here. The miracle we have awaited has come. Because of this night, this miracle, we see Jesus in every face. We know that He dwells with each of us. In every prayer we are assured that His miracles are real in our lives. Before we accepted Christ, before we were baptized and regenerated, He accepted us. Knowing that, we sing high praise to God who has joined us to His Son and to each other. What a wonderful miracle to know God, and to see this miracle in each other
On behalf of myself, my wife and children we pray that His everlasting presence enrich and bless you and yours at this moment, throughout the coming year, and always in every way. Amen.
God is Born
He has come to give the promise of His mercy full and gracious. For the Word was made Incarnate, And in truth, has dwelt amongst us!
The miracle we have awaited has come. And now, every time I see your face, I see Jesus in you. Every night before I sleep, I know that He dwells with you. In every prayer I offer I am assured that His miracles are real in your life. Before we accepted Christ and were regenerated, He accepted us. Knowing that, I sing high praise to God who has joined us to His Son and to each other. May His everlasting presence enrich and bless you and yours at this moment, throughout the coming year, and always in every way.
Deacon Jim