gskohler

With songs of praise still ringing in our hearts we dig into dessert. On Christmas Eve we begin to taste the full sweetness of our celebration. We are fortunate. Not because we earned a place at the table but because for us, to us, among us – a child is born. The celebration of this birth includes the news that we are received. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting...

The dessert has been brought out — the sweetness of Christmas is arriving. And as we receive it, we sing. Why?           Because that’s who we are. We’re the people who sing because of how deeply we feel the truth of God’s love. We sing the praise of our Creator, the Founder of the feast. We sing because we are prepared — not by our own efforts, but by grace — for this great celebration. We sing because we have been taught to include singing. We remember Mary’s Magnificat… in the wake of...

The dessert comes to the table through the delighted efforts of the one who loves us best, teaching us that we are cherished…           But, who, exactly, are we speaking of when we say “we?”           Certainly this is the sentiment that fills our souls, but aren’t we claiming that the arriving celebration we have come through in Advent is a sentiment to fill our world? We live at a time when groups of people are tearing each other apart. Accusations of inhumane actions. Dehumanizing...