Working

"Loud lament, Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted, because they are no more," Matthew 2:18.

Before we get too maudlin about peaceful manger scenes, snow-dusted pastures, starry starry skies, and the stable's warm glow (one of my favorite scenes in the whole wide world!) ... Why did King Herod slaughter the little boys? worldly kingdom. to kill the child Jesus. Mary birthed baby Jesus into that world. Glad things are different nowadays. Not counting, like, children blown up in Oklahoma daycare centers, or sprayed with bullets in New Jersey schoolrooms; or people shot in South Carolina prayer meetings. Oh, No! God, please, No! But, Yes, we've made a big, big mess; O yes, we have. God's working on it, has been for a long, long time.

With a brother or sister today, we confess sin has utterly broken this world. What deep need to receive, and to extend, forgiveness! So, together, we give thanks that God receives Jesus' trust and obedience as ours.