The Word Grows Nearby

Winter Solstice.  The Bottom of the Year.  Where, o where, is there anything Holy growing on this dreary day?  Neighbors have strung lights, and a few have inflatable “Christmas” characters rising up from their lawns–I even saw an inflatable Darth Vader (“The Force Be With You: and also with you”).  Lots of reindeer.  And one of my friends has an electrified outdoor creche, complete with Lucy, Linus…and Woodstock in the manger…  Where is anything Holy growing on this dreary day??

Scriptures which the faithful remnant will hear on this
First Sunday of Christmas tend to announce that seeds of the Kingdom not only  have been planted, but are germinating into Trees of Life.  We begin by hearing about little boy Samuel assisting in the holy sanctuary with priestly Eli. (I Samuel 2:18ff)  “Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the Lord and with the people.” (v.26)

But St. Paul won’t be discouraged by wet blankets!   He lists ways in which believers are becoming the Beloved (see Henri Nouwen).  “…clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.  Bear with one another….And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:12 ff)  If you’re making New Year’s resolutions which are intended to last beyond when the Kings go home, here’s a good beginning!  Can we grow new deeds for a new year?

Although Christmas was but two days previous, Luke’s Gospel account for today presents a twelve-year-old Jesus giving his parents and family fits because he disappeared during the Passover festival in Jerusalem. (2:41ff)  When they finally found him in the Temple, he precociously shrugged, “Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”  (eye-roll here: duh!)   Nevertheless, he went home with them, and “increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor.” (v.52)

The din of Presidential candidates and the blare of talk-shows have pretty well numbed me from hope.  Morning rain seems to remain in my soul all day.  So I welcome this Third Day of Christmas message:  perhaps I can yet again point to places where the Word grows nearby.

God Bless Us, Every One!            Horace Brown King

My thoughts about readings for the coming weekend can be found every Tuesday in this place on Facebook.