Advent Reflections – December 21, 2015

Published on December 21, 2015December 17, 2015 by KateLeave a comment

Living in Harmony: Mary in Scripture

When God first spoke to Mary and she accepted His will into her heart and womb, she embarked on a rocky road. She must have told Joseph about the experience, since Scripture tell us he was going to quietly divorce her. Mary and Joseph experiences a period of complete discord and disunity. Perhaps she tried to explain what happened – but how can you really explain “an angel told me, how could I say no?” She may have appealed to his goodness and compassion, asking him to protect her from the severity of the law which could have been lethal if she was not married. At least, that’s what I would have done.

I, however, am not Mary, who was full of grace and lived in unique and perfect harmony with God. When I imagine how Mary would have handled this time of disunity, I find something rather different than my own attempts to fix the problem. Actually, I don’t think Mary tried to fix the problem. I think sat Joseph down and explained as best she could what had happened. She understood that what she was telling him was difficult, impossible even. And yet she would have trusted in his faith in God and in her. She probably told him to pray about it and listen for God’s whispers in his heart. Even when he moved to divorce her, I believe she kept her peace and patience.

Even though Joseph may not have been in unity with Mary during this difficult time, she was with him. She maintained her patience, her compassion, her understanding and her faith in God’s will. She supported Joseph as he struggled to understand what was happening to him through her choice to be the Mother of God.

Being in unity with someone does not mean perfect understanding exists between the two of you. Sometimes, unity is difficult and requires sacrifice, patience and compassion. How can you build greater unity and foster harmony with someone you have a tendency disagree with?

Advent Reflections – December 20, 2015

Published on December 20, 2015December 17, 2015 by KateLeave a comment

Living in Harmony: The Reality of Motherhood

The first moment of motherhood is a moment of incredible harmony. Here is a woman, a single person, who now carries within her a second person, totally separate from herself. Yet, they are intimately united, each affecting the other. The mother’s choices, diet, rest, etc. directly impact the baby. The baby’s growth and the hormones associated with pregnancy directly impact the mother. The unity and harmony between mother and child is an image of how God desires to be in unity and harmony with humanity.

Jesus prayed

…that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us. John 17: 21

God wishes to share everything with us, as He did with our first parents in the Garden of Eden. Sin and temptation have stand in the way of perfect unity with God, but even imperfect unity would be better than disunity.

Just as God desires us to live in unity and harmony with him, He desires us to find similar harmony with each of our brothers and sisters. We were created to be one family, one people. Through the blood of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, the walls of hostility, anger, hatred, racism, envy, and pride come crashing down.

For he [Jesus] is our peace, he who made both one and broke down the dividing wall of enmity, through his flesh, abolishing the law with its commandments and legal claims, that he might create in himself one new person in place of the two [two referring to the division between the Jews and Gentiles], thus establishing peace, and might reconcile both with God, in one body, through the cross, putting that enmity to death by it. Ephesians 2:14-16

Is there a person in your life that you could live in greater harmony with?

Advent Reflections – December 19, 2015

Published on December 19, 2015December 11, 2015 by KateLeave a comment

Capable of Great Forgiveness: Real Life

Forgiveness is tough! Asking for forgiveness means coming face to face with our own shortcomings, failures and mistakes. It means admitting that we behaved badly, that we willfully injured another person in some way. The other side of forgiveness can be just as painful. To forgive is to be merciful, to let go of the anger, frustration, hurt, disappointment or insult that resulted from the other person’s actions or inaction.

Traditionally, forgiveness works when both parties fulfill their obligatory roles. There is, I believe, a deeper understanding of forgiveness. My mom once told a story she heard from a co-worker. Her co-worker’s children were finishing up an argument and it was time for the forgiveness portion. The one at fault asked for forgiveness. The one injured refused. When the first complained to their mother about the situation, she said “You did your part, it’s between your sister and God whether or not she does hers. It’s not your concern.”

3713942772_39deeab9cf_z — Giving Hands and a Red Pushpin by Artotem via Flickr (2009). CC

A bit of a startling response, isn’t it? You capacity to forgive and ask to be forgiven has nothing to do with the other person. It is about you, your attitude and your relationship with God. If someone has injured you in some way, do you wait for them to come forward, asking for your forgiveness? Or do you extend your hands to them, injured though they may be, offering mercy and compassion. When you realize you injured someone, how quickly do run to their side, humbly seeking their forgiveness and asking how you can rectify the relationship?

Is there a situation where you are waiting for the other person to make the first move? Be that person today.