First Advent Season as a Pastor

As I am coming into this advent season, I have been drawn to the way everything that happened in the recorded chain of events around Christmas doesn't make a whole lot of sense. First that the vessel God chose to bear his son was an unwed poor teenager. Regardless of how she felt, I'm sure Mary didn't say anything to her neighbors about angels or God. Actually, it looks in the text like she ran away to stay with her cousin for a few months. In addition to that at the time of his birth Jesus, Mary and Joseph were homeless. Like many homeless, they were not welcome in the inn, but could stay with the animals away from the normal folk. The people who the angels appeared to were the people the rest of society didn't like, shepherds who were not welcome in the towns because of previous anti-social behavior. The modern day equivalent would be angels appearing to street corner drug dealers. This anti-normal pattern reminds me to treat respectfully and with honor the modern day pregnant teens, homeless, and "small time" criminals. It reminds us that God holds dear the people on the margins of society. As Quakers we speak of "That of God" in everyone, but I don't always do a good job at looking for it. This Advent season, I feel the Spirit reminding me that God is at work in every life, it is only for me to open my eyes instead of shifting my gaze away nervously.

May your Holiday season be filled with warmth and cheer and reminders of God's presence in all that you come in contact with.

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Gil George