We were in a storage shed, behind the armory. We were there for the National Guard Christmas celebration and were given 45 minutes for any who wanted to attend the service. There was maybe 15 of us singing along with iTunes Christmas carols and the chaplain spoke simply but eloquently from Ezekiel. She was authentic and young and wonderful. The fan blew hard and the cots we were sitting on were adequate if not rustic. When she asked for prayer concerns, a lady spoke about the holidays and how difficult it can be for those in the military who are far from home. Another , near tears, spoke about her husband who has PTSD who can't seem to get the meds right, and prayer for a family whose soldier had committed suicide. Christmas changes the volume control on emotions, and the sound can hurt as it can heal.
Hear the sounds of the Christmas story; the voice of angels, the songs of Zechariah and Mary, the anguished prayers of Joseph, the bleating of sheep, the slamming of doors, the cry of a baby, the shouts of shepherds, the rising horrific wail of grief stricken mothers.
The slaughter of the innocents, I have heard it called.
I read a piece the other day about having to keep Herod in the Christmas story even though we never see him in out nativity scenes.
There is a dragon amongst the Christmas lights and holiday cheer.
It is the dragon from Revelation 12, the Christmas horror story. He is the darkness behind the angels songs, the paranoia in Herod's mind and the malicious whisper in his ear.
Why is it important to remember Herod this second Sunday of advent...because of the sorrow I heard in the cold drafty storage shed behind the armory.
God with us in the dragon's lair
he is a squatter, this old and very angry dragon
Why send HIM as a baby into such a putrid place?
HE did not seem that concerned
Emmanuel
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