God and anticipating the transformation of the world exemplify the life of faith. Her yes to answering God’s call and her praise of and trust in God is an ongoing example for us all. It is fitting that Mary’s song resounds every Advent: can we again give our yes to God? Whatever our circumstances, do we listen for God’s call? Can we praise God’s holiness? Can we renew our trust that God has (and will) “scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts … brought down the powerful from their thrones … lifted up the lowly … filled the hungry with good things” (vs 51-53)? May our souls magnify the Lord.
Sunday, Christmas Eve James 1:17-18 Rev. Dr. Margaret Aymer Academic Dean and The First Presbyterian Church, Shreveport, D. Thomason Professor of New Testament Studies “Push, Mary! Push!” A worship and music director friend of mine would start chanting this refrain as the Advent days darkened to the holy hush of Christmas Eve. Push! Let’s walk over the threshold into Christmastide with “Merry Christmas” on our lips! Push! Only a few more hours to wrap the last remaining presents and bake the Christmas goodies. Only one more window on the Advent calendar to open! Push, Mary! Push! Soon, we celebrate the birth of God’s son! So much of Advent draws our attention to the birth of Jesus, one child, one fully human, fully divine child, the incarnation of im-anu-El, God with us. But the Letter of James invites us to consider another birth, our birth. James declares that Jesus is not the only child of the living God. We, too, have been born of God, born by the word of truth. We, too, are brought forth by our Divine Progenitor, pushed out into the world as the first fruits of his creatures. James declares that all of God’s good gifts come from above (anōthen). John’s gospel concurs: you must be born from above (anōthen) (John 3:3). Even as we chant our refrains of Push! the world echoes our plea back to us. Push church! Push firstfruits, born of a Mothering God! Push into this world that God created and called good, the world that God so loves. For we are God’s gifts to the world, and God has birthed and sent us forth to do good.
Monday, Christmas Day John 1:1-14 Rev. Keatan A. King Chair, Board of Trustees Associate Pastor of St. Philip Presbyterian, Houston Who among us dares to invite John the Baptist into our homes on Christmas Day? His animal hides clash with our matching pajamas. His message of repentance is out of tune with holly, jolly songs about St. Nick. One imagines him unwilling to accept a cup of coquito or eggnog and a place by the fire. If he who testified to the light of Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary . 17
