Hi First Presbyterian Church,
It’s time for our Mid-Week Meet-Up! We are nearly halfway through Advent, and Christmas is right around the corner. As many of us feel the joy and anticipation of the season, it’s helpful to remember that Christmastime is not always joyful for everyone for various reasons. To create some sacred space for those who are feeling less than joyful this time of year, we are offering two Blue Christmas worship services on Tuesday, December 16.
Especially for those who don’t like to drive at night, one service will be at 1:30 pm, led by Erin and Ernest. A second service will be held at 7 pm (also live-streamed), led by Erin, Ernest, JD Jackson (pastor of the United Church of Pittsford), and myself. Refreshments will be served following the 7 pm service. If these services will be meaningful times of worship for you, I hope you will be able to attend one of them.
As we progress through Advent and as many of us are reading our way through the devotional A Surprising God, I hope you paid special attention to today's reading. The authors reflect on Luke 7:18-30. In this passage, John the Baptist was in prison and sent some of his own disciples to Jesus to ask him a simple but very serious question, “Are you really the Messiah?” From John’s perspective, his question makes sense. John had begun his ministry with full confidence that Jesus was, in fact, the Messiah. Yet, Jesus wasn’t exactly doing what John expected the Messiah to do. Where was the forceful exertion of God’s power against the enemies of God? To top it all off, John himself had been arrested and was facing imminent death.
The authors point out that this passage in Luke’s Gospel makes it clear that our expectations of what God will do often contradict with what God actually does. I was particularly struck by this sentence in today’s reading: “Maturity in faith is measured in part by our willingness to let our small expectations of Jesus be enlarged by the capacious truth of his presence.” I have heard it said that the nature of Christian faith is to ever-expand our minds and hearts, making room for more of God. Unlike a cup that can only be filled to the brim and no more, Christian faith is like a balloon that stretches and grows to make more room for what fills it.
Do you have questions or doubts about Jesus this Advent? That’s ok. Those questions or doubts may be Christ’s way of trying to expand your mind and heart to receive more of him. Don’t worry. You won’t break. He is good and kind and trustworthy.
I encourage you to pray to Jesus the prayer that concluded today’s reading: “Come to us as you truly are, and not only as we wish you were.”
Peace to you,
Aaron