December 28, 2020

Daily Lectionary Readings for Year B

Do you have a Creche in your home?  A Creche is the nativity scene, with Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, the Shepherds, animals, and the Magi.  Sometimes these are passed down through the generations.  Always they hold a creative mystery for children of all ages to explore.  What did the animals sound like?  Where were the shepherds tending their flock by night?  How might it have felt for the Holy Family to be visited by the Magi?  If you have a Creche, spend some time with it today.  Move the pieces around.  Tell the story through their perspectives.  

We read today the horrific conclusion to this part of the story.  Herod, enraged, orders the killing of all children under two years old as a desperate attempt to hold onto his power.  Perhaps you can still feel and hear the weeping in Ramah.  This is the beautiful, and cruel, world God entered through Jesus Christ.  All of these characters are part of this story.  The faithfulness and violence continues today.  Maybe some time with the figurines can give us greater insight into the depth of God's love for the world.

If you have a Creche, could you take a picture of it and email it to me?  I would love to see it and perhaps even incorporate it into next Sunday's worship service.

Peace,
Dean