With Us in Our Pain
Blue Christmas Meditation by Rev. Mary Alice Mulligan, Ph.D.
A Sunday afternoon during Advent, Scripture Luke 2:8-15
At this service we heard 5 scriptures: Luke 14:16-23, Matthew 11:28-29; Revelation 21:1-5a; and Luke 2:8-15. Each reminds us that God is unwilling to be separated from us. I encourage you to read them all, but at least read Luke 2:8-15, noting that God’s announcement came not to the wealthy neighborhoods, but to shepherds whose job was about as glamorous as cleaning the outhouse. Heaven cracked open and spilled out angels, praising and announcing God’s presence. They came to the very least, because the Messiah is for them.
During December, people all over the place seem goofy with Christmas stuff. But some of us face a wall blocking any sense of joy, because of some gaping hole in our life where someone we love used to be, or where financial security or excellent health or a circle of support people used to be. So we sit here in this worship service, some of us hardly holding it together (and by the way, you don’t have to hold it together), and we are asking, “How do we heal?”
Just as every person’s pain is distinct, so if everyone’s healing process. Many will tell you, it never goes away, but it does get better and you learn to live with it. Someone might tell how suddenly, one day they turned the corner on Ashton and there was a Royal Poinciana in full bloom, and joy crept in and they didn’t feel guilty for feeling the joy. Someone else might share their experience of waking up one day realizing they have inexplicably come out of the fog.
But for many folks, the healing is not yet coming. So we need to remind ourselves that our pain, or loss or depression or anger or loneliness is real and acceptable. God feels those things with us. We are not cast away from God just for feeling blue. In fact, I believe it is quite the opposite. When we are suffering, God is closest to us and wants us to sense that we are being drawn into God’s heart. It’s okay to feel bad, but also know at those moments, God is pouring out love on us, especially on us. The hurting ones are invited into God’s arms first. The heavily-burdened ones are the ones whose burdens Jesus is sharing. And those who feel broken and sad are the ones God is reaching out to comfort, whose tears God wants to wipe away.
These scriptures show God is eager to be close when we most need divine comfort. Let’s remember how grim the lives of people in the first century were. Mary and Joseph were poor, members of an oppressed, religious minority. All over Judah, Roman occupation was oppressing Jews. And by the way, Mary was about to have a baby of questionable paternity. Into that very oppressed situation of ancient Judah, into a poor working family, is where God chose to pitch a fleshly tent on Earth. And I think that’s still how God works. God chooses to be nearest to us when life gets really crummy.
In one church, a woman with six children was often asked if she had a favorite. (People really did that) But she always said, “Yes. My favorite is the one who is sick, until they are well; the one who is farthest away, until they are home.” God is like that mother. As long as you are hurting, you are God’s favorite. You. Sometimes our grief or pain blinds us to God’s presence, but believe the truth – God is right here, with you. Especially when things are grim. Into the very worst circumstance, the messiah was born. Into your deepest pain, the messiah comes again.
This afternoon, know that God is cheering for you. Admires your courage; honors your ability to admit your feelings, blesses you for reaching out to others who may be struggling too, and loves you wildly. Every person here experienced joy at some point in life. Each knew satisfaction and success at times. We thank God for those moments. They can convince us that such times will come again. But for now, let us thank God for these moments of honesty and peace. Let us be open to sensing God’s nurturing presence among us. And let us be glad that no matter how we feel, the Savior of the world is coming, because God loves us and will not be separated from us.