When Were We Prodigal?

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Do I hear a waltz? No, I think it’s the angels’ Peace on Earth anthem.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy Child,

Can we ever prepare for your arrival?
Perhaps you always come when the house is untidy, the bank account unbalanced, the schedule out of control.
We don’t make the path straight for you. Your spirit messenger does that.
When you come, we simply stand in awe – like shepherds hearing a divine choir: “Behold, to you this day is born a savior.”
Amazed by your presence, we move forward, a new bounce in our step, a new hope in our heart.
Surprise us once more, we pray.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“See guys, there’s this place called the North Pole, where a guy in a red suit has elves making toys all year. Then he hands them out to children on my birthday. What? I don’t know why he doesn’t give them to me, Peter. You don’t believe it? Oh, ye of little faith.”

[Of course He never said this. But I have to wonder what He might think of the ways we celebrate His birth.]

D. Blog: Woman Overlooked

A woman had given birth to two sons, but in those days she did not count.
When her younger son left ill-prepared for a foreign land, she had no say.
When that son came home humiliated, her feelings were not recorded.
When her husband wanted a party in that son’s honor, her role did not merit mention.
When her elder son took offense at the attention lavished on his brother, the fact that she massaged his ego went without notice.

Perhaps she’s like a certain woman in the “Church of the Brethren.”
Perhaps when Jesus speaks of the father who had two sons, she assumes she’s included.