Week of November 29, 1999
Pastor Dan

Scripture Reading: Philippians 2: 5-7

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness.

When I hear loaded terms like "reconciliation" and "peace" this time of the year, I can't help but recall a personal recollection of a North Carolina minister (let's call him John Beck) shared several years ago. John's father was a small-town banker. Very proper, Mr. Beck wore three-piece suits, starched white shirts, and washed his hands a lot. "I'm sure he loved me," John recounted, "but I didn't always feel it." After work his father would walk home from the bank, fold his jacket tenderly on the porch swing, and sit down to watch his son play in the big sandbox next to the house. Mr. Beck seldom came off the porch to join the fun.

Then one day, John was a demon around the house. In three hours he broke his mother's favorite lamp, spilled an entire quart of milk, and got into a fist fight with the kid next door. John knew that when his father heard of his antics he was in big trouble. But after receiving the bad news, and for a reason John never understood at the time, his starched father slung his jacket over the rail, rolled up his sleeves and pant legs, and came down to play in the sandbox with his son that day. John's dad got filthy from head to toe.

God did that for us in Jesus Christ. In Christ, God came down from the porch into a smelly manger in Bethlehem. In Christ, God rolled up his sleeves and got involved with us. In Christ, God overcame separation effecting reconciliation and peace.

God is still doing precisely that. When alienated people shake hands, when angry marriage partners kiss and make up, when warring nations come together to break bread at the table of peace, God is about the business of peace.

O Christ, you descended from heaven's perch to dine with sinners, to play with children, and to die with thieves. As you have previously descended into our midst, lower our sights today so that we can continue to see the coming surprise of your presence off the porches and into the cellars of earthly existence. Amen

Contributed by Pastor Dan
Monday November 29, 1999
Liturgical Year B Week 2