You can listen to this reflection here. Today's gospel passage is here.
There are so many people to reflect on in our Christmas story. Today let's look at these shepherds, who felt compelled to check out the tale told them by the heavenly messengers that night of Jesus’ birth: So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.
“When they saw this, they made known…and all who heard it were amazed...” Who wouldn’t be amazed! It’s a great story, even filtered through centuries and translations; imagine hearing it from an eyewitness. That’s most likely how the narratives of Jesus’ birth came into circulation among his early followers.
How did Luke, a Greek follower of Christ from Philippi (or so we surmise from his Acts of the Apostles), hear about those shepherds? Did Mary tell the tales later in life, after Jesus’ death and resurrection, living near Ephesus in what is now Turkey (as tradition maintains), in the care of the disciple John? Or did folks hear them from the shepherds themselves, and pass along the tale, one person to another, one town to the next, perhaps embellishing but getting the main details right?
How did Luke, a Greek follower of Christ from Philippi (or so we surmise from his Acts of the Apostles), hear about those shepherds? Did Mary tell the tales later in life, after Jesus’ death and resurrection, living near Ephesus in what is now Turkey, in the care of the disciple John? Or did folks hear them from the shepherds themselves, and pass along the tale, one person to another, one town to the next, perhaps embellishing but getting the main details right?
There are people who read about Jesus in the bible and in books and come to believe. But more often, faith is transmitted person to person, through stories of encounter. Our stories may not feel as dramatic as the one those shepherds must have told, but I bet each one of us has experienced God in some way that made a difference to us. Chances are our stories will make a difference to the people with whom we choose to share them. Reactions might vary, but at the least we will provide one more data point that one day might tip the scales toward faith. We can never know what will happen, only that our God-stories come with an imperative to be shared.
When have you most recently or most vividly encountered the presence or peace or power of God? Bring that to mind. Now, who might want to hear that story? Who might be amazed at what you make known to them of Jesus?
© Kate Heichler, 2025. To receive Water Daily by email each morning, subscribe here. Here are the bible readings for next Sunday. Water Daily is also a podcast – subscribe to it here on Apple, Spotify or your favorite podcast platform.
Showing posts with label God stories. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God stories. Show all posts
7-15-24 - Telling Tales
You can listen to this reflection here. Sunday's gospel reading is here.
Let's think back to our gospel story two weeks ago: Jesus was sending his disciples out in twos to proclaim the Good News and heal the sick. Now they’re back – and they have a lot to tell him! The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught.
When we are active in the life of faith – regular in prayer, our awareness tuned to God experiences – we usually have stories to tell. Since 2020, my Christ Churches offer Night Prayers online at 8 pm Monday through Thursday evenings. What began as a way to stay connected during the Covid lockdown has blossomed into a wonderful, brief prayer service each weekday evening, enfolding people from Canada and Connecticut as well as Southern Maryland. (And you are welcome to join too! Here is the link; passcode is LPWay.) Several nights each week we ask “Where have you sensed God’s presence?” Amazing stories of presence, peace, power, and answered prayer often flow.
Our God stories get even more intense when we offer ministry in the name and power of Jesus. In Connecticut, I used to go out with parishioners to downtown locations to offer prayer to anyone who wanted it. One time in Stamford we went to the farmer’s market and loitered where people emerged from shopping. We held a sign reading, “Want A Prayer?” and at the bottom, “Prayer Changes Things” We were only out for about an hour but in that time had close to 20 blessed encounters with people, from a young man with whom we prayed on our way to our spot, who then prayed for us; to a vendor at the market who ran over saying, “I want a prayer!;” to a little boy who came running back to us after we’d prayed with him and his mother, with a look of wonder on his face, saying, “That was good!” It seemed like he wanted more. I’ve had similar encounters in La Plata at a street fair – but only once. We need to get out there!
Jesus is not the only one who likes to hear our stories of seeing God at work through our efforts. They also build up the faith of the people around us to be bolder in their prayers and ministries. And they remind us when we need to remember – for me that can be 30 minutes after the last time I saw God’s power at work. I’m not sure of the neuroscience, but I imagine that a memory that is written down and/ or articulated verbally gets wired into our synapses more sturdily than one we merely note and allow to drift away.
When was the last time you felt God at work through or around you? Have you told someone the story? Start by writing it down so you don’t lose it. Tell God about it. And tell someone else.
If the apostles hadn’t shared their stories with Jesus and each other, they wouldn’t have been told and retold and finally preserved to encourage us. We have God tales to tell - let's tell them!
© Kate Heichler, 2024. To receive Water Daily by email each morning, subscribe here. Here are the bible readings for next Sunday. Water Daily is also a podcast – subscribe to it here on Apple, Spotify or your favorite podcast platform.
Let's think back to our gospel story two weeks ago: Jesus was sending his disciples out in twos to proclaim the Good News and heal the sick. Now they’re back – and they have a lot to tell him! The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught.
When we are active in the life of faith – regular in prayer, our awareness tuned to God experiences – we usually have stories to tell. Since 2020, my Christ Churches offer Night Prayers online at 8 pm Monday through Thursday evenings. What began as a way to stay connected during the Covid lockdown has blossomed into a wonderful, brief prayer service each weekday evening, enfolding people from Canada and Connecticut as well as Southern Maryland. (And you are welcome to join too! Here is the link; passcode is LPWay.) Several nights each week we ask “Where have you sensed God’s presence?” Amazing stories of presence, peace, power, and answered prayer often flow.
Our God stories get even more intense when we offer ministry in the name and power of Jesus. In Connecticut, I used to go out with parishioners to downtown locations to offer prayer to anyone who wanted it. One time in Stamford we went to the farmer’s market and loitered where people emerged from shopping. We held a sign reading, “Want A Prayer?” and at the bottom, “Prayer Changes Things” We were only out for about an hour but in that time had close to 20 blessed encounters with people, from a young man with whom we prayed on our way to our spot, who then prayed for us; to a vendor at the market who ran over saying, “I want a prayer!;” to a little boy who came running back to us after we’d prayed with him and his mother, with a look of wonder on his face, saying, “That was good!” It seemed like he wanted more. I’ve had similar encounters in La Plata at a street fair – but only once. We need to get out there!
Jesus is not the only one who likes to hear our stories of seeing God at work through our efforts. They also build up the faith of the people around us to be bolder in their prayers and ministries. And they remind us when we need to remember – for me that can be 30 minutes after the last time I saw God’s power at work. I’m not sure of the neuroscience, but I imagine that a memory that is written down and/ or articulated verbally gets wired into our synapses more sturdily than one we merely note and allow to drift away.
When was the last time you felt God at work through or around you? Have you told someone the story? Start by writing it down so you don’t lose it. Tell God about it. And tell someone else.
If the apostles hadn’t shared their stories with Jesus and each other, they wouldn’t have been told and retold and finally preserved to encourage us. We have God tales to tell - let's tell them!
© Kate Heichler, 2024. To receive Water Daily by email each morning, subscribe here. Here are the bible readings for next Sunday. Water Daily is also a podcast – subscribe to it here on Apple, Spotify or your favorite podcast platform.
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