Tag Archives: Advent

December 22, 2025 · 11:46 am

This – this is Christmas!

‘Twas just days before the Christ child’s birth, and pilgrims were traveling. They were going home to pay taxes by order of Ceasar Augustus. Among them, enroute to Bethlehem, the town of David, were Joseph and Mary. This engaged couple was from Nazareth, making a weeklong journey to their ancestral home.  Mary was very pregnant, her baby expected any day.

The trip was difficult. Mary was uncomfortable but did not complain. Joseph was anxious, doing all he knew to accommodate Mary’s needs in a caring way. Day by day, mile by mile, step by step, they made their way.

On arrival in Bethlehem town the young couple were at first unable to find a place to lodge – which was too bad because Mary had gone into labor. When lodging was finally secured, it would be in an animal stable. Here the young woman, no older than her late teen years, gave birth to a son – the Son of God – whom she laid in a manger for his first bed.

His was a humble birth, befitting common parents of few means, who were encumbered by the demands of an occupying empire. But this baby was of God’s chosen people, in the very line of King David and Father Abraham. His birth had been foretold by prophets Isaiah and Micah. It would be celebrated in heaven and on earth as angelic choirs burst forth in song, and meek, poor shepherds came to bend their knee to the newborn king.

The details of what would have otherwise been an unrecorded birth, have become the heart-warming natal story of our Savior Jesus. It’s a story read, sung, proclaimed and treasured each year. Why?

Jesus’ birth introduced a new realm, which He called the Kingdom of God. It is a realm we pray to be fully known “on earth as it is in heaven”. His birth makes possible the reconciliation of separated people with their Creator. It will one day lead to the restoration of creation in a new heaven and new earth. This restoration will include the fullness of communion between God and humankind. All because Jesus would come to earth – come to die – to bridge the gap caused by sin, giving us a path back to God. He came as “God with us” (Emmanuel) and God for us. He is God loving us and God forgiving us.

This – this is Christmas! It’s the celebration feast of Jesus’ birth, filled with the echo of “Unto us a child is born! Unto us a Son is given. . . And His name is called Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace, Mighty God”, Savior, Lord, Messiah, Anointed One.

Behind all the glitz, lights and traditions of Christmas lies this story, the greatest story. The candy canes (like shepherd staffs), gift giving (in the Magi’s example), twinkle lights (for the Light of the World), carols and songs (ala the angel chorus), all point us to a night long ago in Bethlehem when “unto us” came one to be among us. It was God “pitching tent” in our very neighborhood. God in Christ – fully human and fully divine – our newborn king. Happy birthday King Jesus! Merry Christmas to all. Joy to the world!

© Daniel M. Cash 2025

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December 17, 2025 · 8:00 am

Pondering the Christmas Parade

“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see – I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people. . .”  (Luke 2:10 NRSV)

Our family attended the community Christmas Parade this past Saturday evening. It was a 90 plus minute procession of one fire truck, police vehicle, pickup truck, float, civic group, local business, Mack truck, Semi-Truck, pickup truck, band, church group, politician seeking office, social service organization, pickup truck after another. There were a lot of lights illuminating the vehicles and pedestrians, way too many grinches in costume, several blow up decorations (a few of them ambulatory), and Santa at the end. It was your typical small town Midwestern parade – well attended, safely conducted and enjoyed by children, families and watchers of all ages. For my money (it was free) it could have been about 30 minutes shorter and tightened up a bit – reducing big gaps between entries. But hey, it was free, and I appreciate the effort volunteers make in helping such an event happen in today’s world.  

As a people watcher I find parades kind of interesting. It’s interesting to watch those in the parade and the outlandish things they will do and wear to get attention. It’s also interesting to watch the people who are watching the parade. Children often take center stage holding their collection bags over safety barriers in hopes of candy and freebies. Parents of said children are interesting to watch as they encourage their child to “see” what’s coming next, say “thank you” when given a treat, or cover their ears if the noise of a particular exhibit is overwhelming.

I was present as a grandad and not directly responsible for anyone given that the grands parents were all present. I noted the woman who brought her chair and set up next to our party. She was prepared – chair, blanket, earmuffs, and solid winter gear. She seemed a bit disinterested at times, but I get it, how many local business’ advertising pickup trucks can one get enthused over? Yet when the high school band finally came down the street, she perked right up. She even recorded a video of their performance. “She must have a kid in the band”, I thought to myself.  This thought was further reinforced when she packed up and left soon after the band had gone by. I understood. I’ve been that band parent, sitting in the cold waiting for the band to arrive and perform.

A couple of additional observations come to mind from this parading spectacle. I was heartened to once again note the diversity that exists in our hometown. This was not a one look parade – it included people of all skin tones, as well as diversity in expression, faith profession, and persuasion. It seemed that one entry in particular was making a statement about their ethnic heritage, which I appreciated and applauded in this climate of ICE deportation threats. Not only was their performance well-rehearsed and presented, I found them to be brave. 

My other observation was that people were having a good time. I noted how many greetings were shared between parade participants and parade watchers. “Merry Christmas” rang out over and over again, as well as the aforementioned “thank you.”  Maybe I’m reading more into things than is merited, but I had the sense that people were enjoying being together in public, in celebration of a seasonal event that gave everyone reason to be on the same side. Even the entries related to folks running for office seemed understated. How nice to put aside “news” and “social media” messaging, and cheering for opposing teams, or debating divergent ideologies, and instead just be in common space for common purpose.

Maybe you see what you are looking for, or what you need. Maybe that’s why I found myself seeing and hearing and thinking about what I write. At 6 p.m. on a Saturday I wasn’t listening to troubling state, national or world news; I was celebrating good news, the Good News of Christmas. There needs to be more of this, would you agree?

© Daniel M. Cash, 2025

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December 8, 2025 · 8:00 am

Jesus’ Birth Changes Everything

In choir we have been working on Christmas anthems over the past several rehearsals.  We are singing a variety of beautiful, sometimes ethereal, songs that give expression to Jesus’ natal story.  Many good words are found in the lyrics. Some catchy rhythms comprise the music, with more than a few disconsonant chords, which are there by intention.

Jesus’ birth comes unexpectedly to a world embroiled in oppression for some, domination by others. It comes as “light” into darkness, hope into despair, life into barrenness, and spark to tender. Jesus’ birth changes everything, though humankind continues to act and believe otherwise.

Jesus’ birth is about redemption and reconciliation.  It’s about hope and promise, covenant renewed and restored, mission set in further motion, and the fullness of time being realized. Jesus’ birth is the “already but not yet” of the Kingdom of God, inaugurated and begun, set forth and set free.  It’s a morning song bursting forth at daybreak.  And it’s a mourning song coming to a mother’s lips at end of day.

Everyone has a unique birth story, yet in Jesus’ birth we each have the ability to find our story of rebirth as well. Birth is hard. It’s difficult to enter this world. It’s the stuff of “labor” and pain, moaning and groaning. Let us not be glib in thinking otherwise. Yet, there’s little said of that side of Jesus’ birth in the Scriptures. We do not get a report of Mary’s waters breaking, or the length and struggle of her labor. The closest thing to Joseph’s anxiety we see is the difficulty he has in procuring lodging for his family in a “stuffed to the rafters” Bethlehem Town.

The gospel writers, like the hymn and anthem writers after them, do not choose to dwell on the struggle, save for what can be deduced about the difficulty of a registration pilgrimage at 9 months of gestation. Why? I suspect it’s because like most birth stories, the focus moves quickly from the pain and struggle of the process to the joy and relief of the outcome.

A newly born, healthy baby is greeted with awe and fascination at the Creator’s design. We wonder who this child will become, and how they are already blessing and making our lives more full. From the moment of safe arrival a birth signals that all has changed. That which we didn’t even know was missing has now brought fulfillment. It’s as if this was always meant to be.

So it is with Jesus’ entry into our world, our lives and hearts. This is the wonder of Christmas.

© Daniel M. Cash 2025

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December 3, 2025 · 9:38 am

Advent is “New” Each Year

“Advent reenacts a past event as if it was new each year.” – Diana Butler Bass, A Beautiful Year

There is a familiarness to this Advent time of year. We use familiar decorations, assume familiar routines and find ourselves among familiar people. We attend the usual services, programs and parties. We observe the well known traditions of our upbringing or adulthood. We revisit things from past years by memory or physical reunion.

“This is the day of the Christmas program.” “The yuletide dinner happens on the 12th.” “There’s a gift exchange with staff on the 21st.” It’s a time to reflect, to retell the story, and to make pilgrimage.

But, for all that is familiar, there is room for something new. Afterall, you are not exactly who or where you were last year, or any year prior. There are new factors in your life – new situations and circumstances too. Maybe you are in a new relationship, with a new friend or new grandchild. Maybe you are newly retired, newly unemployed or employed, have newly moved, or find yourself newly energized or challenged.

Life is never static. It’s organic, always changing and growing and evolving. The very composition of your body continues to change as old cells die off and new ones emerge and grow. Your mind is renewed by your thoughts and dreams, by what you read and what you hear and reflect on. Your spirit is refreshed by your devotion, prayer and worship life.

The annual invitation to the Advent season of preparation and waiting is to lean into the new, even as you revisit the familiar. Retell and listen again to the stories of Advent as you encounter the Scriptual themes. But do so in light of what’s new or fresh in you. Listen with a new focus. Allow your new situation to be the lens through which you encounter the familiar once again.

Anticipate Jesus’ coming again. Yet ask, “what’s new in this anticipation” for me? What is it that you are to pay attention? What does this Advent have for you to learn – about yourself, your faith, your relationships, your God? Might you be being asked to pay attention in a new way during this season that feels so familiar but can be so new?

© Daniel M. Cash 2025

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December 12, 2024 · 9:23 am

Standing on Tiptoe

The entire universe is standing on tiptoe, yearning to see the unveiling of God’s glorious sons and daughters! (Romans 8:19 TPT)

Do you remember what it’s like to stand on tiptoe? Perhaps you’ve done it recently, trying to reach something that was just a bit beyond your height? Or, maybe, your tiptoe moment was related to craning your posture to see around an obstacle for a better view.

We took our grandsons to the Christmas parade last weekend. It was 90 minutes of standing on tiptoe in various ways. I watched as they stood on tiptoe to see the next float, entry, band or vehicle move past. They stood on tiptoe in expectation of candy being dropped into their bags. They stood on tiptoe to see over the protective fence barrier, to see past the people next to them, and to see beyond the current parade exhibit to the one that was coming after it.

This time of year is akin to “standing on tiptoe” for children and adults. There is a lot of hype about Christmas with it’s glitz and glitter, promise of presents and wonder. Our culture does much to promote this sensory experience of the tiptoe stance. Christmas Hallmark and other movies, big sales in stores and online, programs at church and school, light spectacles and experiences – these are all tiptoe aligned encounters. We live in a world marketed direct at your tiptoes! Even the grinchiest among us may on occasion acquiesce and give rise to the peer pressure that is directed toward the end of their feet.

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