Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
A year of God's favor, what would that mean? What does that mean to you? (please think about it, I'm leaving space)
God's favor does wonderful things. It binds up broken hearts, heals, releases, and rejoices in the beauty of God's beloved, You. A year of God's favor brings in joy, ushers in peace and prosperity. How? Is it some magic thing which just happens.
If we look at the text the year of God's favor doesn't come right away. This was written when the people of Israel were in captivity in Babylon. The whole period of captivity lasted 70 years. So what would this writing have meant to them? Can you imagine the wonder in your hearts at being told you will be free, released. You are once again favored, chosen.
There is something about this time of year which really connects with this scripture. The wonder it creates. Its like taking up snow and having it blow freely out of your hands, or watching a snow squall where the snowflakes are so big you can watch each individual crystal land and melt, see its pattern disappear before your very eyes. It is childlike wonder.
Read the text again...
Can you feel the wonder of promise. Possibilities unfold, isn't that wonder? Promises of being enough, doesn't this open up wonder, things which can't be explained, but are thoughtful, open up wonder. This is the time of wonder, the time of risk, the time of all which can be possible opens before us and we either shy away from the door, not believing we can do it, or we step bravely forward into it.
A few years ago there was a movie made about the story from world war one in which on Christmas Eve both sides stopped firing in the trenches and sang Silent Night together. It just doesn't step far enough into wonder, what if they bravely continued that touch point of being united and dropped it all. Refused to pick up arms for the powers that be. Saw they were precious in the eyes of God and let each other alone? What could have happened to wonder then?
There is a book by Brian Selznick book called "Wonderstruck" and it is being made into a movie. The central wonder of the book is mystery and it leads into a rich and beautiful discovery of being and being loved just as they are. I'm hoping this is not lost when they make it into a movie. It's harder to convey this wonder and there are certain things central to the story which need to remain intact. And because I'm caught in its wonder, I really want to see these things come through. Faithfully.
What does it take us to become filled with wonder, to remember the world with the eyes of a child. To listen and hear the Christmas story with all of the wonder and audacity with which it was written so long ago. To open ourselves to excitement and shared pleasure and laughter. To just be in the moment and not onto tomorrow or what yesterday was. Let us witness to the audacious space of wonder and not loose it this season.
Please support this ministry. Thank you.
https://causemomentum.org/projects/jubilee-ministries-bright-futures-partnership
A year of God's favor, what would that mean? What does that mean to you? (please think about it, I'm leaving space)
God's favor does wonderful things. It binds up broken hearts, heals, releases, and rejoices in the beauty of God's beloved, You. A year of God's favor brings in joy, ushers in peace and prosperity. How? Is it some magic thing which just happens.
If we look at the text the year of God's favor doesn't come right away. This was written when the people of Israel were in captivity in Babylon. The whole period of captivity lasted 70 years. So what would this writing have meant to them? Can you imagine the wonder in your hearts at being told you will be free, released. You are once again favored, chosen.
There is something about this time of year which really connects with this scripture. The wonder it creates. Its like taking up snow and having it blow freely out of your hands, or watching a snow squall where the snowflakes are so big you can watch each individual crystal land and melt, see its pattern disappear before your very eyes. It is childlike wonder.
Read the text again...
Can you feel the wonder of promise. Possibilities unfold, isn't that wonder? Promises of being enough, doesn't this open up wonder, things which can't be explained, but are thoughtful, open up wonder. This is the time of wonder, the time of risk, the time of all which can be possible opens before us and we either shy away from the door, not believing we can do it, or we step bravely forward into it.
A few years ago there was a movie made about the story from world war one in which on Christmas Eve both sides stopped firing in the trenches and sang Silent Night together. It just doesn't step far enough into wonder, what if they bravely continued that touch point of being united and dropped it all. Refused to pick up arms for the powers that be. Saw they were precious in the eyes of God and let each other alone? What could have happened to wonder then?
There is a book by Brian Selznick book called "Wonderstruck" and it is being made into a movie. The central wonder of the book is mystery and it leads into a rich and beautiful discovery of being and being loved just as they are. I'm hoping this is not lost when they make it into a movie. It's harder to convey this wonder and there are certain things central to the story which need to remain intact. And because I'm caught in its wonder, I really want to see these things come through. Faithfully.
What does it take us to become filled with wonder, to remember the world with the eyes of a child. To listen and hear the Christmas story with all of the wonder and audacity with which it was written so long ago. To open ourselves to excitement and shared pleasure and laughter. To just be in the moment and not onto tomorrow or what yesterday was. Let us witness to the audacious space of wonder and not loose it this season.
Please support this ministry. Thank you.
https://causemomentum.org/projects/jubilee-ministries-bright-futures-partnership
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