Faithful Conversations #96

Introduction to readers

“Massacre of the Innocents”
Léon Cogniet (1794-1880)

Beyond Christmas Eve and Christmas Day this week, we observe three Lesser Festivals from our ELCA church calendar: Stephen, Deacon and Martyr (my namesake along with Paul) on Thursday; John, Apostle and Evangelist on Friday; and on Saturday, the martyrdom of the Holy Innocents, recalling the tragic killing of male children by King Herod, who feared a prophecy about a newborn king threatening his rule. This brutal act is recounted in the second chapter of Matthew, including a reference to Jeremiah 31:15:  “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.” French painter Leon Cogniet captured the horror of this long-ago event in the terrified look on the young mother’s face, a strikingly modern looking portrait. 

The innocent children who “are no more” have been on my mind this week owing to the recent events at Abundant Life Christian School on Madison’s east side, the 323rd school shooting in the United States in 2024. Something is terribly, terribly wrong. In my 41 years of full-time teaching (that’s roughly 7,800 days), the worst moments occurred when we learned of a school shooting somewhere in the country, a chilling reminder of our vulnerability. The first half of my career included occasional bomb threats (which often came in bunches), but in the second half it was “intruder drills” — learning how to barricade our classrooms, hide, evacuate, if possible, to rally points off school grounds. It always seemed a bit surreal. Such dark news may not seem like a good starting point for discussing the Lectionary, but as Christians there is much for us to consider as we walk in two worlds — both the temporal and the eternal. Our civic engagement flows from our understanding of God’s word, as applied to our daily walk. May we have discerning hearts in these troubled times. This, by the way, is the suggested prayer for December 28th, altogether fitting for this moment (ELW, page 54): 

We remember today, O God, the slaughter of the innocent children of Bethlehem by order of King Herod. Receive into the arms of your mercy all innocent victims. By your great might frustrate the design of evil tyrants and establish your rule of justice, love, and peace, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen.

A couple notes regarding this week’s blog. I have included the readings for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and encourage you to work through them. My reflections will center on the Gospel for the first Sunday after Christmas, the story of young Jesus in the Temple. As always, thank you for your continued interest in exploring the scriptures. Our spiritual journeys evolve, and the key is to stay engaged. As we head into 2025, my offerings here are made with humility — the more I learn, the more I realize how little I know!     

Readings for Christmas Eve
Isaiah 9: 2-7
Psalm 96
Titus 2: 11-14
Luke 2: 1-14 (15-20)

Readings for Christmas Day
Isaiah 62: 6-12
Psalm 97
Titus 3: 4-7
Luke 2: (1-7) 8-20

Readings for 1 Christmas
1 Samuel 2: 18-20, 26
Psalm 148
Colossians 3: 12-17
Luke 2: 41-52

Common Themes in the Readings for 1 Christmas (29 December)
The readings for 1 Christmas share themes of faithfulness, praise, growth, and community. In 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26 and Luke 2:41-52, we see Samuel and Jesus both dedicated to God’s service and growing in wisdom and favor. Psalm 148 calls all of creation to worship and praise God, a sentiment echoed in Colossians 3:12-17, where believers are urged to live in harmony, singing with gratitude to God. Collectively, these passages emphasize the importance of dedication to God, worship, spiritual growth, and nurturing loving, forgiving communities.

“Christ Among the Doctors” (c. 1635)
Matthias Stom (1615-1649)

The Gospel: Luke 2: 41-52: The Boy Jesus in the Temple
⁴¹ Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. ⁴² And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. ⁴³ When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents were unaware of this. ⁴⁴ Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day’s journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. ⁴⁵ When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. ⁴⁶ After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. ⁴⁷ And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. ⁴⁸ When his parents saw him they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Child, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously looking for you.” ⁴⁹ He said to them, “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”^{[ 50} But they did not understand what he said to them. ⁵¹ Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them, and his mother treasured all these things in her heart. ⁵² And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years and in divine and human favor.

Reflection: “christ among the doctors”

“Christ in the Temple”
Heinrich Hofmann (1824-1911)

The story of twelve-year-old Jesus in the Temple fascinated me as a child and that may have been because of the accompanying picture from Hurlburt’s Story of the Bible.  Among other things, I was always curious as to HOW Mary and Joseph could “lose” their son for three days and how Jesus seemed so nonchalant about the whole situation!  

Interestingly, beyond the birth story, this is the only episode we are offered from Christ’s formative years, and it is the first time we hear him speak (we will next hear from him at age 30). There is much to unpack within the verses. We learn that Mary and Joseph travel to Jerusalem each year for the festival of the Passover, an arduous journey of 100 miles that would have taken 8-10 days. Jesus’ age (12) puts him on the verge of manhood in Jewish culture (13). Further, we witness a dramatic moment between Mary and her son when they find him. She is clearly frantic and distressed, as any parent would be who has spent three days trying to find their child! 

And, perhaps most importantly, we are brought into this intriguing moment when the young Jesus is sitting in the Temple among the teachers (sometimes referred to as the “doctors”). We learn that this charismatic young boy amazes those in the audience with his questions and insights that day, not unlike the response many years later by the travelers on the road to Emmaus recounted in Luke 24. And standing off on the side, Mary and Joseph are astonished to see their boy holding court with the elders. His response to Mary’s anxious inquiry indicates that he is aware of his calling, his special role in history, at a young age. What a moment! And even though we know where this story is going, let’s stay with this moment for a time and like Mary, “treasure these things” in our hearts.

 Soli Deo Gloria!

prayer: “do well the few things” (henri nouwen)

(Note: The Nouwen meditation seems especially fitting in light of the school shootings) 

Henri Nouwen
(1932-1996)

The more I think about the human suffering in our world and my desire to offer a healing response, the more I realize how crucial it is not to allow myself to become paralyzed by feelings of impotence and guilt. More important than ever is to be very faithful to my vocation to do well the few things I am called to do and hold on to the joy and peace they bring me. I must resist the temptation to let the forces of darkness pull me into despair and make me one more of their many victims. I have to keep my eyes fixed on Jesus and on those who followed him and trust that I will know how to live out my mission to be a sign of hope in this world. (The Nouwen Society Website, 21 December 2024). 

Musical Offering: The Wexford Carol 

The Wexford Carol is a beloved traditional Irish Christmas carol. It is also known as The Enniscorthy Carol, as it was originally collected by a folklorist named Grattan Flood in Enniscorthy, a town in Ireland’s County Wexford. The lyrics, which are in English, date back to the 12th century. As is the case with all very old songs, the history is a bit hard to track, but it appears that the lyrics were added to the tune much later, and it is not believed that the lyrics were originally in the Irish language.

(Source: LiveAboutdotcom) 

Enjoy this version of the song from the Clare College Choir, Cambridge!

Good people all, this Christmas time,
Consider well and bear in mind
What our good God for us has done
In sending his beloved son

With Mary holy we should pray,
To God with love this Christmas Day
In Bethlehem upon that morn,
There was a blessed Messiah born.

The night before that happy tide,
The noble Virgin and her guide
Were long time seeking up and down
To find a lodging in the town.

But mark how all things came to pass
From every door repelled, alas,
As was foretold, their refuge all
Was but a humble ox’s stall.

Near Bethlehem did shepherds keep
Their flocks of lambs and feeding sheep
To whom God’s angels did appear
Which put the shepherds in great fear

Prepare and go, the angels said
To Bethlehem, be not afraid
For there you’ll find, this happy morn
A princely babe, sweet Jesus, born.

With thankful heart and joyful mind
The shepherds went the babe to find
And as God’s angel had foretold
They did our Saviour Christ behold

Within a manger he was laid
And by his side the virgin maid
Attending on the Lord of Life
Who came on earth to end all strife.

There were three wise men from afar
Directed by a glorious star
And on they wandered night and day
Until they came where Jesus lay

And when they came unto that place
Where our beloved Messiah lay
They humbly cast them at his feet
With gifts of gold and incense sweet.

 

And, a reminder: the bonhoeffer book study!

Dietrich Bonhoeffer
(1906-1945)

Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s classic, The Cost of Discipleship, is an excellent book for Christians to read heading into 2025! We have ordered several copies of the book and also hope that many will purchase it for themselves. Our intention is to do a five-session study beginning on Wednesday 29 January and continuing for each Sunday in February.  Contact me if you have questions!