December Twenty-Twenty-Two

 

A Blessing for Christmas Time 

God, this is a kind of magic

the way this day shines so strangely,

how it sparkles beyond our understanding. 

(Yes, it was a disaster 

the way the food turned out this year 

and how what’s-her-face said (I told her not to)

What shouldn’t be repeated. 

Again this year.) 

But, somehow, this day 

never fails to awaken a longing  

to love well—or at least better—

all those here with us, and those far away,

and to remember with gratitude

those now gone, gone, gone and missed.

What is this mystery? 

Our God who set the world spinning 

should come down for this one reason:

to love us into a newness. 

Not for gain, nor our capitalist fantasies,

but the hope that freely, lavishly, 

that we might learn to see, feel, and live Christ’s love.

Thank you. 

Christ the Giver and the Gift." 

-Kate Bowler, The Lives We Actually Have

First Coming
Madeleine L’Engle

He did not wait till the world was ready,
till men and nations were at peace.
He came when the Heavens were unsteady,
and prisoners cried out for release.

 

He did not wait for the perfect time.
He came when the need was deep and great.
He dined with sinners in all their grime,
turned water into wine.

 

He did not wait till hearts were pure.
In joy he came to a tarnished world of sin and doubt.
To a world like ours, of anguished shame
he came, and his Light would not go out.

 

He came to a world which did not mesh,
to heal its tangles, shield its scorn.
In the mystery of the Word made Flesh
the Maker of the stars was born.

 

We cannot wait till the world is sane
to raise our songs with joyful voice,
for to share our grief, to touch our pain,
He came with Love: Rejoice! Rejoice!