Dear Friends,
There was an article in the New York Times many years ago that shared the story about David Storch, a musicteacher, who borrowed a copy of the score of Handel’s “Messiah” from the Brooklyn Public Library. Through aclerical error, however, the transaction was not recorded. As it turned out, there were several other requests for the score, and the library staff, unaware that it had been checked out, spent many hours searching in vain for it through the stacks.
On the day that David Storch returned it, placing it on the circulation desk, he was astounded to hear the librarian spontaneously and joyfully shout out, “The Messiah is here! The Messiah is back!” When she did so, Storchnoticed that every head in the silent library turned toward the voice, but then, within a few minutes, went back to their work.
It’s an old story, but it is one that continues to remind us that the news of the Messiah’s arrival is often news that fails to grab our full attention. We are so easily distracted by whatever happens to be in front of us that we fail to really appreciate John the Baptist’s announcement that the “Messiah is here!” Instead, we allow the focus of our thoughts to be directed elsewhere as we return to “business as usual.”
But what if we choose not to be distracted? What if we chose to allow this ancient bit of good news to occupy our central focus? What would our lives look like if they weremotivated by the understanding that, in Jesus, God has demonstrated, once and for all, that “the love which came down at Bethlehem” is love that changes everything—including the way in which we choose to live our lives in this present moment of time?
This Sunday in worship, we will celebrate the fact that “The Messiah is here!” Our focus on this, the fourth Sunday of Advent, is appropriately placed upon the love that the Messiah ushered into our world. I don’t think I need to remind you that this focus could not be timelier. In a world that is so easily distracted by its trivial pursuits, we will plan to celebrate this gift of love as we light the Advent candles, sing the carols of Christmas and reflect upon the ancient stories of scripture. It will be a very special time to share together, and I hope that you will choose to share it with us. Sure, there are other things that you could be doing, but allow me to ask, “What could be more important than taking the time to celebrate that the Messiah is here and at work in our world?!
I look forward to sharing not only this celebration with you, but also the one that will take place at our traditional candlelight service on Christmas Eve (7:00 pm).
The Messiah is here! It’s time to celebrate!!
Peace & Joy,
Ron
Rev. Ron Dunn