GIAÂY PHUÙT DIEÄU KYØ / ONE INCREDIBLE MOMENT (SGTY 12-01)

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} VINH QUANG TRONG BÌNH THÖÔØNG Coù moät chöõ moâ taû caûnh ñeâm Ngaøi ñaõ ñeán – “bình thöôøng.” Baàu trôøi bình thöôøng. Ngoïn gioù luøa lay ñoäng nhöõng chieác laù vaø öôùp laïnh khoâng gian. Muoân vaøn ngoâi sao kim cöông laáp laùnh treân taám nhung ñen. Töøng ñôït maây löõng lôø qua maët nguyeät. Moät ñeâm tuyeät ñeïp – moät ñeâm ñaùng cho Baïn heù cöûa soå phoøng nguû ñeå ngaém nhìn – thaät ra khoâng phaûi moät ñeâm baát thöôøng. Khoâng lyù do gì ñeå chôø ñôïi söï baát ngôø. Khoâng ñieàu naøo giöõ moät ngöôøi tónh giaác. Moät ñeâm bình thöôøng vôùi moät baàu trôøi bình thöôøng. Baày chieân cuõng bình thöôøng. Moät soá maäp. Moät soá oám. Moät soá vôùi buïng to nhö thuøng röôïu. Moät soá vôùi ñoâi chaân khaúng khiu. Nhöõng con thuù bình thöôøng. Khoâng boä loâng chieân baèng vaøng. Khoâng moät nhaø laøm söû. Khoâng ngöôøi thaéng giaûi baêng xanh. Chuùng ñôn sô laø nhöõng con tröøu – loá nhoá, nhöõng boùng ñen ñang nguû treân söôøn ñoài. Vaø nhöõng muïc ñoàng. Chuùngï laø daân queâ. Coù theå maëc taát caû nhöõng aùo quaàn hoï coù. Xoâng muøi gioáng nhö chieân vaø troâng chuùngï nhö loâng chieân. Chuùng taän tuïy, muoán qua ñeâm cuøng baày chieân mình. Nhöng Baïn seõ khoâng tìm ñöôïc caây tröôïng cuûa chuùng trong moät vieän baûo taøng hoaëc vaên phaåm cuûa chuùngï trong moät thö vieän. Khoâng ai hoûi quan ñieåm cuûa chuùng veà coâng lyù xaõ hoäi hay aùp duïng Kinh Torah. Chuùng voâ danh vaø moäc maïc. Moät ñeâm bình thöôøng vôùi nhöõng con chieân bình thöôøng cuøng nhöõng muïc ñoàng bình thöôøng. Vaø neáu chuùng khoâng ñöôïc duøng bôûi moät Thöôïng Ñeá laø Ñaáng yeâu thích theâm moät “phuï troäi” vaøo caùi bình thöôøng, thì ñeâm ñoù coù theå ñaõ qua ñi khoâng ai chuù yù. Nhöõng con chieân coù theå ñaõ bò laõng queân, vaø caùc muïc ñoàng coù theå ñaõ nguû vuøi suoát ñeâm. Song Thöôïng Ñeá ñaõ khieâu vuõ giöõa ñaùm bình daân. Vaø ñeâm ñoù Ngaøi thaät ñaõ bieåu dieãn moät vuõ ñieäu waltz. Baàu trôøi ñen böøng daäy röïc rôõ. Taøng caây laø nhöõng boùng toái baây giôø nhaûy vaøo aùnh saùng. Nhöõng con chieân töøng im laëng nay thaønh hôïp ca hieáu kyø. Moät phuùt gaõ muïc ñoàng nguû say nhö cheát, phuùt sau duïi maét ñaêm nhìn ngöôøi khaùch laï. Ñeâm ñoù khoâng coøn bình thöôøng. Thieân söù ñeán trong ñeâm, bôûi khi ñoù aùnh saùng ñöôïc thaáy roõ raøng nhaát, vaø khi ñoù aùnh saùng caàn thieát nhaát. Thöôïng Ñeá ñi vaøo ñaùm bình daân bôûi nguyeân nhaân naày. Caùc duïng cuï maïnh meõ nhaát cuûa Ngaøi laø nhöõng duïng cuï ñôn sô nhaát. TÖØ CHA THIEÂN THÖÔÏNG ÑEÁN CHA TRAÀN THEÁ “Thöa Chuùa, ñaây khoâng laø phöông caùch con ñaõ ñònh. Khoâng phaûi vaäy. Con cuûa con ñöôïc sanh trong moät chuoàng thuù sao? Ñaây khoâng laø phöông caùch con nghó seõ nhö vaäy. Moät caùi hang vôùi chieân vaø löøa, rôm vôùi raï? Vôï con sanh nôû, chæ coù nhöõng ngoâi sao nghe ñöôïc tieáng keâu ñau cuûa naøng? Con khoâng heà nghó nhöõng ñieàu ñoù. Thöa khoâng. Con hình dung ñeán gia ñình. Con hình dung caùc cuï baø noäi ngoaïi. Con hình dung nhöõng ngöôøi haøng xoùm tuï taäp ngoaøi cöûa vaø baïn beø ñöùng beân caïnh con. Con hình dung caên nhaø böøng daäy tieáng khoùc ñaàu tieân cuûa ñöùa beù. Nhöõng tieáng voã nheï treân löng. Tieáng cöôøi roän raõ. Lieân hoan. Ñoù laø caùch con nghó söï vieäc seõ nhö vaäy. Baø muï seõ trao ñöùa beù cho con vaø moïi ngöôøi cuøng hoan hoâ. Mary seõ nghæ ngôi vaø chuùng con seõ lieân hoan. Heát thaûy Nazareth seõ lieân hoan. Nhöng baây giôø. Baây giôø haõy xem. Nazareth caùch xa naêm ngaøy ñöôøng. Vaø chuùng con trong moät... ñoàng coû ñaày chieân. Ai seõ lieân hoan vôùi chuùng con? Nhöõng con chieân? Nhöõng muïc ñoàng? Caùc vì sao? Vieäc naày xem nhö khoâng phaûi. Con laø moät ngöôøi choàng loaïi naøo? Con khoâng tìm ñöôïc moät baø muï ñeå giuùp vôï con. Khoâng moät caùi giöôøng cho naøng töïa löng. Goái ñaàu naøng laø taám loùt löng löøa. Nhaø cho naøng laø moät caùi choøi rôm raï. Muøi tanh hoâi khoù thôû, nhöõng con thuù oàn aøo. Taïi sao, chính con cuõng xoâng muøi nhö moät gaõ chaên chieân. Phaûi chaêng con ñaõ sô soùt ñieàu gì, thöa Chuùa? Khi Ngaøi sai thieân söù vaø noùi veà moät con trai ñöôïc sanh ra – ñaây khoâng laø ñieàu con phaùt hoïa. Con hình dung Jerusalem, ñeàn thôø, caùc tu só, vaø daân chuùng tuï taäp chôø xem. Coù theå moät leã hoäi. Moät dieãn haønh. Ít nhaát moät yeán tieäc. Con muoán noùi, ñaây laø Ñaáng Giaûi Cöùu! Hoaëc, neáu khoâng ñöôïc sanh taïi Jerusalem, coøn Nazareth thì sao? Nazareth khoâng toát hôn chaêng? Ít nhaát taïi ñoù con coù moät ngoâi nhaø vaø ngheà nghieäp cuûa con. Coøn ôû ñaây, con coù gì? Moät con löøa moûi meät, moät boù cuûi khoâ, vaø moät bình nöôùc aám. Ñaây khoâng laø phöông caùch con muoán ñöôïc vaäy! Ñaây khoâng laø phöông caùch con muoán cho con cuûa con. OÀ, con laïi nhaàm laãn. Con laïi sai laàm, phaûi khoâng, thöa Chuùa? Con khoâng muoán laøm theá; ñoù chæ laø ñieàu con queân. Ñöùa beù khoâng laø con cuûa con... maø laø Con Ngaøi. Ñöùa beù laø Con Ngaøi. Chöông trình laø cuûa Ngaøi. YÙ kieán laø cuûa Ngaøi. Xin tha loãi cho con vì caâu hoûi, nhöng... phaûi chaêng ñaây laø phöông caùch Thöôïng Ñeá ñi vaøo theá gian? Söï ñeán cuûa thieân söù, con ñaõ tieáp nhaän. Nhöõng caâu hoûi ngöôøi ta neâu ra veà söï mang thai, con coù theå dung thöù. Chuyeán veà Bethlehem, cuõng ñöôïc. Nhöng taïi sao sanh ra trong moät chuoàng thuù, thöa Chuùa? Baây giôø, Mary seõ sanh nôû baát cöù giaây phuùt naøo. Khoâng phaûi sanh ra moät ñöùa con, song moät Ñaáng Giaûi Cöùu. Khoâng phaûi moät haøi nhi, song moät Thöôïng Ñeá. Ñoù laø ñieàu thieân söù ñaõ tuyeân baùo. Ñoù laø ñieàu Mary ñaõ tin. Vaø, laïy Thöôïng Ñeá, Thöông Ñeá cuûa con, ñoù laø ñieàu con muoán tin. Nhöng chaéc haún Ngaøi coù theå hieåu cho con; khoâng phaûi deã tin. Xem nhö thaät... thaät... thaät... laï kyøï. Con khoâng quen ñieàu kyø laï nhö vaäy, thöa Chuùa. Con laø moät thôï moäc. Con taïo nhöõng vaät khít khao. Con goït nhöõng goùc caïnh vuoâng vaén. Con theo ñöôøng thaúng cuûa daây treo hoøn chì. Con ño hai laàn tröôùc khi caét moät löôïc. Moät ngöôøi xaây döïng khoâng coù söï ngaïc nhieân. Con thích ñöôïc bieát hoïa ñoà. Con thích ñöôïc thaáy hoïa ñoà tröôùc khi con khôûi söï. Nhöng laàn naày, con khoâng laø ngöôøi xaây döïng, phaûi khoâng? Laàn naày con laø moät duïng cuï. Moät caùi buùa trong naém tay Ngaøi. Moät caây ñinh giöõa caùc ngoùn tay Ngaøi. Moät caùi ñuïc trong baøn tay Ngaøi. Ñoà aùn naày laø cuûa Ngaøi, khoâng phaûi con. Con nghó thaät daïi doät khi chaát vaán Ngaøi. Xin tha thöù söï ñaáu lyù cuûa con. Söï tin caäy khoâng deã daøng ñeán vôùi con, thöa Chuùa. Nhöng Ngaøi chöa bao giôø noùi ñieàu ñoù seõ deã daøng, phaûi khoâng? Moät ñieàu choùt, thöa Chuùa. Ngaøi ñaõ sai thieân söù ñeán? Ngaøi coù theå sai moät vò khaùc chaêng? Neáu khoâng moät thieân söù, thì coù theå moät ngöôøi? Con khoâng bieát ngöôøi naøo quanh ñaây hay moät baïn ñöôøng coù loøng toát. Coù theå ngöôøi quaûn nhaø troï, hay moät khaùch löõ haønh? Hoaëc moät gaõ chaên chieân. TIEÁNG RU NGUYEÄN CAÀU CUÛA MEÏ. “Thöôïng Ñeá. OÂi, Thöôïng Ñeá Haøi Ñoàng. Con treû thoâng saùng nhaát thieân thöôïng. Thoï thai baèng söï hieäp nhaát cuûa aân ñieån thieâng lieâng vaø söï baát xöùng cuûa chuùng toâi. Haõy nguû bình yeân. Haõy nguû bình yeân. Haõy taém mình trong töôi maùt cuûa ñeâm nay röïc rôõ kim cöông. Haõy nguû bình yeân, bôûi côn noùng thònh noä gaàn beân soâi suïc. Haõy aâm thaàm thoûa vui trong maùng coû, bôûi hoãn taïp oàn aøo seõ quaáy ñoäng töông lai con. Haõy neám vò ngoït an toaøn trong tay meï, vì moät ngaøy choùng ñeán khi meï khoâng theå baûo veä con. Haõy an nghæ bình yeân, hai baøn tay beù nhoû. Bôûi duø con thuoäc moät thieân vöông, con seõ khoâng sôø ñeán gaám voùc hay baïc vaøng. Con seõ khoâng naéùm laáy caùn buùt hay ñaåy ñöa coï veû. Khoâng, baøn tay beù nhoû cuûa con ñöôïc daønh cho nhöõng vieäc quí baùu hôn: ñeå vuoát ve veát thöông lôû loeùt cuûa ngöôøi phung, ñeå lau khoâ gioït leä moûi moøn cuûa goùa phu,ï ñeå caøo caáu ñaát soûi cuûa Gethsemane. Hai baøn tay cuûa con, thaät nhoû beù, thaät meàm maïi, thaät traéng trong – xieát chaët ñeâm nay trong naém tay thô aáu. Chuùng khoâng ñöôïc ñònh tröôùc ñeå naém caây vöông tröôïng, cuõng khoâng vung vaåy nôi cung ñieän treân moät bao lôn. Chuùng ñöôïc daønh cho moät caây ñinh La maû ghim chuùng treân moät thaäp giaù töû hình. Haõy nguû trieàn mieân, ñoâi maét nhoû beù. Haõy nguû trong khi con coù theå. Bôûi söï môø mòt seõ sôùm toû töôøng, vaø con seõ thaáy nhöõng oâ taïp maø chuùng toâi ñaõ gaây neân trong theá giôùi con. Con seõ thaáy chuùng toâi loõa loà, bôûi chuùng toâi khoâng theå che ñaäy. Con seõ thaáy chuùng toâi ích kyû, bôûi chuùng toâi khoâng theå ban cho. Con seõ thaáy chuùng toâi ñau ñôùn, bôûi chuùng toâi khoâng theå chöõa laønh. OÂi, bao nhieâu caëp maét seõ thaáy hoá ñòa nguïc ñen toái nhaát, vaø seõ chöùng kieán vò hoaøng töû ñaàn ñoän cuûa hoï... haõy nguû, xin cöù nguû; haõy nguû trong khi con coù theå. Haõy naèm yeân, chieác mieäng nhoû beù. Haõy naèm yeân chieác mieäng seõ phaùn lôøi vónh cöûu. Chieác löôõi nhoû beù, seõ sôùm keâu goïi keû cheát, seõ minh ñònh aân ñieån, vaø seõ khieán laëng thinh nhöõng ñieàu khôø daïi cuûa chuùng toâi. Ñoâi moâi nuï hoàng – treân ñoù ngoâi sao sô sanh seõ nôû moät nuï hoân tha thöù cho nhöõng keû tin nôi con, vaø söï cheát cho nhöõng keû töø choái con – haõy naèm yeân. Vaø ñoâi baøn chaân nhoû beù, goïn gaøng trong baøn tay meï, haõy nghæ ngôi. Bôûi nhieàu böôùc gaäp gheành traûi daøi ñaøng tröôùc cho con... Con neám buïi ñöôøng chaêng, treân caùc neûo du haønh? Con thaáy laïnh chaêng, khi böôùc chaân treân maët bieån? Con ñau ñôùn chaêng, khi ñinh saét ñaâm thuûng baøn tay? Con sôï haõi chaêng khi böôùc xuoáng chieác thang saâu thaåm xoaùy vaøo laõnh ñòa Satan? Haõy nghæ ngôi, ñoâi baøn chaân nhoû beù. Haõy nghæ ngôi hoâm nay haàu cho ngaøy mai con coù theå böôùc ñi baèng quyeàn löïc. Haõy nghæ ngôi. Bôûi haèng trieäu ngöôøi seõ theo nhöõng böôùc con ñi. Vaø traùi tim nhoû beù... traùi tim thaùnh khieát... boâm huyeát söï soáng khaép vuõ truï: Bao nhieâu laàn chuùng toâi ñaäp vôõ tim con? Con seõ bò xeù raùch bôûi voøng gai caùo toäi cuûa chuùng toâi. Con seõ bò taøn phaù bôûi chöùng ung thö trong toäi cuûa chuùng toâi. Con seõ bò nghieàn naùt döôùi söùc naëng buoàn raàu cuûa chính chuùng toâi. Vaø con bò ñaâm saâu bôûi ngoïn giaùo cuûa ngöôøi choái boû. Duø vaäy, trong caùi ñaâm thuûng ñoù, trong caùi xeù raùch thòt vaø da, trong caùi ñoå maùu vaø nöôùc sau cuøng, con seõ tìm ñöôïc nghæ ngôi. Baøn tay con seõ ñöôïc giaûi thoaùt. Ñoâi maét con seõ thaáy coâng lyù, ñoâi moâi con seõ nôû nuï cöôøi, vaø ñoâi chaân con seõ ñöa con veà toå aám. Vaø taïi ñoù, con laïi ñöôïc nghæ ngôi – laàn naày trong voøng tay Thieân Phuï. NHÖÕNG NGÖÔØI KHIEÂM NHU QUÌ XUOÁNG Chuùa Jesus phaùn: “Phöôùc cho nhöõng keû khieâm nhu.” Phöôùc cho nhöõng keû saün saøng. Phöôùc cho nhöõng oáng daãn, nhöõng ngoû thoâng, nhöõng duïng cuï... AÁy laø nguyeân do lôøi tuyeân baùo ñeán tröôùc cho caùc muïc ñoàng. Chuùng khoâng hoûi Thöôïng Ñeá raèng Ngaøi coù chaéc Ngaøi bieát vieäc Ngaøi ñang laøm? Thieân söù ñeán vôùi caùc nhaø thaàn hoïc chaêng, coù theå hoï phaûi xem tröôùc nhöõng baøi bình luaän cuûa hoï. Thieân söù ñeán vôùi caùc nhaø quyeàn quí chaêng, coù theåõ hoï phaûi nhìn quanh xem chöøng keû naøo theo doõi hoï? Thieân söù ñeán vôùi nhöõng ngöôøi thaønh coâng chaêng, coù theå hoï phaûi xem tröôùc caùc chöông lòch cuûa hoï. Vaäy, Thieân söù ñeán vôùi caùc muïc doàng. Nhöõng ngöôøi khoâng moät danh vò ñeå baõo veä, hoaëc ñeå giaûi quyeát, hay ñeå treøo leân. Nhöõng ngöôøi khoâng ñuû hieåu bieát ñeå thöa cuøng Thöôïng Ñeá raèng caùc thieân söù khoâng haùt cho caùc ñaøn chieân, vaø khoâng theå tìm ñöôïc caùc ñaáng giaûi cöùu quaán trong nhöõng mieáng gieû vaø nguû trong nhöõng maùng coû... Moät giaùo ñöôøng nhoû beân ngoaøi Bethlehem ñaùnh daáu choã naày coù theå laø nôi sanh cuûa Chuùa Jesus. Phía sau moät baøn thôø cao ngheäu trong thaùnh ñöôøng laø moät caùi hang, moät caùi hang nhoû, thaép saùng baèng nhöõng ngoïn ñeøn naïm baïc. Baïn coù theå vaøo trong chính ñieän vaø ngaém xem ngoâi thaùnh ñöôøng coå. Baïn cuõng coù theå vaøo trong caùi hang laëng leõ, nôi ñoù ñöôïc khaûm moät ngoâi sao, coâng nhaän söï ra ñôøi cuûa Ñaáng Thieân Vöông. Duø vaäy, coù moät qui ñieàu. Baïn phaûi cuùi xuoáng. Cöûa vaøo quaù thaáp, Baïn khoâng theå ñöùng thaúng ñi vaøo beân trong. Cuøng moät leõ thaät ñoái vôùi Ñaáng Christ. Baïn coù theå ñöùng thaúng cao ñeå nhìn theá gian, song muoán dieän kieán Ñaáng Cöùu Ñoä, Baïn phaûi quì xuoáng treân ñaàu goái. Vaäy... trong khi caùc thaàn hoïc gia ñang nguû, caùc nhaø quyeàn quí ñang mô, vaø nhöõng ngöôøi thaønh coâng ñang ngaùy, thì nhöõng keû khieâm nhu quì xuoáng. Hoï quì xuoáng tröôùc Ñaáng maø chæ coù nhöõng keû khieâm nhu môùi gaëp ñöôïc. Hoï quì xuoáng tröôùc Chuùa Jesus. ÑI THEO NGOÂI SAO Tæ nhö Baïn coù theå daâng moät moùn quaø leân Ñaáng Christ, thì moùn quaø ñoù laø gì? Laøm sao Baïn coù theå choïn moät moùn quaø cho Ñaáng chaúng nhöõng ñaõ coù moïi vaät, song cuõng ñaõ taïo neân moïi vaät. Caùc Nhaø Thoâng thaùi ñaõ laøm ñieàu naày. Hoï coù theå laø moät taám göông cho chuùng ta. Theâm vaøo vaøng, moäc traàm, vaø nhuû höông, hoï ñaõ daâng leân Ñaáng Cöùu Ñoä moät soá quaø maø ngaøy nay chuùng ta cuõng coù theå daâng leân Ngaøi: hy voïng cuûa ho,ï thôøi giôø cuûa hoï, vaø söï thôø phöôïng cuûa hoï. Caùc Nhaø Thoâng thaùi laõng du daâng leân Chuùa Jesus nieàm hy voïng cuûa hoï. Khi moïi ngöôøi khaùc thaáy moät ñeâm ñen treân baàu trôøi, thì nhoùm ngöôøi leû loi naày thaáy moät aùnh saùng. Chaêm nhìn ngoâi sao, naåy ra moät khaùt khao trong loøng hoï, giuïc hoï chuaån bò haønh trang. Hoï ra ñi, tìm Chuùa Jesus. Khi ñeâm ñen ñi vaøo theá giôùi cuûa Baïn, thì Baïn thaáy gì? Boùng toái hay nhöõng vì sao? Voâ voïng hay hy voïng? Thænh thoaûng, nhö Ngaøi töøng laøm töø laâu, Thöôïng Ñeá duøng boùng toái ñeå khaûi hieän nhöõng vì sao cuûa Ngaøi – “AÙnh saùng chieáu trong boùng toái”(John 1:5). Neáu traùi tim Baïn bò che khuaát bôûi boùng toái coâ ñôn, hoaëc ñau buoàn, hay thaát voïng, haõy tìm kieám aùnh saùng chæ rieâng Ngaøi coù theå ban cho. “Ta laø söï saùng cuûa theá gian. Ngöôøi naøo theo Ta seõ khoâng bao giôø ôû trong boùng toái, nhöng seõ coù aùnh saùng mang laïi söï soáng” (John 8:12). Haõy daâng leân Thöôïng Ñeá nieàm hy voïng cuûa Baïn cho Muøa Giaùng Sinh naày. Trong khi Baïn hieán daâng, haõy daâng leân Thöôïng Ñeá thôøi giôø cuûa Baïn. Caùc Nhaø Thoâng thaùi ñaõ laøm ñieàu naày. Tröôùc khi hoï daâng leân Thöôïng Ñeá caùc leã vaät cuûa hoï, hoï daâng leân söï hieän dieän cuûa hoï. Döôøng nhö nhöõng ngöôøi naày phaûi du haønh trong hai naêm tröôùc khi tìm ñöôïc vò trí cuûa vò Vua Thieân thöôïng. Tröôùc giaây phuùt kyø dieäu ñoù, khi hoï quì xuoáng tröôùc Chuùa Jesus, caùc Nhaø Thoâng thaùi ñaõ traûi qua nhieàu giaây phuùt, nhieàu thaùng, coù theå nhieàu naêm tìm kieám, döï lieäu cho kyø gaëp gôõ ñoù. Nhö caùc Nhaø Thoâng thaùi taän hieán chính mình trong söï tìm kieám Ñaáng Cöùu Ñoä, thì Baïn cuõng coù theå: “Caùc ngöôi seõ tìm kieám Ngaøi vaø gaëp ñöôïc Ngaøi, khi caùc ngöôi tìm kieám Ngaøi baèng taát caû taám loøng” (Luaät Truyeàn 4:29). Vaø khi hoï gaëp ñöôïc Ngaøi, Caùc Nhaø Thoâng thaùi daâng leân Chuùa Jesus moät moùn quaø khaùc: söï thôø phöôïng cuûa hoï. Coù theå raèng nhöõng ngöôøi naày thaät giaøu coù. (Caùch naøo khaùc coù theå giuùp hoï ra ñi treân moät haønh trình xa xoâi, maø vaãn coøn quaø ñeå daâng leân Chuùa luùc cuoái haønh trình?) Döôøng nhö nhöõng ngöôøi naày coù uy theá. (Caùch naøo khaùc coù theå giuùp hoï ñöôïc haàu chuyeän cuøng vua Herod?) Hoï phaûi laø nhöõng ngöôøi trí thöùc. (Caùch naøo khaùc coù theå giuùp hoï ñònh höôùng xuyeân qua mieàn ñaát hoang vu haèng ngaøn daäm ñi tìm vì sao?) Nhöõng con ngöôøi giaøu coù, uy theá, vaø trí thöùc: hoï ñaõ laøm gì khi hoï thaáy Chuùa Jesus? “... Hoï saáp mình xuoáng vaø thôø laïy Ngaøi” (Mat. 2:11) Thôø phöôïng. Ñoù laø moät moùn quaø cuõng ñöôïc ban laïi cho ngöôøi hieán daâng. Qua thôø phöôïng, chuùng ta ñeán ñeå nhìn Thöôïng Ñeá roõ raøng hôn. Thöôïng Ñeá goïi môøi chuùng ta, qua söï thôø phöôïng, ñeå nhìn maët Ngaøi, haàu cho nhöõng boä maët chuùng ta coù theå thay ñoåi. “Heát thaûy chuùng ta toû baøy vinh quang Chuùa, vaø chuùng ta ñöôïc thay ñoåi phaûi gioáng nhö Ngaøi. Ñeán töø Chuùa laø Ñöùc Thaùnh Linh, söï thay ñoåi trong chuùng ta seõ mang laïi vinh quang lôùn hôn” (2 Cor. 3:18). Ngaøi yeâu thích thay ñoåi caùc göông maët cuûa con caùi Ngaøi. Vôùi caùc ngoùn tay Ngaøi, neùt nhaên lo laéng ñöôïc taåy saïch. Boùng toái hoå theïn vaø nghi ngôø trôû thaønh chaân dung cuûa aân ñieån vaø troâng caäy. Ngaøi xoa dòu nhöõng quai haøm nghieán chaët vaø vuoát phaúng nhöõng vöøng traùn gôïn soùng... Trong khi thôø phöôïng, chuùng ta ñôn sô ñöùng tröôùc Thöôïng Ñeá vôùi taám loøng chuaån bò vaø saün loøng, roài ñeå Chuùa theå hieän coâng vieäc Ngaøi. Vaø Ngaøi laøm. Ngaøi lau khoâ nhöõng doøng leä. Ngaøi chuøi saïch nhöõng gioït moà hoâi. Ngaøi xoa dòu nhöõng ñöôøng nhaên treân traùn. Ngaøi vuoát ve ñoâi maù chuùng ta. Ngaøi thay ñoåi saéc dieän chuùng ta trong khi chuùng ta thôø phöôïng Ngaøi. Caùc Nhaø Thoâng thaùi ñi tìm Con Thöôïng Ñeá, cuõng nhö Thöôïng Ñeá tìm kieám con caùi Ngaøi. “Ñaáng Thieân Phuï noân nao tìm kieám nhöõng ngöôøi nhö theá ñeå thôø phöôïng Ngaøi” (John 4:23) Caùc moùn quaø hy voïng, thôøi giôø, vaø thôø phöôïng. Nhöõng ngöôøi khoân ngoan vaãn phaûi daâng hieán ba moùn quaø naày. {

} THE GLORY IN THE ORDINARY There is one word that describes the night He came – ordinary. The sky was ordinary. An occasional gust stirred the leaves and chilled the air. The stars were diamonds sparkling on black velvet. Fleets of clouds floated in front of the moon. It was a beautiful night - a night worth peeking out your bedroom window to admire - but not really an unusual one. No reason to expect a surprise. Nothing to keep a person awake. An ordinary night with an ordinary sky. The sheep were ordinary. Some fat. Some scrawny. Some with barrel bellies. Some with twig legs. Common animals. No fleece made of gold. No history makers. No blue-ribbon winners. They were simply sheep - lumpy, sleeping silhouettes on a hillside. And the shepherds. Peasants they were. Probably wearing all the clothes they owned. Smelling like sheep and looking just as woolly. They were conscientious, willing to spend the night with their flocks. But you won't find their staffs in a museum nor their writings in a library. No one asked their opinion on social justice or the application of the Torah. They were nameless and simple. An ordinary night with ordinary sheep and ordinary shepherds. And were it not for a God who loves to hook an "extra" on the front of the ordinary, the night would have gone unnoticed. The sheep would have been forgotten, and the shepherds would have slept the night away. But God dances amidst the common. And that night he did a waltz. The black sky exploded with brightness. Trees that had been shadows jumped into clarity. Sheep that had been silent became a chorus of curiosity. One minute the shepherd was dead asleep, the next he was rubbing his eyes and staring into the face of an alien. The night was ordinary no more. The angel came in the night because that is when lights are best seen and that is when they are most needed. God comes into the common for the same reason. His most powerful tools are the simplest. FROM ONE FATHER TO ANOTHER This isn’t the way I planned it, God. Not at all. My child being born in a stable? This isn’t the way I thought it would be. A cave with sheep and donkeys, hay and straw? My wife giving birth with only the stars to hear her pain? This isn't at all what I imagined. No, I imagined family. I imagined grandmothers. I imagined neighbors clustered outside the door and friends standing at my side. I imagined the house erupting with the first cry of the infant. Slaps on the back. Loud laughter. Jubilation. That's how I thought it would be. The midwife would hand me my child and all the people would applaud. Mary would rest and we would celebrate. All of Nazareth would celebrate. But now. Now look. Nazareth is five days' journey away. And here we are in a . . . in a sheep pasture. Who will celebrate with us? The sheep? The shepherds? The stars? This doesn't seem right. What kind of husband am I? I provide no midwife to aid my wife. No bed to rest her back. Her pillow is a blanket from my donkey. My house for her is a shed of hay and straw. The smell is bad, the animals are loud. Why, I even smell like a shepherd myself. Did I miss something? Did I, God? When you sent the angel and spoke of the son being born - this isn't what I pictured. I envisioned Jerusalem, the temple, the priests, and the people gathered to watch. A pageant perhaps. A parade. A banquet at least. I mean, this is the Messiah! Or, if not born in Jerusalem, how about Nazareth? Wouldn't Nazareth have been better? At least there I have my house and my business. Out here, what do I have? A weary mule, a stack of firewood, and a pot of warm water. This is not the way I wanted it to be! This is not the way I wanted my son. Oh my, I did it again. I did it again didn't I, Father? I don't mean to do that; it's just that I forget. He's not my son . . . He's Yours. The Child is Yours. The plan is Yours. The idea is yours. And forgive me for asking but . . . is this how God enters the world? The coming of the angel, I've accepted. The questions people asked about the pregnancy, I can tolerate. The trip to Bethlehem, fine. But why a birth in a stable, God? Any minute now Mary will give birth. Not to a child, but the Messiah. Not to an infant, but to God. That's what the angel said. That's what Mary believes. And, God, my God, that's what I want to believe. But surely you can understand; it's not easy. It seems so . . . so . . . so . . . bizarre. I'm unaccustomed to such strangeness, God. I'm a carpenter. I make things fit. I square off the edges. I follow the plumb line. I measure twice before I cut once. Surprises are not the friend of a builder. I like to know the plan. I like to see the plan before I begin. But this time I'm not the builder, am I? This time I'm a tool. A hammer in your grip. A nail between your fingers. A chisel in your hands. This project is yours, not mine. I guess it's foolish of me to question you. Forgive my struggling. Trust doesn't come easy to me, God. But you never said it would be easy, did you? One final thing, Father. The angel you sent? Any chance you could send another? If not an angel, maybe a person? I don’t know anyone around here and some company would be nice. May be the innkeeper or a traveler? Even a shepherd would do. MARY’S PRAYER God. O Infant-God. Heaven’s fairest Child. Conceived by the union of divine grace with our disgrace. Sleep well. Sleep well. Bask in the coolness of this night bright with diamonds. Sleep well, for the heat of anger simmers nearby. Enjoy the silence of the crib, for the noise of confusion rumbles in vour future. Savor the sweet safety of my arms, for a day is soon coming when I cannot protect you. Rest well, tiny hands. For though you belong to a king, you will touch no satin, own no gold. You will grasp no pen, guide no brush. No, your tiny hands are reserved for works more precious: to touch a leper's open wound, to wipe a widow's weary tear, to claw the ground of Gethsemane. Your hands, so tiny, so tender, so white - clutched tonight in an infant's fist. They aren't destined to hold a scepter nor wave from a palace balcony. They are reserved instead for a Roman spike that will staple them to a Roman cross. Sleep deeply, tiny eyes. Sleep while you can. For soon the blurriness will clear and you will see the mess we have made of your world. You will see our nakedness, for we cannot hide. You will see our selfishness, for we cannot give. You will see our pain, for we cannot heal. 0 eyes that will see hell’s darkest pit and witness her ugly prince... sleep, please sleep; sleep while you can. Lay still, tiny mouth. Lay still mouth from which eternity will speak. Tiny tongue that will soon summon the dead, that will define grace, that will silence our foolishness. Rosebud lips - upon which ride a starborn kiss of forgiveness to those who believe you, and of death to those who deny you - lay still. And tiny feet cupped in the palm of my hand, rest. For many difficult steps lie ahead for you. Do you taste the dust of the trails you will travel? Do you feel the cold sea water upon which you will walk? Do you wrench at the invasion of the nail you will bear? Do you fear the steep descent down the spiral staircase into Satan's domain? Rest, tiny feet. Rest today so that tomorrow you might walk with power. Rest. For millions will follow in your steps. And little heart... pumping the blood of life through the universe: How many times will we break you? You'll be torn by the thorns of our accusations. You'll be ravaged by the cancer of our sin. You'll be crushed under the weight of your own sorrow. And you'll be pierced by the spear of our rejection. Yet in that piercing, in that ultimate ripping of muscle and membrane, in that final rush of blood and water, you will find rest. Your hands will be freed, your eyes will see justice, your lips will smile, and your feet will carry you home. And there you'll rest again - this time in the embrace of your Father. THE MEEK WERE KNEELING "Blessed are the meek," Jesus explained. Blessed are the available. Blessed are the conduits, the tunnels, the tools. That's why the announcement went first to the shepherds. They didn't ask God if he was sure he knew what he was doing. Had the angel gone to the theologians, they would have first consulted their commentaries. Had he gone to the elite, they would have looked around to see if anyone was watching. Had he gone to the successful, they would have first looked at their calendars. So he went to the shepherds. Men who didn't have a reputation to protect or an ax to grind or a ladder to climb. Men who didn't know enough to tell God that angels don't sing to sheep and that messiahs aren't found wrapped in rags and sleeping in a feed trough. A small cathedral outside Bethlehem marks the supposed birthplace of Jesus. Behind a high altar in the church is a cave, a little cavern lit by silver lamps. You can enter the main edifice and admire the ancient church. You can also enter the quiet cave where a star embedded in the floor recognizes the birth of the King. There is one stipulation, however. You have to stoop. The door is so low you can't go in standing up. The same is true of the Christ. You can see the world standing tall, but to witness the Savior, you have to get on your knees. So... while the theologians were sleeping and the elite were dreaming and the successful were snoring, the meek were kneeling. They were kneeling before the One only the meek will see. They were kneeling in front of Jesus. FOLLOWING THE STAR Suppose you could give a gift to Christ, what would it be? How could you possibly select a gift for the One who not only has everything, but who made everything? The Wise Men did. They can be an example to us. In addition to the gold, frankincense, and myrrh, they gave the Savior some gifts we can give him today: their hope, their time, and their worship. The wandenug wise men gave Jesus their ilope. When everyone else saw a night sky, this small band of men saw the light. The sight of the star sparked a desire in their hearts that sent them packing. They went, seeking Jesus. When night comes to your world, what do you see? The darkness or the stars? Hopelessness or hopefulness? Sometimes, just as he did so long ago, God uses the darkness to reveal his stars - "The light shines in the darkness" (John 1:5). If your heart has been shadowed by the darkness of loneliness or grief or disappointment, look for the light that on1y he can give. "I am the light of the world. The person who follows me will never live in darkness but will have the light that gives life" (John 8:12). Give God your hope for Christmas. While you're giving, give God your time. The wise men did. Before they gave God their presents, they gave their presence. It's likely that these men traveled as long as two years before locating the prince of heaven. Before that one incredible moment when they knelt before Jesus, the wise men spent many moments, months, perhaps years searching, in anticipation of that meeting. Just as the wise men devoted themselves to seeking the Savior, so can you: "You will seek him and find him when you seek him with all of your heart" (Deut. 4:29). And when they did find him, the wise men gave Jesus another gift: their worship. It's probable that these were men of wealth. (How else could they embark on an extended journey and still have gifts to give at its end?) It's likely these men had influence. (How else could they have commanded an audience with Herod?) They must have had intellect. (How else could they have navigated across thousands of miles of terrain following a star?) Men of wealth, influence, and intellect: what did they do when they saw Jesus? "... They fell down and worshiped him" (Matt. 2:11). Worship. It's a gift that extends to the giver as well. Through worship, we come to see God more clearly. God invites us, through worship, to see his face so he can change ours. "We all show the Lord's glory, and we are being changed to be like him. This change in us brings ever greater glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit" (2 Cor. 3:18). He loves to change the faces of his children. By his fingers, wrinkles of worry are rubbed away. Shadows of shame and doubt become portraits of grace and trust. He relaxes clenched jaws and smoothes furrowed brows.... In worsilip, we simply stand before God with a prepared and willing heart and let God do his work. And he does. He wipes away the tears. He mops away the perspiration. He softens our furrowed brows. He touches our cheeks. He changes our faces as we worship. The wise men sought the child of God, just as God seeks his children. "The Father is actively seeking suck people to worship him" (John 4:23). The gifts of hope, time, and worship. Three gifts the wise still give. (Excerpt from One Incredible Moment by Max Lucado) {

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