Week One

(#1) 1/01

       Prologue

Matthew 1:1

An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Mark 1:1

The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Luke 1:1-4

Since many have undertaken to set down an orderly account of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed on to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word,  I too decided, after investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the truth concerning the things about which you have been instructed.

John 1:1-18

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.  He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him.  He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him.  But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth. (John testified to him and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.' ") From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father's heart,who has made him known.

Four different beginnings to the greatest love story ever told:  Matthew draws a straight line from Jesus through David to Abraham, who was the first of his race to make a commitment to God.  Mark is brief and efficient - The beginning of the Good News is Jesus who is Son of God.  Luke takes a step back and considers the reader.  He lists his sources and defines his purpose - that we may know the truth.

John provides a view of cosmic proportions.  Jesus was present at the beginning of the universe.  "All things were made through him."   "In him was life, and the life was the light" of humankind.  The source of life was not known in the world until John the Baptist prepared human hearts for the grace and truth of Jesus.

Four beginnings to the same journey, and each of them connect us to Jesus in a different way.  This makes sense when we realize that "life gives us no view of the whole.  We see only snatches here and there, and self-interest skews our perspective grotesquely: Things that are close to us assume exaggerated importance, while the rest we view with cold dispassion.  It is as if life were a great tapestry, which we face from the wrong side.  This gives the appearance of a maze of knots and threads, which for the most part appear chaotic." [1]

Each one of us created as a unique human being, right down to our fingerprints and DNA.  Yet every newborn infant begins life with its hearts beating in rhythm to God's love.  The truth, grace, and love of God touch us in different ways, like sunshine reflected through a stained glass window. [2]  But what we have in common is much greater than what is unique and individual.  There are no great works of art that consist of a single color.  A true artist understands the power of contrast, shading, and blending.  God has provided us with a beautiful palette.  We make our lives a work of art by making each day a work of love.

Principles of Love:

Vision; Commitment; Nature

Reflection/Discussion:

What are some things to consider when making the decision to live a life of love?

Pray Through the Day:

Open our eyes

To deepen our love

(#2) 1/02

Announcement of the Birth of John the Baptist

Luke 1:5-25

In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord.  But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years.

Once when he was serving as priest before God and his section was on duty, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and offer incense.  Now at the time of the incense offering, the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. 

Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified; and fear overwhelmed him. But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink; even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God.  With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

Zechariah said to the angel, "How will I know that this is so? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years." The angel replied, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. But now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will become mute, unable to speak, until the day these things occur."

Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah, and wondered at his delay in the sanctuary.  When he did come out, he could not speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept motioning to them and remained unable to speak. When his time of service was ended, he went to his home.

After those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she remained in seclusion. She said, "This is what the Lord has done for me when he looked favorably on me and took away the disgrace I have endured among my people."

The Angel Gabriel gives us a simple formula in describing how John will prepare people to meet Jesus - to "turn the hearts of the father's to the children."

It's natural for parents to love their children.  No great skill or effort is required. When we simply give them our full attention, their innocence, vulnerability, and openness soften our hearts.

Love is a function of seeing clearly.  If we can choose to be truly open to another person, we will learn to love them.  Opening to others bring up questions, doubts and fear.  Even Zechariah who was "blameless" and "righteous before God" allowed doubt to cloud his understanding of Gabriel's miraculous message.  Choosing to love in spite of doubt helps us see more clearly, which in turn helps us to love more deeply.

Principles of Love:

Vision; Nature

Reflection/Discussion:

How does silence deepen our capacity to love?

Pray Through the Day:

Open our eyes

So we may love

(#3) 1/03

                The Annunciation

Luke 1:26-38

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you." But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David.  He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" The angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God." Then Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.

How did God choose Mary to be the mother of Jesus?  What qualities did she possess that allowed her to assume the most important job in the history of the world?

The interaction between Mary and Gabriel provides some clues.  Mary was troubled (other translations say "perplexed") by a greeting that bestowed great honor on her. (She apparently is not used to thinking of herself in terms of great honor.)  When she realizes whom she is talking with, she does not stammer or stutter, posture or try to impress.

There is no self-consciousness or pride in Mary's response, only simple humility and openness to God's will.  She describes herself as "the handmaid" of the Lord.  A handmaid is an attendant or servant who is both very useful and subservient. 

God chose Mary to be the mother of Jesus because she was the most capable of loving him.  She was most capable because of her humility and openness to God's will.

Principles of Love:

Humility; Opening; Acceptance; Decision

Reflection/Discussion:

What is the relationship between humility, openness and love?

Pray Through the Day:

Help us be humble

So we may love

(#4) 1/04

   Mary Visits Elizabeth

Luke 1:39-56

In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me?  For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord."

And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.  Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.  His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.  He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.  He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.  He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever."  And Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.

Mary's first impulse is to share her joy.  We cannot love in isolation.  Love grows whenever it is given room to grow.  The nature of love is to spread and deepen. 

God created us to love.  If our hearts are open, the presence of love touches us to the depth of our being and our soul leaps with a joy that touches all who are near us.

Principles of Love:

Nature; Opening

Reflection/Discussion:

What are some of the simple ways we can love in daily life?

Pray Through the Day:

We were created

From God's love

(#5) 1/05

         John the Baptist is Born

Luke 1:57-80

Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.  On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zechariah after his father. But his mother said, "No; he is to be called John." They said to her, "None of your relatives has this name." Then they began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him. He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John." And all of them were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God. Fear came over all their neighbors, and all these things were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea. All who heard them pondered them and said, "What then will this child become?" For, indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.

Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy:  "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them. He has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.  Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and has remembered his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham, to grant us that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.  And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins.  By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."

The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day he appeared publicly to Israel.

Zechariah ends his prayer of joy and thanksgiving with a brief summary of John's mission: "to guide our feet in the way of peace."  The way of peace is the path of love. 

Human life is a path with a destination that lies beyond life, as we know it.   The most important thing about a spiritual journey is not how far we have traveled, but the direction we are moving in.   Are we moving toward peace and becoming more loving? Or, are we moving away from God's peace?  That is the choice that confronts us each moment of our lives, the choice that determines our destination.  Guide our feet into the way of peace.

Principles of Love:

Decision; Vision; Opening

Reflection/Discussion:

How can we tell if we are moving toward God on the path of peace in our daily lives?

Pray Through the Day:

Help us always

To choose love

(#6) 1/06

                The Geneology of Jesus

Matthew 1:2-17

Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Aram, and Aram the father of Aminadab, and Aminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David.

And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph, and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amosthe father of Josiah, and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.

And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Salathiel, and Salathiel the father of Zerubbabel, and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah.

So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen generations.

Luke 3:23-38

Jesus was about thirty years old when he began his work. He was the son (as was thought) of Joseph son of Heli, son of Matthat, son of Levi, son of Melchi, son of Jannai, son of Joseph, son of Mattathias, son of Amos, son of Nahum, son of Esli, son of Naggai, son of Maath, son of Mattathias, son of Semein, son of Josech, son of Joda, son of Joanan, son of Rhesa, son of Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, son of Neri, son of Melchi, son of Addi, son of Cosam, son of Elmadam, son of Er, son of Joshua, son of Eliezer, son of Jorim, son of Matthat, son of Levi, son of Simeon, son of Judah, son of Joseph, son of Jonam, son of Eliakim, son of Melea, son of Menna, son of Mattatha, son of Nathan, son of David, son of Jesse, son of Obed, son of Boaz, son of Sala, son of Nahshon, son of Amminadab, son of Admin, son of Arni, son of Hezron, son of Perez, son of Judah, son of Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham, son of Terah, son of Nahor, son of Serug, son of Reu, son of Peleg, son of Eber, son of Shelah,  son of Cainan, son of Arphaxad, son of Shem, son of Noah, son of Lamech, son of Methuselah, son of Enoch, son of Jared, son of Mahalaleel, son of Cainan, son of Enos, son of Seth, son of Adam, son of God.

God loved Adam and Abraham in a very personal way.  Adam and Abraham each loved their children, as was their nature.  Each of their children bore children and loved them as well.  There is an unbroken connection of love from the beginning of humanity and from the beginning of our faith. 

The greatest miracle of all is that God now knows and loves each one of us individually and personally in the same way that he loved Adam, Abraham and all the relatives of Jesus.

Principles of Love:

Nature

Reflection/Discussion:

What distracts us from the flow of God's love in our lives?

Pray Through the Day:

We were created

From God's love

(#7) 1/07

Jesus is Born

Matthew 1:18-25

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.  Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."  All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:  "Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means, "God is with us." When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.

Luke 2:1-7

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered.  This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Jesus could have come into our world any way he wanted.  He chose the most vulnerable and humble situation imaginable: a homeless, newborn infant, born in a stable.  The conditions surrounding Jesus' first breath tell us something about the conditions where love can take root in the depth of our hearts.

Love needs room to grow.  It gives way if our hearts are filled with self-centered needs and desires.  Love is an expression of our heart's deepest desire.  A heart focused on itself can feel attraction, need, security and gratification while remaining cold and unyielding.  But true and honest love germinates in humble conditions.  Like a seed in the warming soil of spring, it opens, expands, deepens, and grows toward it's fullest potential.

Principles of Love:

Humility

Reflection/Discussion:

What are some obstacles to being humble and vulnerable in our daily lives?

Pray Through the Day:

Give us humble hearts

That open to your love

^[1]Smith, Huston, The World Religions, p388.

^[2]Ibid p386.

Week One

(#1) 1/01

       Prologue

Matthew 1:1

An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Mark 1:1

The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Luke 1:1-4

Since many have undertaken to set down an orderly account of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed on to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word,  I too decided, after investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the truth concerning the things about which you have been instructed.

John 1:1-18

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.  He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him.  He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him.  But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth. (John testified to him and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.' ") From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father's heart,who has made him known.

Four different beginnings to the greatest love story ever told:  Matthew draws a straight line from Jesus through David to Abraham, who was the first of his race to make a commitment to God.  Mark is brief and efficient - The beginning of the Good News is Jesus who is Son of God.  Luke takes a step back and considers the reader.  He lists his sources and defines his purpose - that we may know the truth.

John provides a view of cosmic proportions.  Jesus was present at the beginning of the universe.  "All things were made through him."   "In him was life, and the life was the light" of humankind.  The source of life was not known in the world until John the Baptist prepared human hearts for the grace and truth of Jesus.

Four beginnings to the same journey, and each of them connect us to Jesus in a different way.  This makes sense when we realize that "life gives us no view of the whole.  We see only snatches here and there, and self-interest skews our perspective grotesquely: Things that are close to us assume exaggerated importance, while the rest we view with cold dispassion.  It is as if life were a great tapestry, which we face from the wrong side.  This gives the appearance of a maze of knots and threads, which for the most part appear chaotic." [1]

Each one of us created as a unique human being, right down to our fingerprints and DNA.  Yet every newborn infant begins life with its hearts beating in rhythm to God's love.  The truth, grace, and love of God touch us in different ways, like sunshine reflected through a stained glass window. [2]  But what we have in common is much greater than what is unique and individual.  There are no great works of art that consist of a single color.  A true artist understands the power of contrast, shading, and blending.  God has provided us with a beautiful palette.  We make our lives a work of art by making each day a work of love.

Principles of Love:

Vision; Commitment; Nature

Reflection/Discussion:

What are some things to consider when making the decision to live a life of love?

Pray Through the Day:

Open our eyes

To deepen our love

(#2) 1/02

Announcement of the Birth of John the Baptist

Luke 1:5-25

In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord.  But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years.

Once when he was serving as priest before God and his section was on duty, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and offer incense.  Now at the time of the incense offering, the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. 

Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified; and fear overwhelmed him. But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink; even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God.  With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

Zechariah said to the angel, "How will I know that this is so? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years." The angel replied, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. But now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will become mute, unable to speak, until the day these things occur."

Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah, and wondered at his delay in the sanctuary.  When he did come out, he could not speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept motioning to them and remained unable to speak. When his time of service was ended, he went to his home.

After those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she remained in seclusion. She said, "This is what the Lord has done for me when he looked favorably on me and took away the disgrace I have endured among my people."

The Angel Gabriel gives us a simple formula in describing how John will prepare people to meet Jesus - to "turn the hearts of the father's to the children."

It's natural for parents to love their children.  No great skill or effort is required. When we simply give them our full attention, their innocence, vulnerability, and openness soften our hearts.

Love is a function of seeing clearly.  If we can choose to be truly open to another person, we will learn to love them.  Opening to others bring up questions, doubts and fear.  Even Zechariah who was "blameless" and "righteous before God" allowed doubt to cloud his understanding of Gabriel's miraculous message.  Choosing to love in spite of doubt helps us see more clearly, which in turn helps us to love more deeply.

Principles of Love:

Vision; Nature

Reflection/Discussion:

How does silence deepen our capacity to love?

Pray Through the Day:

Open our eyes

So we may love

(#3) 1/03

                The Annunciation

Luke 1:26-38

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you." But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David.  He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" The angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God." Then Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.

How did God choose Mary to be the mother of Jesus?  What qualities did she possess that allowed her to assume the most important job in the history of the world?

The interaction between Mary and Gabriel provides some clues.  Mary was troubled (other translations say "perplexed") by a greeting that bestowed great honor on her. (She apparently is not used to thinking of herself in terms of great honor.)  When she realizes whom she is talking with, she does not stammer or stutter, posture or try to impress.

There is no self-consciousness or pride in Mary's response, only simple humility and openness to God's will.  She describes herself as "the handmaid" of the Lord.  A handmaid is an attendant or servant who is both very useful and subservient. 

God chose Mary to be the mother of Jesus because she was the most capable of loving him.  She was most capable because of her humility and openness to God's will.

Principles of Love:

Humility; Opening; Acceptance; Decision

Reflection/Discussion:

What is the relationship between humility, openness and love?

Pray Through the Day:

Help us be humble

So we may love

(#4) 1/04

   Mary Visits Elizabeth

Luke 1:39-56

In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me?  For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord."

And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.  Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.  His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.  He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.  He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.  He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever."  And Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.

Mary's first impulse is to share her joy.  We cannot love in isolation.  Love grows whenever it is given room to grow.  The nature of love is to spread and deepen. 

God created us to love.  If our hearts are open, the presence of love touches us to the depth of our being and our soul leaps with a joy that touches all who are near us.

Principles of Love:

Nature; Opening

Reflection/Discussion:

What are some of the simple ways we can love in daily life?

Pray Through the Day:

We were created

From God's love

(#5) 1/05

         John the Baptist is Born

Luke 1:57-80

Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.  On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zechariah after his father. But his mother said, "No; he is to be called John." They said to her, "None of your relatives has this name." Then they began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him. He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John." And all of them were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God. Fear came over all their neighbors, and all these things were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea. All who heard them pondered them and said, "What then will this child become?" For, indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.

Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy:  "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them. He has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.  Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and has remembered his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham, to grant us that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.  And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins.  By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."

The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day he appeared publicly to Israel.

Zechariah ends his prayer of joy and thanksgiving with a brief summary of John's mission: "to guide our feet in the way of peace."  The way of peace is the path of love. 

Human life is a path with a destination that lies beyond life, as we know it.   The most important thing about a spiritual journey is not how far we have traveled, but the direction we are moving in.   Are we moving toward peace and becoming more loving? Or, are we moving away from God's peace?  That is the choice that confronts us each moment of our lives, the choice that determines our destination.  Guide our feet into the way of peace.

Principles of Love:

Decision; Vision; Opening

Reflection/Discussion:

How can we tell if we are moving toward God on the path of peace in our daily lives?

Pray Through the Day:

Help us always

To choose love

(#6) 1/06

                The Geneology of Jesus

Matthew 1:2-17

Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Aram, and Aram the father of Aminadab, and Aminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David.

And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph, and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amosthe father of Josiah, and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.

And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Salathiel, and Salathiel the father of Zerubbabel, and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah.

So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen generations.

Luke 3:23-38

Jesus was about thirty years old when he began his work. He was the son (as was thought) of Joseph son of Heli, son of Matthat, son of Levi, son of Melchi, son of Jannai, son of Joseph, son of Mattathias, son of Amos, son of Nahum, son of Esli, son of Naggai, son of Maath, son of Mattathias, son of Semein, son of Josech, son of Joda, son of Joanan, son of Rhesa, son of Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, son of Neri, son of Melchi, son of Addi, son of Cosam, son of Elmadam, son of Er, son of Joshua, son of Eliezer, son of Jorim, son of Matthat, son of Levi, son of Simeon, son of Judah, son of Joseph, son of Jonam, son of Eliakim, son of Melea, son of Menna, son of Mattatha, son of Nathan, son of David, son of Jesse, son of Obed, son of Boaz, son of Sala, son of Nahshon, son of Amminadab, son of Admin, son of Arni, son of Hezron, son of Perez, son of Judah, son of Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham, son of Terah, son of Nahor, son of Serug, son of Reu, son of Peleg, son of Eber, son of Shelah,  son of Cainan, son of Arphaxad, son of Shem, son of Noah, son of Lamech, son of Methuselah, son of Enoch, son of Jared, son of Mahalaleel, son of Cainan, son of Enos, son of Seth, son of Adam, son of God.

God loved Adam and Abraham in a very personal way.  Adam and Abraham each loved their children, as was their nature.  Each of their children bore children and loved them as well.  There is an unbroken connection of love from the beginning of humanity and from the beginning of our faith. 

The greatest miracle of all is that God now knows and loves each one of us individually and personally in the same way that he loved Adam, Abraham and all the relatives of Jesus.

Principles of Love:

Nature

Reflection/Discussion:

What distracts us from the flow of God's love in our lives?

Pray Through the Day:

We were created

From God's love

(#7) 1/07

Jesus is Born

Matthew 1:18-25

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.  Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."  All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:  "Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means, "God is with us." When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.

Luke 2:1-7

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered.  This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Jesus could have come into our world any way he wanted.  He chose the most vulnerable and humble situation imaginable: a homeless, newborn infant, born in a stable.  The conditions surrounding Jesus' first breath tell us something about the conditions where love can take root in the depth of our hearts.

Love needs room to grow.  It gives way if our hearts are filled with self-centered needs and desires.  Love is an expression of our heart's deepest desire.  A heart focused on itself can feel attraction, need, security and gratification while remaining cold and unyielding.  But true and honest love germinates in humble conditions.  Like a seed in the warming soil of spring, it opens, expands, deepens, and grows toward it's fullest potential.

Principles of Love:

Humility

Reflection/Discussion:

What are some obstacles to being humble and vulnerable in our daily lives?

Pray Through the Day:

Give us humble hearts

That open to your love

^[1]Smith, Huston, The World Religions, p388.

^[2]Ibid p386.