Scripture: Matthew 2:12
Because the Magi were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back to their own country by another route.
Thought for the Day: Call me a cynic, but I believe there are some dreams that are only understood in light of the spicy food from the night before. Not every dream or crazy thought that comes into our brain is a divine revelation that we should follow. There is something called discernment, and we should always take seriously the work of discernment. In thinking about the Magi, it speaks of the group (traditions says there were three, but no where in scripture does it say there were three – it might have been three dozen) being warned in a dream. Discernment most often requires community, a trusted community of those who are not simply going to tell us what we want to hear. Discernment requires those of spiritual awareness who are willing to call BOLOGNA when some imaginative idea appears in our mind that does not resemble the life of Jesus. Equally important is how God uses a multitude of listening ears who bring together different pieces of the puzzle, and only when everyone’s spiritual insight and divine dreaming comes together are we able to see the bigger picture. In the life of the church, I have witnessed moments where discernment among many has produced an amazing outcome. Had the group run with the first thought offered, it would have been a disaster. The first spiritual insight was like a corner piece of the puzzle – important for building the puzzle, but nothing even close to the completed image. I wonder what would have occurred had the Magi followed the first piece of the puzzle without listening to the divine dreaming that each of them had experienced. The Jesus resume’ teaches us how God uses human beings to fulfill God’s vision for the world, and most of the time it happens within a community that is serious about listening for the Spirit’s whisper.
Prayer: I celebrate that you value me enough to use me in your kingdom work. Holy Spirit, continue to use me alongside the many other faithful folks who I call sisters and brothers. I ask this because I know that some of my thoughts are just nutty and are probably not from you at all. This I pray in the name of the Christ who loves me and loves all creation. Amen.
TODAY
ONE SERVICE SUNDAY
CAMEL WALK
AT
10am
WORSHIP
AT
10:30am
