Nativity by Sadao Watanabe
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)
We read about the dislocated people in the Nativity story. Mary was startled by the angel’s announcement of the Messiah’s coming into the world through her. Joseph was told a similar story in a dream, and both of them set off into strange, dangerous, history-making circumstances. The Wise Men followed a star across deserts and mountains to the Messiah’s manger-crib. Sheepherders in the fields—minding their own business!—received the news from a heavenly host. All these people were given signs; and all of them were given companions as they wondered and wandered.
This seems to be how God works: strangely, for sure, yet always compassionately aware of our need for human accompaniment, especially when experiencing divine revelation.
“Advent” means arrival. Something is to come. The word “adventure,” from the same etymological roots, carries that whiff of expectation. Christians look forward and backward during Advent: to the coming of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem so very long ago and to the full arrival of His reign “on earth as it is in heaven.” Hence, “we live and move and have our being” in an adventure of God’s making.
Years ago, before I learned to do most of my Christmas work before Advent, I primarily felt burdened during Advent. Whatever hint of adventure was in it was doused to near extinction by the weight of work. There was the work at home—decorating, gift-giving, entertaining—as well as the weight of work at the office—end-of-year tasks for the institution, plus marking papers and submitting student grades. Sharon Gallagher, my Associate Director, and I used to encourage one another by remembering that Mary and Joseph had a lot of tasks to do as Jesus’ birth approached. We laughed and felt lighter as we worked together in the ministry on long, dark, winter afternoons and evenings.
As you live in this Advent season, who is alongside you?
Is there a person like Mary’s cousin Elizabeth who can help you see the way in which the Holy One is at work in you?
Does God affirm your commitments to another person, community, or course of action (perhaps in dreams), telling you that you are honoring God’s call in your life by how you are choosing to love?
Do you have friends on the journey who help you discern the right way ahead, even across (perhaps metaphorical) deserts and mountains?
Are there companions in the fields of your life who receive God’s amazing grace with you and help you tell your story, however overwhelming and inconceivable it may seem?
I hope so.
For decades, as best I’ve been able, I’ve followed the call I’ve heard to participate in God’s work in the world through the ministry of New College Berkeley. It has been an adventure! Sometimes, like Mary, I’ve wondered how I ended up so far off the track I had imagined for my life. Yet, I’ve registered the rare privilege of the strange circumstances I’ve been given. Sometimes, like Joseph, I’ve questioned my love for something so counter-cultural; yet, as I’ve participated with others in the ministry, I’ve received words, images, and even dreams which have encouraged me not to be afraid to receive the life-upending grace of God.
Throughout the years I’ve been immensely grateful to be navigating in the company of others so capable of discerning God’s presence, and many times have felt that all I’m able to do is keep my own camel in line as I’ve been in train in the company of other Jesus followers. My heart has overflowed with gratitude to have companions beside me as we sing songs of wonder and praise, even in the midst of working in our fields.
Soon new people will lead the ministry of New College Berkeley. They will be accompanied by our amazing faculty, staff, and trustees. They will need your accompaniment, too, as they seek to follow the light of God’s grace, keep their camels in line, and move ahead with hope, fearing not. Bless them in this good work.
May you experience the rich grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, now in these Advent and Christmas seasons, and forevermore in the holy adventure of your one wild and precious life. Join me in hearing the old, old story of divine revelation and human companionship, told in Scripture and in a contemporary hymn (see below).
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. –Luke 2:8-20
The Shepherd’s Song (God with Us) by Hearts of Saints
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8wlM8ZSovw
Lyrics:
On a cold cold night
So long ago
The skies rolled back
What a sight to behold
When an angel appear
To the shepherds and spoke
Glory…
As they tremble with fear he said don't be afraid oh I come with GOOD NEWS.
The savior is born on this day, And echoed like thunder, every Angel voice say
Glory.. Glory..
Ohhh ohh ohh
They sing Glory to God in the Highest
Hope and redemption has come
They sing Glory to God in the Highest
Hope and redemption has come
Emmanuel God with us
And from that night till now the joyous Reframe
It grows stronger still In the Hearts of the saints
And it cannot be silenced oh we loudly proclaim GLORY..GLORY..
Ohhhh ohhhh
We sing Glory to God in the Highest
Hope and redemption has come
We sing Glory to God in the Highest
Hope and redemption has come
Emmanuel God with us
Susan S. Phillips (Ph.D.) has been the Executive Director and Professor of Sociology and Christianity at New College Berkeley since 1994 and is a member of the Core Doctoral Faculty of the Graduate Theological Union.