Day Three
Rev. Diane Roth
Pastor
Woodlake Lutheran Church
Richfield, Minnesota
Psalm 122
Genesis 6.11-22
Matthew 24.1-22
“How far is it to Bethlehem? – Not very far
Shall we find the stable room lit by a star?"
As I was preparing for Advent, I couldn’t help but think of this old children’s carol. The carol imagines that the children are on a pilgrimage, a journey to Bethlehem, and as they travel they sing to one another, “how much farther is it?” “It’s not very far.” They are encouraging one another to keep going.
We are also on a pilgrimage during this season as well – a journey to Bethlehem, to the manger and the baby. We travel along with prophets and shepherds, with wise men and weary refugees. We travel carrying the weight of our hopes, our fears, our dreams of peace. We are on a pilgrimage this season, and no matter where we start out, we hope to end up holding the Prince of peace in our arms.
The pilgrims who went up to Jerusalem every year also sang songs. Psalm 122 was one of the songs that they sang, as they entered the city gates. They entered the gates carrying their hopes and their fears, their dreams and their prayers for peace. “How far is it to Jerusalem?” “Not very far.” And when they got there, they prayed for the peace of Jerusalem.
But the problem is that Bethlehem – and Jerusalem – are really far away. They are far away in miles – I actually googled it once and found out that my congregation is 6624 miles away from Bethlehem. And they are far away in terms of culture and language. There are just seven miles between Jerusalem and Bethlehem, but sometimes, because of the barriers between Israel and Palestine, it is impossible to get from one place to another.
This year during advent, as we journey, let us pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and of the whole world. And let us remember that the journey does not end in Bethlehem, but in Jerusalem, when the Prince of Peace comes to take his place among us.
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