A Star, an Angel, and a Donkey
A Star dances in the Eastern sky
and beckons, “Come follow me.”
And three who are wise leave behind
palace and power,
kinsmen and kingdom,
in search of the King of Kings,
in search of the One whose kingdom is not of this world.
The song of an angel shatters the quiet of a winter night
and proclaims, “Come follow me.”
And those who tend their sheep in open fields leave behind
field and flock,
fatigue and fear,
in search of the Lamb of God,
in search of the One who would call himself the Good Shepherd.
The bray of a donkey interrupts a serene country village
and volunteers, “Come follow me.”
And a virgin mounts
and a carpenters walks beside.
The two leave behind
family and familiarity,
gossip and glances,
to honor a decree,
to fulfill a prophesy.
A star, an angel, and a donkey.
All three share a common mission:
they beckon; they summon; and they point.
They announce; they direct; and they rejoice.
They lead; they guide; and they carry
all those who are Bethlehem bound.
All three come to rest at the stable
so that others may find their way there.
Advent is our time to shine.
Our time to sing.
Our time to carry.
It is our time to be a star
and to light the way for those who live in darkness and give them hope.
It is our time to be an angel
and to rejoice and proclaim glad tidings of great joy.
It is our time to be a beast of burden
and to bear upon our backs those for whom the journey is too burdensome or too far.
We have all had the opportunity of being a shepherd;
all had the privilege of being a king.
We have all struggled on our own personal pilgrimage to the stable.
And having found our way there,
we kneel and adore;
we offer our gifts
and become transformed.
For once we have encountered the Light of the World,
then it is our glow that must illumine darkened pathways.
For once we have experienced the Word Made Flesh,
then it is our voice that must proclaim Good News.
For once we have experienced Him who bore our sins,
then it is our strength that must bear the burdens of others.
This Advent
may we become
the instrument of the beckoning,
the source of the guiding,
and the strength for the journey
for all those who seek
a Child
in a stable
in Bethlehem.
We have all had the opportunity of being a shepherd;
all had the privilege of being a king.
We have all struggled on our own personal pilgrimage to the stable.
And having found our way there,
we kneel and adore;
we offer our gifts
and become transformed.
For once we have encountered the Light of the World,
then it is our glow that must illumine darkened pathways.
For once we have experienced the Word Made Flesh,
then it is our voice that must proclaim Good News.
For once we have experienced Him who bore our sins,
then it is our strength that must bear the burdens of others.
This Advent
may we become
the instrument of the beckoning,
the source of the guiding,
and the strength for the journey
for all those who seek
a Child
in a stable
in Bethlehem.
