Change: An Advent Poem by Rachel Roen

Change

Darkness all around

Pain surrounds

Answers needed

Crying out

Nothing is right

People hurting

Evil winning

Questions asked

Hurting yet praying

Where is God 

Nothing is changing

We are waiting

Expectations unmet

Thought it’d be different

No healing, no miracle

The world rages

Men in charge 

Just want power

Don’t care about others

More rulers come

Assassinations

Expectations

Promises were told

Foretold

Time goes on 

People living, people dying

Waiting,hoping

Promises unfulfilled

Years pass

Hope fades

Stories told

About times past

When God moved

When miracles happened

Nothing now

Waiting, groaning

Under the weight 

Of life never changing

Prayers seem unanswered

Heaven is silent

Crying, yelling

Fighting, barely surviving

Hungering for more

Waiting for rescue

Someone to help 

Someone to save

To fulfill promises

Made long ago

So long waiting

When will God move

Intervene!

Struggling, gasping

Hearts breaking

Life not changing

Then something happens

A star appears

Shepherds tell stories

Of angel rejoicing

A baby coming

Other stories

Of prophecies

In the temple 

Dare we start hoping

But a baby, a poor baby

What does it mean

Men come from the East

Come to look for a king

They worship the baby

Bring Him gifts

But then they leave

Herod is angry 

Babies murdered

Hearts breaking

Evil reigns

Was hope so short-lived

Waiting 

Yet daring

Daring to hope 

To believe

Years pass 

Silence

Nothing changing

Then whispers

Whispers of hope 

Of change

Something stirring

Whispers grow louder

Strengthening

Stories of miracles

A Man Who can heal

God must be intervening

Something is changing

Hope is rising

Change is coming

Amazing things happening

Healings, feedings

Happiness all around

Suddenly it ends

The miracle Man dies

Jesus Crucified!

Evil has won

Death has conquered

Darkness surrounds

Grief reigns

Then the unthinkable 

Dead man walking

Jesus alive, resurrected!

Men out of graves

Walking in streets

Among the living

Death defeated

Everything changes

Yet nothing changes

Rome holds power

People martyred

Evil in control

Yet Jesus reigns

Hope has come

In the midst of waiting

Because the baby came

Jesus came, was crucified

Died and buried

But resurrected

Ascended to heaven

Seated on the throne

And now breathes hope

Into the midst of our waiting

That is the change

The one we needed

Hope in the midst of our pain 

In the midst of our waiting

Reflections on Advent: John

Although the gospel of John does not recount Jesus’s birth, John’s introduction of Jesus is intriguing nonetheless.

John calls Jesus the Word. We learn early in life how powerful words can be. I can think of many moments where the right affirmation at the right time was like a balm to my soul or a jolt of encouragement. I can also think of moments where hurtful words struck so close to an insecurity that they crippled me. Psalm 18:21 puts it this way: The tongue has the power of life and death.

As I think about words having the power of life, I am also reminded of a scene from The Chronicles of Narnia. In The Magician’s Nephew, C.S. Lewis describes the creation of Narnia. He paints a scene of Aslan the Great Lion singing a melody almost too glorious to be described. As Aslan sings, the world is created: “A voice had begun to sing. Sometimes it seemed to come from all directions at once. There were no words. It was hardly a tune. But it was beyond comparison, the most beautiful sound he had ever heard.”

That scene has stuck with me since I first read it as a child. Frivolous as it may seem, as I read “In the beginning was the Word, and…all things were made through him” (John 1:1,3) I have to wonder if the creation of our own universe was something like Aslan roaring Narnia into existence.

It’s nice to imagine Jesus bringing a piece of encouragement or a spectacle of creation, but what I think Jesus being the Word really means is that he is solid. He is unchanging. He came before me and He will be after me. His character is trustworthy. His love is immovable. Like a binding word, Jesus’s essence demonstrates the unconditional love of God for us.

So as we approach Christmas and the end of the year, may we remember – even in the moments when we feel unraveled or unsure – we can stand securely upon Jesus the Word, confident in who He is and in His love for us.

Reflections on Advent: Luke

The book of Luke is well known for having a beautifully written narrative of the birth of Jesus. Many of the verses in Luke 2 have been used as memory verses and in Christmas plays.

Verses such as Luke 2:12:  “And thus will be a sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”

Yet I really enjoy getting to read about what comes before the epic announcement of Christ’s birth. Zacharias has an encounter with the angel Gabriel who tells him that his barren wife, Sarah, will conceive a child. It says that Zacharias and Elizabeth were righteous before God, walking in all His commandments. A little while later, Gabriel speaks to Mary and tells her that she has found favour with God and that she will conceive a child and bring forth a Son whose name shall be Jesus. This is our first introduction to Elizabeth and Mary and their stories almost bring me to tears. 

Two faithful women who had no idea that their lives were about to be turned upside down. Both known for their humility and willingness to serve the Lord. One woman advanced in age and barren, the other a virgin, only recently betrothed to her fiancé. Sarah’s son, John, would grow up to be the prophet of the Highest and to prepare the way of the Lord. Mary’s son, Jesus, would be the Son of the Highest and there would be no end to His kingdom. Both men would be persecuted and killed because of their testimony. Jesus would conquer death and sin and proclaim salvation for any who would come to Him. Neither of the women expected to be a part of such a miracle. Yet God chose them because of their humility and because they walked in righteousness before God. 

God has designed each and every one of us and prepared good works for us to walk in. We may not know what those works are, but we do know that the most important thing is to walk in righteousness and find favour with God. To have a disposition to be a part of the miracles that God is doing around us. John’s calling was to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide their feet into the way of peace (Luke 1:79). This holiday season, may our hearts be open to God in complete surrender. May we ask Him to open our eyes to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death so that they can have an encounter with the Light of Life and the Prince of Peace. 

Reflections on Advent: Mark

The birth of Jesus introduced light into the world, like a candle being lit in a dark room, sudden and gloriously bright. It also introduced something else into the world as well, something greater. 

In the Gospel of Mark, he writes about the life of Jesus. We do not get the birth announcement; we don’t read about Mary and her step of faith, the journey to Bethlehem or the angels announcing His arrival. The book itself is short and focuses on Jesus’ miracles and teachings, as well as beginning with John the Baptist preparing the way for Jesus to come. The beginning itself goes very quickly through Jesus’ baptism, temptation and then transition into His ministry, and instead focuses on the later portions: His transfiguration, His miracles, His prophecies and ultimately His death, resurrection, and ascension. 

So, what is the something greater that Jesus’ birth introduces to the world? It’s something that Mark writes about in his gospel. Hope. The focus on the gospel is that of the hope we have in Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and ascension. This is the salvation that is for all people that was fulfilled in the crucifixion.

Even in the beginning, John speaks of Jesus as one

“…After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.  I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” Mark 1:8-7 ESV. 

As we celebrate Christmas, we not only celebrate the light that was brought, but hope of salvation for all.

Reflections on Advent: Matthew

And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” Matthew 1:21-23 NLT

And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:9-11

When the question is asked, “why do we give gifts at Christmas?” the answer is often, “because the Wise Men brought gifts to Jesus.” This is our first year to experience Christmas in Spain. It was interesting to learn that January 6 (Epiphany, the twelve days after Christmas that tradition says it took the Wise Men to arrive in Bethlehem), is the big gift giving day for the children of Spain. Santa Claus doesn’t bring their presents on Christmas Day, the Wise Men do on Epiphany. 

The dictionary definition of Epiphany is “the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles as represented by the Magi” or “a moment of sudden and great revelation or realization.” The baby Jesus was revealed to the Wise Men as the Messiah and King and their gifts reflected that. And that realization caused them to bow down and worship Him.

The other answer to “why do we give gifts at Christmas?” is to celebrate the greatest gift ever given, the gift of God’s Son, who came to save us from our sins; to be Immanuel, God with us. When we open this gift, we receive not only eternal life for the future, but also love, hope, peace and joy for today. Advent is the time to prepare our hearts to celebrate His arrival: historically in the past, in our lives today, and when He will come again. It is the time to remember to keep our focus on God’s most precious gift to us, and to share that gift with everyone we can.

“Joy to the World, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King; let every heart prepare Him room!”