The Christmas narratives echo through the ages with as much relevance as they had in the first century. Still we we struggle with despots, injustices, uncertainties, and lack of real peace. Yet we can have confidence that the good news of great joy for all people is real, available now, and coming in fullness.
Empathizing deeply with Bible characters helps us understand life better. Mary didn't really know. She had faith and some hints, but did not know where it would all lead. This Christmas ask yourself if you are really saying yes to God. The path of faith twists and turns but the destination is always good.
Habakkuk's prophecy powerfully speaks to our current global crisis, providing a way to understand how God can use empire as a tool for his purposes. As we long for the return of our Lord we can find comfort in the song of Habakkuk with blessed Mary singing harmony.
Bethlehem remains a symbol of hope, resilience, and God’s enduring promise. The Palestinian Christian community are reflecting Jesus' light to those around them: comforting the hurting, loving the broken, and proclaiming peace where there is strife; so that the light that shone from the manger in their city, Bethlehem, will continue to shine through them to the world.
Joy is no ordinary emotion. It can promote individual well-being and the common good as a response to what should be, what could be, and, at some point, what will be. This advent season, it is time to consider how joyful the coming of the Lord is and will be
Let us all remember our Syrian brothers and sisters in faith this Christmas. Pray with them in solidarity, that their hope will be strengthened as they endure immense challenges.
Christians in Western individualistic cultures can learn much from our collectivist culture brothers and sisters. Learning the value of intergenerational engagement is one of those things, as this camping example from Brazil shows.
When were you last captivated by wonder? The experience of awe is an uplifting one, available to all who take the time to notice the awesomeness around us. This advent, open your imagination to look for awe in the Christmas narrative and marvel at the Creator's works around us.
Last Sunday, the second Sunday of Advent, and throughout this week has been an opportunity to reflect on peace. In this contribution, discover how it fits into the Advent season, some history, a relevant scripture, and practices that can help you cultivate personal peace in an uncertain world.
What if our deep ability and the world’s deep need meet, but we don’t enjoy doing what we are so good at? When should we say yes to preference, even though more purposeful options are within our reach? A pastor considers the dilemma of duty.
Lilly Nassar, a mother of three in Bethlehem, Palestine, has had her career as a Holy Land tour operator ruptured by pandemic and war. Undeterred, she is studying for a new career and finding new ways to share her love for her precious homeland.
Rather than simply dismissing the fantastical elements of Christmas that children seem to love, why not redirect their interest to the example of a godly Christian bishop who aimed to imitate his life on the life of Jesus?
