Readings: Isaiah 7 10-14; Psalm 24, Let the Lord enter, He is King of Glory; Romans 1, 1-7; Matthew 1, 18-24
Isaiah, a quick review:
Author: remember there are 3 contributors. This is Isaiah I, composer of chapters 1-39.
Date: ca. 700 before Christ and before the Persians blotted out the northern kingdom, Israel.
Today's material: as a sign to the unfaithful people, Isaiah predicts a virgin will conceive, will bear a son, and he shall be named Emmanuel. Isaiah I is speaking to the Israelites who are going to get annihilated shortly by the Persians. Matthew uses this passage to authenticate Jesus, saying it refers to him. The virgin conceiving a god person goes way back in history, at least to the time of the Pharaohs in Egypt.
Home
The afternoon of the second or third day Rosemary & I spent in Hilton Head with her sister & brother in law I was finally rested out. I decided I got to get some exercise.
So I grabbed my favorite bike in the garage, an old American style bike with no gears and a big white wall tires. It is a sight, but it is great conditioning and much easier to ride than I expected.
I took off at about 4:30 knowing that I needed to be home by 5:30 when it would be dark. And on Hilton Head Island, folks, it is dark at night. No street lights. Know why. Turtle habitat. Turtles use the beaches to hatch their young and the lights get them disoriented. Therefore, you can easily see the stars at night, but perhaps not your hand in front of your face when there is no moon.
The circle ride I make takes about 40 minutes, probably 8-10 miles. I had gone 15 minutes when I had that sensation. Something was squishy. Yes, I had a flat on my rear tire.
So I decided to walk it in, instead of calling home for a lift. I had passed already the more open part of the trail, and had ahead of me the more forested part. No problem, I know the trail well and light from the houses would guide me.
Consequently, I’m walking along this long path through the woods and on both sides of me are the forested back yards of houses. It was chilly, but comfortable. As I walk along I can see into the kitchens and dens of all these houses, warm, inviting, and homey.
Suddenly I am reminded of other nights walking along behind other houses that were warm, inviting, and homey. Certainly in Tanzania & Kenya when I lived there. But also, when I studied the four years in Toronto.
At the college in Toronto we had a half mile meandering drive to the main road. On the right or north of the drive a line of nice middle class homes backed up. I would walk there in the snow often and long to have a similar house, warm, inviting, and homey. However, I thought it was not for me as a priest.
Walking along that path in Hilton Head, I realized I am not lonely or homesick any more. I am grateful that I do have what I was longing for, thanks to Rosemary and our marriage. I went home and told her, again.
As we approach one of the more home focused celebrations of our year, we might find that we are more homesick or we might be grateful that we have a place that is warm, inviting, and homey.
Where is home for you this Christmas season?
What do you do to create a home that is warm, inviting, and homey?
Picture 1: Ryan lighting the Advent Candle
Picture 2: Done!
Picture 3: Communion preparation
Picture 4: Communion helpers
Picture 5: Margarita & Ashley