Veni, veni Emmanuel!

There's is no Advent carol I love more than Veni, veni, Emmanuel, O come, o come, Emmanuel!

It calls for the coming of our redeemer and judge but it is moreso meant to be used so that we are moved day after day through history -- heilsgeschichte -- a holy history of God's salvation of the world.

Check our Hymnal 1982, hymn # 56 and you'll see in the left-hand margin a succession of dates beginning on December 17 that take us to December 23.  Each stanza re-calls God's saving acts that include Wisdom's accompaniment at creation to protect us from chaos, God's commandments on Sinai, the reign of David, and finally our being united in peace with our King.

December 17 - O come, O come, Immanuel,

and ransom captive Israel

that mourns in lonely exile here

until the Son of God appear.

refrain Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel

shall come to you, O Israel.

December 18 - O come, O Wisdom from on high,

who ordered all things mightily;

to us the path of knowledge show

and teach us in its ways to go. Refrain

December 19 - O come, O come, great Lord of might,

who to your tribes on Sinai's height

in ancient times did give the law

in cloud and majesty and awe. Refrain

December 20 - O come, O Branch of Jesse's stem,

unto your own and rescue them!

From depths of hell your people save,

and give them victory o'er the grave. Refrain

December 21 - O come, O Key of David, come

and open wide our heavenly home.

Make safe for us the heavenward road

and bar the way to death's abode. Refrain

December 22 - O come, O Bright and Morning Star,

and bring us comfort from afar!

Dispel the shadows of the night

and turn our darkness into light. Refrain

December 23 - -O come, O King of nations, bind

in one the hearts of all mankind.

Bid all our sad divisions cease

and be yourself our King of Peace. Refrain 

The Poppy Lady

Moina Belle Michael (August 15, 1869 – May 10, 1944) was an professor and humanitarian who conceived the idea of using poppies as a symbol of remembrance for those who served in World War I.  Her home was nearby in Good Hope and she was educated at Braswell Academy in Morgan County, and the Martin Institute in Jefferson, Georgia.

She became a teacher in 1885, initially in Good Hope and then in Monroe, Georgia. She taught at the Lucy Cobb Institute and Normal School, both located in Athens, Georgia. She studied at Columbia University in New York City in 1912-13.

She was a professor at the University of Georgia when the U.S. entered World War I in April 1917. She took a leave of absence from her work and volunteered to assist in the New York-based training headquarters for overseas YWCA workers.

On 9 November 1918, inspired by the Canadian John McCrae battlefront-theme poem "In Flanders Fields", she wrote a poem in response called "We Shall Keep the Faith".[2] In tribute to the opening lines of McCrae's poem – "In Flanders fields the poppies blow / Between the crosses row on row," – Michael vowed to always wear a red poppy as a symbol of remembrance for those who served in the war.

Her bust, sculpted in 1937 by beloved Steffan Thomas is displayed on the third floor of the Georgia State Capitol Building. 

Oh! you who sleep in Flanders Fields,

Sleep sweet - to rise anew!

We caught the torch you threw 

And holding high, we keep the Faith

With All who died.

We cherish, too, the poppy red

That grows on fields where valor led;

It seems to signal to the skies

That blood of heroes never dies,

But lends a lustre to the red

Of the flower that blooms above the dead

In Flanders Fields.

And now the Torch and Poppy Red

We wear in honor of our dead.

Fear not that ye have died for naught;

We'll teach the lesson that ye wrought

In Flanders Fields.

By Moina Michael,1918

PS. Thanks Janet Mason and Wikipedia

How Jesus Voted

We all know this story of Jesus saying "Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's and unto God the things which are God's. The accounts in Matthew 22:15–22 and Mark 12:13–17 say that the questioners were Pharisees and Herodians, while Luke 20:20–26 says only that they were "spies" sent by "teachers of the law and the chief priests".

Political concerns and troubles with government were not the first things on Jesus' mind.  This situation was thrust on him.  But his answer digs into a wisdom that exposes the pettiness and short sightedness of his questioners.  They wanted a "gotcha," so that they could maintain their place of privilege.  Let's trick him and take his proverbial head to the authorities.  Little Jack Horner visits Jerusalem circa 33AD.

The advantage of their position was that it required no discernment, no real decision, no effort but it allowed them to claim a position of power over others.   It was easy to go along with the status quo. That's how privilege works.  Especially for those near the top.

Oddly these were the same people who yearned for rescue from the very empire with whom they colluded. That was the other part of their challenge to Jesus.  They wanted the benefit of a messianic rescue without having to fight for it.  "Son of David, get rid of the Romans for us!"

Their picture of the messiah's coming was more guarantee than call to arms, more off the hook than on.  So when Jesus doesn't take the bait they double down on their entrapment attempts.  Jesus doesn't let up either.

Jesus' answer to them about marriage and divorce in heaven was just as convicting as his answer about taxes.  This is yours to do, but you have to change your mind and understand the consequences of your actions in a new way.

God's not waiting for you to perfect your earthly existence to be present with you.  Your categories especially the ones that create privileged and under privileged classes are not the standards God defends.  God will not save you because you are clean or righteous or properly aligned with power.  God is God and with you on God's terms.  God expects your gratitude not taxes.  God wants you to help lift everyone up to the privilege of grace and mercy.

Jesus didn't look for this trouble.  He didn't shy away from it.  He doesn't want us to shy away from it either. His response was to call them to turn their eyes toward God.  Seek ye first the kingdom.  Not because it's easier, or good insurance or more comfortable.  Seek so that the world will know more of grace and mercy, of justice and prosperity.

The Pharisees wouldn't let up and Jesus had to close this session with the jewel of his teaching about turning our eyes to God and living as if we've actually seen something of heaven on earth.

 “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.’