A Journey Through Advent: Day 25
Day 25
December 23, 2020
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Be Born in Us Today
Luke 1:26-38, 46-55
Rev. Dr. Greg Smith
Today’s devotion has three intersecting sources of inspiration; the story of Mary in Luke 1:26-38, 46-55, the Daily Meditations from Richard Rohr during the week of December 6-11 on the theme “Giving Birth to Christ,” and the hymn “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” particularly the phrase, “be born in us today.”
Imagine with me a young pastor in Boston who had seen much pain and grief in his congregation during the Civil War. The year was 1868 when Phillips Brooks wrote a hymn for his Sunday School. Just two years earlier he had made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. He likely needed to renew his spirit following the violence and suffering of the Civil War.
As he sat in his study, he envisioned the grotto beneath the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, a place sanctified as the birthplace of Jesus. He remembered the surrounding hillsides with flocks of sheep, and he thought of what it must have been like when everlasting light shone upon Bethlehem’s dark streets.
He knew the holy birth of Jesus was not only a physical event centuries ago, but was a model of how faith is born in our lives. Before they could recover from the suffering and division of the 1860s, the meek souls of his congregation needed to allow the dear Christ to enter in.
His words formed a prayer, “O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray; cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today.” Be born in us today. What a transforming thought to contemplate. His congregation needed more than just a sweet image from the past, they needed this Christ to enter their hearts, to be spiritually born within them.
In our own world of suffering and violent division, we also need this Christ to enter our hearts, to be spiritually born in us today. How can we become like Mary, saying yes to the divine miracle forming within and transforming her life? How can we allow faith to be born in us as she did?
Mary was open and curious about God’s work through her, asking, “How can this be? (Lk.1:34)” We also could be open and curious, asking of God, “How will your new life be born in me? What will this new life look like in me? How will my life be changed when the dear Christ enters in?”
Mary’s openness was pure and trusting, allowing God to look with favor upon her lowliness (Lk. 1:48). When we empty ourselves of our ego-driven desires, we allow God’s transforming work within to make us merciful, gentle, and humble.
We let go of our attachments to the status, position, and power we hold dear, and humbly allow the Spirit of God to work change in our lives. Like Mary, we commit to “let it be with me according to your word (Lk. 1:38).”
The young pastor in Boston knew his words were more than a sweet hymn. He was inviting his congregation to a radical spiritual transformation, allowing faith to be born within them as they sang, “O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!
Let it be with us as well.
Questions to Ponder
● How are you open to give flesh to faith in your life?
● What would it mean to you for Christ to be born in you today?
● In what ways have others experienced the light of Christ through you?
● Do you know someone through whom you have experienced Christ more fully?
About a Journey Through Advent
This year is unprecedented in its challenges to our global, national, and local communities, let alone the challenges to our own church community and personal spiritual growth. And yet, the rhythm of the church calendar continues to hold us in a life-giving refrain: hope is alive!
This series of devotional readings, scripture readings, and prayers is designed to give you an opportunity to pause and reflect on the hope, peace, joy, and love that the Advent season brings.
We challenge you to set aside time each day to read, reflect, and pray through these offerings presented by our pastoral staff.
May you find encouragement in the remarkable hope this season provides us!