{"id":9707,"date":"2021-02-07T19:49:42","date_gmt":"2021-02-07T19:49:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theologie.whp.uzh.ch\/apps\/gpi\/?p=9707"},"modified":"2022-10-03T12:21:45","modified_gmt":"2022-10-03T10:21:45","slug":"luke-21-20","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theologie.uzh.ch\/apps\/gpi\/luke-21-20\/","title":{"rendered":"Luke 2:1-20"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Luke 2:1 <\/strong> In those days a decree went out from Emperor
\nAugustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first
\nregistration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3
\nAll went to their own towns to be registered. 4 Joseph also went from
\nthe town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called
\nBethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David.
\n5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who
\nwas expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for her
\nto deliver her child. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and
\nwrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there
\nwas no place for them in the inn. 8 In that region there were shepherds
\nliving in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then
\nan angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone
\naround them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, „Do
\nnot be afraid; for see– I am bringing you good news of great joy for
\nall the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior,
\nwho is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will
\nfind a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.“ 13
\nAnd suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host,
\npraising God and saying, 14 „Glory to God in the highest heaven,
\nand on earth peace among those whom he favors!“ 15 When the angels
\nhad left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, „Let
\nus go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which
\nthe Lord has made known to us.“ 16 So they went with haste and
\nfound Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17 When they
\nsaw this, they made known what had been told them about this child;
\n18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.
\n19 But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.
\n20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they
\nhad heard and seen, as it had been told them. (New Revised Standard
\nVersion)<\/p>\n

Prologue <\/strong><\/p>\n

Imagine humanity’s longing for the Christ, In time and out of time.
\nJourney with me to revisit the Christmas Story, with 21 st Century questions
\nfor the first century inhabitants of this familiar Gospel tale. Experience
\nthe joy of Christmas with me.<\/p>\n

A Question for the Shepherds <\/strong><\/p>\n

Excuse me, Shepherds.
\nSorry to bother you again.
\nI know it has been a long night,
\nThe year’s longest.
\nIt’s just that I’ve been out looking for God
\nAnd I seem to be lost.
\nLike you I spend time in a field,
\nKeeping watch over cubicle and assembly line,
\nOver flocks of a different sort than you.
\nBut I have not seen God there in quite some time.
\nSometimes I feel God near,
\nMore often I wonder and wait, disappointed.
\nI know it isn’t like me to ask for directions
\nBut I’ve wandered too long
\nAnd the time seems just right to ask:
\nCan you tell me where I might
\nFind what I seek?<\/p>\n

From the Shepherds comes a response
\nEchoing through time and place
\nWe, Shepherds, know the search
\nWhich occupies your time this night.
\nWe, too, have wandered looking
\nBut never further than our sheep.
\nThe field ahead, not hills beyond
\nWere our only thought.
\nThen our lives were stunned and altered
\nBy the angels simple words,
\n\u0093He is born to you this day.\u0094
\nAnd our vision was somehow broadened.
\nFor an instant we could see.
\nPerhaps if you ask the angels, you might
\nFind what you seek.<\/p>\n

A Question for the Angels <\/strong><\/p>\n

Pardon me, angel Choirs, I know how little
\nDirectors like an interruption in their work.
\nCan YOU help me, I seem to be lost,
\nAnd you have a knack for directions,
\nSo I’ve been told.
\nI’ve searched for God’s light,
\nIn the darkness of this world.
\nBut there is so much flash and dazzle
\nIn the beacons and the sirens of our muddled world.
\nThey illuminate for an instant, but leave a cold trail.
\nWhere is that light, that warms, that lasts?
\nWhere might I see the face of God?<\/p>\n

From the Angels comes a response
\nEchoing through time and place
\nGods face and brightness little ones
\nAre too much for you to bear.
\nThey would blind you, beat upon you,
\nStrike deathly fear, so far from your lights they seem.
\nOur light, a pale echo of the heavenly brilliance
\nIs stunning enough to such as you.
\nOur light announces God, but is not God,
\nAnd this, God always knew.
\nBut still we rehearse and sing the song
\nThat we have ever sung
\nThe song the shepherds first gave ear
\nWhen darkness was undone.
\nIt’s news is God has tempered his light
\nAnd hidden it to shine within,
\nSubdued hues, no more no less
\nThan that of human skin.
\nYou’ll find it in the child that is born
\nTo Mary and Joseph far from home.
\nTo Bethlehem go, to ask them now,
\nThe way to light and life for all.
\nThey can tell you, as well as we,
\nHow to see the face of God.<\/p>\n

A Question for Mary and Joseph <\/strong><\/p>\n

Please don’t be offended
\nBy our tardy arrival on the scene.
\nWe have come late from far away
\nAnd long to see God’s love.
\nWe look for love, as you do too,
\nIn each other’s eyes and thoughts and hearts.
\nWe look to love our children dear,
\nAnd long to hear that love returned.
\nAnd yet we find that it isn’t complete,
\nThis love among us shared.
\nWe give in part and partly receive,
\nAnd wait and wonder and suffer ill
\nIn silence and in pain.
\nOur children grow and move away
\nAnd we grow weary and die.
\nWhere is this love that has no end?
\nWhere is the holy child?<\/p>\n

From Mary and Joseph comes a response
\nEchoing through time and place.
\nWe know the love of which you speak
\nWe found it in our child,
\nThough he too, grew and moved away
\nAnd grew weary and died.
\nBut his love did not fade,
\nThrough time and years,
\nThe love God gives through his own Son.
\nLook, the manger is empty.
\nThe love you seek is not a child,
\nNor is it found perfected in us.
\nGod’s own love was lived and died.
\nSeek him who loved unto death on a cross.
\nThere you will find the holy Child.<\/p>\n

An answer from Jesus <\/strong><\/p>\n

No need to question me,
\nSays Jesus from close by,
\nAnd no need to seek.
\nDo you not know that I hear
\nAs I have heard, your longing
\nThroughout the centuries.
\nHave you sought me
\nIn your work, and your children
\nIn the lights and in the fields?
\nDid you not find me, for I am there?
\nI thought not, I know not.
\nOr else your search would be ended.
\nSo instead I have sought you.
\nI was born as a child like you to be near you.
\nI lived among you so that I could have a face
\nThat you could look upon and not die.
\nThe face of a child so full of love,
\nThe face of one dying on the cross
\nWith a love deeper still.
\nAnd I have found you and loved you
\nAs I always did and always will.
\nIn me you can see the face of God,
\nIn me you can know the love of God,
\nIn me you can feel the forgiveness of God,
\nIn me you can enjoy the Peace of God,
\nWhich the world cannot know.
\nFor this I came, and continue to come,
\nFor this I will come again.
\nSo that you might be my flock
\nSo that you might know my light
\nSo that you share my death,
\nAnd so also share my life.
\nSo keep the feast, this feast of love
\nAnd through the nights and days keep watch.
\nFor I am coming among you still.
\nAnd seeing me thus will change your hearts
\nAnd open your eyes to see me more
\n\u0091Til at the last we join the feast
\nOf God which has no end.<\/p>\n

Epilogue <\/strong><\/p>\n

For now our search is ended. \u0093God with us\u0094 is born, and died, and lives
\nforever more.<\/p>\n

Rev. Dr. Luke Bouman, Pastor
\nPeace Lutheran Church
\nAustin, Texas
\nplcluke@aol.com <\/a>
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Luke 2:1 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All went to their own towns to be registered. 4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8543,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[38,727,108,110,636,3,109],"tags":[],"beitragende":[],"predigtform":[],"predigtreihe":[],"bibelstelle":[],"class_list":["post-9707","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lukas","category-archiv","category-current","category-engl","category-kapitel-02-chapter-02-lukas","category-nt","category-predigten"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theologie.uzh.ch\/apps\/gpi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9707","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theologie.uzh.ch\/apps\/gpi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theologie.uzh.ch\/apps\/gpi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theologie.uzh.ch\/apps\/gpi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theologie.uzh.ch\/apps\/gpi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9707"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.theologie.uzh.ch\/apps\/gpi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9707\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13861,"href":"https:\/\/www.theologie.uzh.ch\/apps\/gpi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9707\/revisions\/13861"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theologie.uzh.ch\/apps\/gpi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8543"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theologie.uzh.ch\/apps\/gpi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9707"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theologie.uzh.ch\/apps\/gpi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9707"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theologie.uzh.ch\/apps\/gpi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9707"},{"taxonomy":"beitragende","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theologie.uzh.ch\/apps\/gpi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/beitragende?post=9707"},{"taxonomy":"predigtform","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theologie.uzh.ch\/apps\/gpi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/predigtform?post=9707"},{"taxonomy":"predigtreihe","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theologie.uzh.ch\/apps\/gpi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/predigtreihe?post=9707"},{"taxonomy":"bibelstelle","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theologie.uzh.ch\/apps\/gpi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bibelstelle?post=9707"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}