Baby, it's cold outside. Today is the first really cold morning that I can recall for us here in Oklahoma City this winter. Even in the midst of the cold here, and the continued reluctance of my three-year old to put a coat on before he goes outside, I know that we've got it pretty easy here in Oklahoma. So much of the country has now descended into that "bleak midwinter" and the nasty coldness that has come with it. The weather app on my iPhone tells me that my hometown of Kansas City, MO is getting windchills of -25 degrees today. Today, my heart goes out to all those who, for whatever cause, have to be outside in the ridiculousness of these temperatures. I hope that businesses, churches, and civic centers will be gracious in opening their doors today in order to give folks at least a few minutes of respite from the elements.
In addition to the arctic temperatures, there seems to be a different coldness that has settled upon us this winter, it seems that the ice that belongs outside on our ponds and riverbeds has weaseled its way into the hearts of so many across this country and across this world. You can sense it, can't you? Things are pretty broken right now. One only has to turn on the news, log onto Facebook or Twitter, or simply strike up a conversation with someone in the line at Starbucks to become inundated by the violence, fear, and negativity that is plaguing us as a people.
This morning we awoke to the news of the horrific terror attacks on the Paris offices of the French magazine, Charlie Hebdo, a horrific event that comes on the heels of the bombing of the NAACP offices in Colorado Springs (an event I am embarrassed to admit that I had no knowledge of until this morning). These events are compounded upon the loss of the AirAsia flight and the 150+ souls that were on board. Of course, we cannot fail to mention the continuing uneasiness and unrest in regards to the disputes in New York between the police unions and the mayor, the renewed calls for a new grand jury in Ferguson, and the continued violence on the streets of our own communities.
And while these stories are saddening and disheartening, this coldness that has seemingly settled upon us is making itself known in other ways. It seems to be manifesting itself through otherwise good human beings. As a people, we have separated ourselves from each other to the point of maddening ridiculousness. It seems that everyone has a "camp" in regards to whatever issue, topic, or debate is close to their heart. We all have become so entrenched on our side that we have created a "no mans land" of sorts in the middle and to cross this ideological divide is to do so at extreme peril.
Over these past several weeks, with all that has been going on, Facebook, Twitter, and the 24-hour news cycle has been bombarding us with all of the different positions on all the different issues. No matter the position, the message is the same, "believe and act this way, and if you don't, you're an idiot (or other derogatory term)..." What we are witnessing is otherwise good, faithful people, giving in to the fear and brokenness that is permeating our culture. We are seeing the freezing of spirits, and of hearts, and if the movie, "Frozen," taught us anything, it is that there is nothing more tragic or dangerous than a frozen heart. Until we can begin to see each other as people and not just positions, the deadlock will not be broken and the cycle will simply continue. Until we can understand the other and, in turn, be understood, thawing will not occur.
"A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.” ~Matthew 2:18
When I was preaching on a more regular basis I would often choose the text from Matthew 2: 16-18 as the basis for my sermon on the Sunday after Christmas. Perhaps there is no more a difficult text to preach than the one that details what we commonly refer to at, "the slaughter of the innocents," and it is a text that became even more difficult for me after Zach was born. But as difficult as it is, I am thankful to Matthew for including this story in his gospel, because it is in this story that we find the reality of the world into which Jesus was born and we are reminded of the reality in which we go through our days.
I have found myself thinking about this story quite a bit over these last couple of months, and I've been wondering how we should be responding to the brokenness that springs us all around us. I've been thinking about the families of the two officers that were killed in NYC, I've been thinking about the family of Michael Brown, I've been thinking about the families of those who lost loved ones on that doomed airliner, and today I've been praying with those impacted by the violence in Paris. These folks, and all those dealing with loss, fear, confusion, and discord have been on my heart, and I can imagine all of those beloved children of God asking the questions, "Doesn't anyone care, Doesn't anyone understand?"
The Good News is that Jesus understood, and understands, we know this because of the story of Matthew 2. If we take the words of Matthew's Gospel to heart, we can give thanks for the realization that he knew what it was like to be poor, knew what it was like to be afraid,knew what it was like to be a refugee, and he knew from an early age what it was like to have enemies. If Jesus were to tell us his own life's story, in his own words, he would have undoubtedly told of the time when he was two years old, his dad woke him up in the middle of the night, through him on the back of a donkey, and snuck the family out the back door as he heard the sound of hoofs and the sound of screams in the darkness.
And it was because Jesus knew and understood the realities of this life; he was able to show those around him that there was a way through it.
This is what makes the story we have here in Matthew 2 part of the Good News, it is Good News that Jesus is in fact one of us. Emmanuel doesn't just mean God just hangs out with us but is immune to the realities of life…Emmanuel means that God is with us…living what we live…experiencing what we experience…sharing our hopes with us…as one of us.
It is my hope that has we move further into 2015 we can do so with the understanding that the God of all Creation, and the One who is "the Word made flesh" meets us where we are, understands us, and has compassion for us. With this understanding may we in turn commit to meet one another in a place of compassion and understanding.
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