We Wish You Jesus
Newly strung outdoor lighting and beautifully taut shade sails hang above the congregation. A light wind is blowing and beams of light are breaking through the tree lines. Like a concert in the park, I’m sitting on the grass while music can be heard echoing off neighboring buildings. This feels good. Worshipping the Lord outside with some sunshine on my face and some solid preaching? Yeah, this is cool.
I look around at the congregation. Masks on and socially distanced, every person here seems to be doing 2 things: celebrating Christ and praying for a cure. You can see it in their eyes.
Funny what strikes you at times. Here we are waiting for a cure in the season of Advent. Adhering to laws, abiding by rules and desperate for real healing.
Isn’t it true? As we focus on divinity, our humanity is in full swing. We are susceptible. We have never been healthy on earth. Even during our best workouts, we’ve been sickly. Amid our fittest days, we’ve been vulnerable. We have never been immune to illness. We’ve seldom gone days without pain or anxiety. Our pride kills us and our bones break. And now, we are one stray droplet of Corona away from a new disease.
I know, some of us may not feel its symptoms but may only be carriers. Others of us find our loved ones in emergency rooms. Some of us believe we need to let it run its course to allow our immune systems to knock it out, while others of us won’t leave our homes. It’s a mess. The whole thing is a mess. Famine. Pandemic. Pride. Hatred. Rebellion. Laws being written. New rules being made. To think, that’s how it was 2,000 years ago.
Oh guys, how we need that silent night. Right? Imagine hearing the sounds of a new family making room for the baby. The baby. Crickets chirp, animals eat, shepherds guard and the cry of Jesus speaks for us all. The cure was here. His birth meant the end to laws and regulations. Freedom to live and move and have our being. Masks off. Deep breaths. Smiles and hugs and food and laughter and joy. The antidotes, grace and truth, in one name. Jesus. His birth meant our lives.
I suppose I could go on and on with the metaphors and parallels but in the words of Pastor Steve Day, “I wish you Jesus.” Amid pain, illness, suffering, and loss. Among the hurt, worry, uncertainty and agony, we just wish you Jesus.
TO DO:
Look above the masks. Today when you’re in the supermarket, or in the gym or in line outside the store, look above the masks. We need a silent night. We need the star. It’s Advent. You can see it in their eyes.
Jimmy Peña
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