Christian Reflection and Prayer

"Traveling with Our Special Guest"

Read Matthew 21:1-7.
Behold, your King is coming to you, humble, and mounted on
a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.
Matthew 21:5B

Our Advent journey continues and, no, we're not there yet!
(Wondering when we would arrive was always my favorite
question during our long family trips.) Today a special guest
joins us. He doesn't claim the best seat-either in the front of
the car or in the first-class section of the plane. He's content
to sit in coach, or if it were our old station wagon, He'd be
sitting in the middle seat in the middle bench. Even more
likely, He'd be in the rear-facing backbench that only my
youngest brother and I could handle riding in.

Thousands of years ago this One also travelled with crowds
making their way up to the house of the Lord in Jerusalem.
Even though He was by far the greatest to ever walk those
roads, year after year He walked as one among many. But in
today's reading, Jesus took His rightful place at the center of
the throng. He rode with praises into Jerusalem for the final
festival where He would go to battle for us, laying down His
life that we might have eternal life.

At Jesus' command two of the disciples borrowed an animal
on which He would ride into Jerusalem as our conquering King.
But He did not choose a towering, powerful, warhorse. No, He
rode on a young donkey, a lowly beast of burden.

That is the mark of our King. At Christmas He comes as a tiny
baby, humble and lowly, born in a manger. In meekness He
came to lay down His life as a sacrifice to save us from our sins,
from death, from Satan, and from hell.

Today He also comes among us in humility. He chooses lowly
water and joins His Word to it to transform lost sinners into
children of God. He gives us His body and blood in humble
bread and wine to forgive us by that same sacrifice that took
away the sins of the world.

Today Jesus invites us, "Come to Me, all you who are weary
and burdened and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). Even as
we continue our journey toward Jerusalem, our King comes right
alongside us in great gentleness and humility. Since He is humble,
we too are moved to meekness toward each other, knowing He has
made our future certain in our eternal home.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, our Savior, thank You for coming to us in such humility.
You have saved us and now You ride with us to keep us and protect
us. Reassure us by Your presence and guide us safely to our home.
Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

"Lights in the Darkness"

December 4, 2014

Read Romans 13:11-14
"The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off
the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Romans 13:12

During this time of year the nights grow longer. That makes being
a kid riding in a car pretty tough. Though it certainly helps when
video and DVD players and iPods light up the night. I remember
as a kid when the only thing we had to brighten those long dark
night trips were the Christmas lights we'd see every once in a while.
(Of course, we always had to argue about who saw them first!)

From time to time as we make our way along God's path through
this Advent season we catch glimpses of the light of our heavenly
home.These hints come to us as a favorite hymn or song in worship.
They also come as a renewed awareness of the forgiveness,
acceptance, and peace God offers through the pastor. They
especially come as that wonderful taste of the heavenly feast when
we celebrate the Sacrament of Christ's body and blood.

These glimpses thrill our hearts and remind us of the wonderful
place waiting for us. The lit candle on the Advent wreath-and the
three that remain to be lit in the coming weeks-remind us how little
time is left to prepare for the day that is rapidly approaching. Paul
reminds us of this same fact in today's reading.

Like a beautifully lit house at Christmas time, Jesus shatters the
darkness and fills us with the warmth of His glorious light. He is
the Light of the world who came into the darkness and vanquished
it through His suffering, death, and resurrection. And each of us
who were reborn in His image in Baptism shine like stars in this
dark night of sin, giving those who do not yet know Jesus Christ a
brief glimpse of God's love through our words, attitudes, and actions.
How brightly are you shining in the crowded store aisles, in the long
checkout lines, in the jammed parking lots, and on the busy roads?

THE PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, we would be Your lights, shining brightly in this
dark and selfish world. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit that we may live
as You choose, bringing the light of Christ's love to this dark world.
In Jesus' Name. Amen

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

"Enjoying the Ride Together"

Read Romans 13:8-10.
"You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no
wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the
Law. Romans 13:9B-10

I'm sure my parents would have loved a video or DVD
player in our station wagon when I was a kid. Instead,
they had five boys sitting in the middle and back benches
as we headed down the road to Grandma's. Sometimes
we'd sing songs to pass the time or play little games
along the road, but usually we played the stop-touching-
me or stay-on-your-side-of-the-seat game. Of course, that
was about the time Dad threatened to turn the car around
and head back home.

In our church family, we often act like brothers and sisters
squeezed together in a car. We bicker and fight with each
other; we complain about the most insignificant things; we
insist on our way and pout when we don't get it. Meanwhile,
our unchurched family, friends, and neighbors wonder why
anyone would ever want to be a part of family like that. How
many times do we make our heavenward journey miserable
for everyone, wondering if it would be better to go it alone?

That's where Jesus shows the way. When His disciples
argued about which of them would be the greatest or tried to
get the best seats in heaven, Jesus showed them His humility
and restored their unity. Even when the religious establishment
-- the Jewish leaders -- misjudged Him, plotted His death, and
stood by His cross heaping their scorn on Him, Jesus was
quick to pray, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what
they do" (Luke 23:34b). And through His suffering and death
at their hands, Jesus won our full pardon from His Father in
heaven.

In this week's Epistle reading, Paul shows us another way to
travel together. He calls us to remember Christ's sufferings and
death for us, and to strive to live as our Savior did -- loving our
neighbor as ourselves.

As we make our journey toward the house of the Lord, we are
not traveling alone. We are part of a caravan, a multitude of
wonderful believers traveling along together, each guided by
Christ up to God's house. God has chosen every one of us.
He has gathered us together to use our unique skills and
talents as one body. If we travel together in joy and peace,
learning to appreciate one another, our journey will be so
much more thrilling, and we'll be the kind of caravan other
people will want to join. God grant us this peace and
harmony for Jesus' sake.

THE PRAYER:

Father in heaven, open our hearts to truly love and forgive
each other. Grant us a deep appreciation for each other,
that combining our gifts and talents, we may bring glory to
Your Name, and bring many to join us in heaven. Through
Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)