Thought for the Week

This is not what you would expect for a typical celebration. The place was wrong. Who would want to hold a celebration in a barn? At least not in a barn actively being used for its normal purpose; housing livestock. We would certainly not invite only strangers to join us with close friends and family excluded. We would want to have music, but not have the musicians singing and performing miles away from the celebration site. We expect presents for the 'birthday-Boy' but we would want them to be brought to the place of celebration not delivered more than a year later. We would certainly want the invitations to contain clear and careful instructions as to when and where to come. Media reporting on the celebration should have been done by the regular methods, not by some guys who likely had never even been to journalism school. Can you believe it? News reporting was not their regular job. They were primarily employed as shepherds. Considering how long in advance this Father knew His Son was going to be born, and had predicted so many things about the whole event, it was certainly not a normal celebration. But actually, as we think about it, this Son was going to get married one day. That event, it seems to me, is also not normal. Most of the invited guests aren't going to show up claiming something more important had come up. Last minute invitations did not seem normal either. At least one of the guests came without wearing wedding attire. (I wonder if he took a bath.) Half of the Bride's attendants were not prepared to do what was expected of them. At least the 'best man' did a good job of promoting the Groom and stepping aside to give Him the honor due to Him. We could almost get the impression the Father was testing people to see if they really loved Him and His Son. He is checking to see if we will give His Son first place in our hearts and lives. He seems to want to know how important He and His Son are to us. Now that we are thinking about it: There are some other clues found among His writings: "Seek ye first ..." He says. Then predicates what He plans to give to those who actually show their love for Him is genuine. He also tells people to 'ask', 'seek', and 'knock'. Only those who actively do these things can be assured of; 'receiving', 'finding', and 'having the door of opportunity opened to them'. We can demonstrate our love for Him by doing what He asks of us and treating other of His friends with love and respect. So, let us celebrate His birth no matter where, no matter with whom else is invited and enjoy it to the full. When the marriage celebration happens, let us be sure to be ready and do whatever we are called upon to do for this wonderful Groom. One of His friends professed a willingness even to die for Him. But when the 'chips were down' the friend denied he even knew Him. He was forgiven and restored when he again professed love for the Son. You have probably read this before among my writings. But I just want to be sure I have clearly told all my friends and loved ones as much as I know. We likely won't need to travel 1,000 miles on camelback, but I hope we will be ready to do even that if it is called for. He shouldn't need to ask if we love Him. We should clearly demonstrate our love for Father and Son.

Scriptures to Read

Isaiah 9:1-7

St. Luke 1:26-38

St. Luke 1:39-55

St. Luke 2:1-7

St. Luke 2:8-20

St. Matthew 7:7-27

St. Matthew 22:1-14