Singing the Lord's Powerful Song

“My soul magnifies the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.

Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name

(from Luke 1:39-55)

I consider one of the greatest contributions of the Methodist Movement to be the hymns, both traditional and contemporary.

Within that tradition is Methodism's Great Day of Singing when the worship service is composed of music chosen by the gathered congregation which includes scripture and prayer.

Give me the blessing of a "Hymn Sing Sunday" and free my soul.

What stands out for me in this text is Mary's song, the Magnificat, a she sings about God's unexpected goodness in her ordinary life.

Mary is implying we also may encounter God's unexpected goodness during our daily routine, in the ordinary as well as the difficult activities of daily life.

Songs are power.

Mary’s song is in the past tense because she recognizes she has been drawn into relationship with the God of Israel.

The God of Israel has been siding with the oppressed and downtrodden since the Egyptian captivity, and has been making and keeping promises since the time of Abraham.

Mary's song recognizes that she’s included in this history of God's redemption.

Songs are powerful.

For several months before the fall of the Berlin wall, Citizens of Leipzig had been gathering on Monday evenings for a candlelight vigil around St. Nikolai church singing songs of hope, protest and justice.

They demonstrated a confident and courageous hope in God’s divine activity to save and redeem the world.

It seems to me that as we gather and sing Advent and Christmas songs in the face of the wars and chaos of our times, God is active as lift our voices and of God's redemption in our times.

Think about it: Today it seems as though hope in on a distant horizon. How does this story of possibility through singing ring true for you this season?

John's Witness of Light in the Darkness.

"There was a man sent from God, 
whose name was John. 
He came as a witness to testify to the light,
 so that all might believe through him." 

(from John 1:6-8, 19-28)

Light is essential to life.

Elaine and I are fans of PBS "Nature" program.

 The last three episodes have focused on the Arctic, it's relation to the seasons, and the impact of daylight.

 Just as the changing of Daylight-Saving Time impacts the rhythm of our lives, so it impacts all God’s creatures during the cycle of seasons.

Daylight’s life force and animating power diminishes, so does its animating force making Winter a difficult time due to the darkness impacting emotions, outdoor activities, and routine work.

Our Ancient Ones created essential festivals of light in the darkest and shortest days of the year.

Into the darkness of his day comes John the Witness, sent from God, to announce a coming light that darkness cannot overcome.

The light John the Witness mentions refers to Jesus, more than that this light is the animating life for all people.

This light of the world will continually shine and if darkness temporarily prevails, the light will overcome it because of a fundamental human need for light.

Perhaps while we wait to welcome the Word made flesh there might be a place or a way to shine the light of God.

We are living in times of spiritual and moral darkness, of human brokenness, and oppression.

Surely we could shine light for those experiencing evil, injustice, and oppression.

As we wait for the coming of Jesus possibly we could shine some light to the brokenhearted, proclaim liberty to the captives, and release the imprisoned.

Think about it: There is no shortage of the oppressed, brokenhearted and captive. Who needs your witness of God's light in your life this week?

The Way to Jesus

John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness,

proclaiming a baptism of repentance

for the forgiveness of sins.

from Mark 1:1-8

Hope is a powerful force.

The hope of a coming Messiah led John the Baptizer from the wilderness, to the river, and calling for repentance.

The hope of justice in 1952 inspired Private Sarah K. Evans on her way home from her first military assignment, to refuse to move to the back of the bus.

The hope of Sojourner Truth and Harriet Tubman encouraged, a black teenager, Claudette Colvin, in 1955 to refuse to surrender her bus seat to a white person resulting in being handcuffed and arrested.

The Hope in the Civil Rights Movement prompted Rosa Parks to refuse giving up her seat in the "colored" section of the bus when the "white" section was filled.

Hope a better life drives migrants from Venezuela.

The hope of a future prophetic voice led me to baptized Phoebe Kim, my Pastor's daughter.

Hope is a powerful force based on Scripture.

Hebrews 11:1, 8-22, for example, describes Abraham’s faith in trusting God's goodness and ability to deliver on the promises God had made.

Hope is the way to Jesus when we feel the darkness of life hiding the way to Jesus.

Blind Bartimaeus discovered the light of Jesus when he cried out for healing, “Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me.”

When we look at the violent, chaotic world around and within us and wonder about a way to Jesus, with the hope of Bartimaeus, we can call out “Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us”

Think about it: In this season of holiday preparation, how do you slow down and look for a way to Jesus?

In Those Days...

But in those days, after that suffering,

the sun will be darkened,

and the moon will not give its light,

and the stars will be falling from heaven,

and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

(From Mark 13:24-37)

But in those days….

On November 25, 2023, three 20-year-old students of Palestinian descent were visiting family and relatives for Thanksgiving break wearing keffiyehs showing solidarity with Palestine during the war in Gaza

And then darkness:
    The sun will be darkened,

    and the moon will not give its light."

The students were shot and injured near the University of Vermont in Burlington.

A suspect was arrested the following day and the Burlington Police Chief, after arresting a suspect, said the shooting was being investigated as a possible hate crime.

This isn’t the Burlington, Vermont I know.

After spending 20 years pastoring 3 churches in the Burlington vicinity, raising money for homeless shelters, and providing food and blankets for migrants, I have a very different concept of Burlington.

There are over 40 languages represented among Burlington students and their families; nearly one in five kids is an English learner.

Among the languages spoken at home are, Nepali, Somali, Maay Maay, Bosnian, Swahili.

The Burlington I know is the home of Ben & Jerry’s, Patrick Leahy, Bernie Sanders, Phish, and the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts,

Burlington, however, is not paradise.

It is a place where one can catch a glimpse of what City of God may look like.

For example: the school district has a multilingual program allowing students to speak English and their native language at home.

Jesus describing a darkened sun, falling stars, shaking heavens is a sign of hope.

All one needs to do is wait, watch, and work mentally, physically, and spiritually. without adequate rest or sleep.

This our Christian calling: keep awake, watch for the signs, and work to build God’s kingdom.

Jesus insists: Keep awake.”

Think about it: Eclipse, earthquake, hurricanes. Feels like the end. How are you called to be a “woke” witness?