Sunday, December 27, 2020             (today’s lectionary)
The Third Day of Christmas, The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
All the stars in every sky
God sets a father in honor over his children; a mother’s authority he confirms over her sons.
My friend Ron and I commiserated about young parents who don’t teach their kids to brush their teeth. Then Margaret reminded me of a picture Andi posted of Aki showing Jasper how to brush his teeth at age 1 ½, and my respect for those young parents grew.
As our Christmas dinner was about to start, Miles required a time out. In spite of the bad timing, the time out happened. These kids are learning to respect their parents.
Whoever reveres his mother and honors his father will live a long life, and when she prays, she is heard. He who obeys his father brings comfort to his mother.
These passages from Sirach might not be in every Bible, but they reach into every family’s life. Their truth transcends any culture’s norms, although the words change that we use to express them. But I remember how long it took me to admit deep inside myself the respect I always had for my father and mother. I imagine that  same spiritual growth, happening ever so slowly in our kids, in our grandkids, as it did in me.
My son, take care of your father when he is old; grieve him not as long as he lives, even if his mind fails him. Kindness to a father will not be forgotten, it is firmly planted against the debt of your sins.
Now my mother, nearly 99 years, sits quietly in her chair, not demanding anything most of the time, least of all my respect. If she doesn’t have my respect by now, well, that’s my problem, not hers. When she dies, she will hear what Spurgeon called “the summons to her Father’s palace.” (Thanks, Whitney.) The joy of her becoming whole in heaven reaches far beyond any loss of hearing, loss of sight, loss of memory, any loss at all.
Eat the fruit of your handiwork. Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine and your children like olive plants around the table. Thus are we blessed when we fear the Lord for all the days of our lives. The Lord remembers his covenant forever.
In our farm kitchen we sat around the table, and day after day Mom made our meals. Thanks, Mom. I say it now to Margaret, who is at this very moment cooking breakfast bacon and eggs. I rarely said thanks to Mom. Forgive me. Give her now the joy of her becoming.
Simeon spoke upon seeing the baby Jesus, “Lord now let your servant depart in peace, according to your word. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared before the face of all people.
My dad quietly worked, every day, with our dairy cows, with equipment he felt unequipped to fix himself when it broke down, with weeds that never stopped growing. He worked with us, with me, unaware as I was of all he did each day. I mostly thought that all that mattered was me. But most nights we read a devotion, and I learned to pray my morning and evening prayers, and Dad often led the way.
As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with goodness, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with one another and forgive one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful, with gratitude in your hearts to God. Whatever you do, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
When I officiated weddings (B.C. – Before Covid) at Danville Correctional Center, these words from Colossians were part of my blessing to each couple. In spite of my self-centered self, our family life left the power of these words as pure gift inside my soul, and they guide me every day. I know how short I fall, but I never don’t feel loved.
The child grew and became strog and was filled with wisdom, and the favor of God was upon him.
Today’s lectionary is full of rich, wise words. But just think back to its beginning.
And the Lord took Abram outside and said, “Look up! See the stars and count them, if you can. Just so shall your descendants be.” And even in their old age Sarah became pregnant, and Isaac was their firstborn.
Can you believe it? God promised Abram descendants that far outnumbered the stars in the sky. We are those stars! God’s promise passes on to all of us, the promise and covenant of rich relationship with our Father and Mother in our own Holy Family. That has never changed and it never will.
God bless us, every one.
(Sirach 3, Genesis 15, Psalm 128, Psalm 105, Colossians 3, Hebrews 11, Hebrews 1, Luke 2)
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