Name: Drew Stever
Pronouns: (they/them/their, or he/him/his)
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Scripture: Luke 2:1-12 NRSV
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.”
Devotional:
How many times have you thought, “I wish I were dead right now.” I know I’ve thought that too many times to count. I think, as soon as we wish we were dead, we’ve already died. We have so many dying moments in our lives. But how many times have you been completely blown away by the life that met you after that death? How many times has someone showed up, perhaps in dazzling clothes, and asked you, “What’s your deal? Don’t you remember what he said?” How quickly we forget about the resurrection moments we experience when we’re in the pits of death.
Prayer:
God of Resurrection,
Death stinks. Life is hard. We don’t want to do this anymore.
Remind us of the resurrection.
Remind us that just as the sun sets every night, so too does it rise every morning.
Just as the cold winter months freeze the lakes and the lilies, so too do the warm spring months come creeping back, injecting life back into all things.
Remind us to pause,
so that we may see the glint in our neighbor’s eyes,
even a spec of a reminder that resurrection will come, is coming.
Amen.