Opening their treasure chests,
         they offered him gifts
         of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
                  —Matthew 2.11

The magi studied stars and knew things.
They observed their world and understood.
They sought, they paid attention, and they found.

What they found was royalty, hidden
in a peasant child, hidden always,
and hidden in you: a royal priesthood.

You don’t have gold, frankincense or myrrh.
You also don’t have nothing. Even the shepherds
had something to offer. What do you have?

You are gifted. You are a treasure chest.
What God has given you this world needs.
Open your treasure chest. Offer. God will be pleased.

Breath prayer:  
                          Gifts … given

__________________
Steve Garnaas-Holmes
Unfolding Light
www.unfoldinglight.net

January 3, 2020

         “Where is the child who has been born
         king of the Jews?
         For we observed his star at its rising,
         and have come to pay him homage.”
                           —Matthew 2.2

Magi captained by a star, lured by love,
consult Herod possessed by fear
to find a young woman courted by grace
who has given birth to a boy
compelled by Holy Spirit.

(Herod, obsessed by rage, will hunt for the boy
but only for himself,
and so die hungering.)

Magi reeled by love
seek no glittering else.
Attentive, undeterred, persistent,
the star no mere sign but a magnet,
they will find the way,
and find another way.

Oh, to be so haunted.

__________________
Steve Garnaas-Holmes
Unfolding Light
www.unfoldinglight.net

January 2, 2020

         Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth;
         for the first heaven and the first earth
         had passed away, and the sea was no more. 
                 —Revelation 21.1

Living Creator, you who make all things new,
this Eighth day of Christmas
is the eighth day of Creation:
beginning anew.
Entering a new year
I open myself to what is dawning in me.
Here I stand,
ready to be re-created.
In trust and wonder
I open myself to what shall be,
what is already becoming.
Reveal your creating power in me,
your voice in me, your hope in me,
your birthing in me.
I lay myself in your hands.
I open myself to your grace.
Let there be light.

__________________
Steve Garnaas-Holmes
Unfolding Light
www.unfoldinglight.net

January 1, 2020

          O Mystery, remind me of my end,
         and how measured my days;
         keep me mindful how fleeting my life is.
                  —Psalm 39.4
                  
Before I step into the new year
I let go of the old one.
What I have done I have done.
What I have not done I have not done.
So be it. I release my regret.
I stand with myself.

For all the gifts I have received,
known and unknown, I am grateful.
However I have suffered I accept.
I learn what I can and move on.
Whatever others have done that hurt me,
I forgive. I learn and move on.
For however I have failed or fallen short,
I forgive myself. I learn and move on.

I release my fears.
I release my self-doubt, blame and self-silencing.
My hopes and dreams I place in God’s hands,
trusting what is blessed will remain with me.

I am alive, and life is good.
I open myself to the future,
enfolded in this present.
Holy Mystery, I am yours.
I am here, now.

__________________
Steve Garnaas-Holmes
Unfolding Light
www.unfoldinglight.net

December 31, 2019

I hold you in my arms.
I carry you you everywhere,
or leave you behind.

I feed you the life of my flesh.
I guard you from what is harsh and hurtful,
most of it within me.

I learn to listen to your cries,
to honor your hunger,
to wonder at your wonder.

I do everything differently
with a tender infant in my arms.
I am glad to show to you strangers.

Every moment is a miracle, a revelation.
I watch you incessantly.
It is enough.

I will do anything for you.
Sometimes I forget
I hold you in my arms.

__________________
Steve Garnaas-Holmes
Unfolding Light
www.unfoldinglight.net

December 30, 2019

        When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi,
        he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children
        in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under.
        Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: 
                “A voice was heard in Ramah,
                        wailing and loud lamentation,
                Rachel weeping for her children;
                        she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.”
                                          — Matthew 2.16-18

Every year, politely aghast,
we push you aside, Rachel,
firmly usher you off stage
away from the baby
asleep in the manger,
no crying he makes,
so you don’t wake him
with your wailing.
Again this year you aren’t invited
to our pageant.

Let us come and kneel instead
at your cradle—empty—
your wanting lap,
and behold your devastation:
at the prison doors,
the border walls, the tent cities.
For once let’s abandon our denial
that you are the reason he came,
not our comfort and joy,
that our violence is the manger
into which he empties himself,
your grief the abyss he willingly enters.
Your cry is his voice.
With you we shove him offstage,
and our complicity—
until we confess
we have ravaged the manger;
this is Good Friday,
and he does not bear his cross alone.

For you, Rachel,
and your children,
we still our confident carols,
hold silence,
and let your lamentation
be the song of our angels.      

__________________
Steve Garnaas-Holmes
Unfolding Light
www.unfoldinglight.net

December 27, 2019

Take my breast. I give it to you with tender joy.

As I seep into you you seep deeper into my heart.

The Word made flesh in the milk of my love.

This is my body, given for you.

Drink of me, and I will be in you.

My flesh becomes yours.

Let my love become you.

__________________
Steve Garnaas-Holmes
Unfolding Light
www.unfoldinglight.net

December 26, 2019

Little child,
Welcome.

Sit in the lap of my heart
and never leave.

Be born in my breath,
my heartbeat, my thoughts.

Child of God,
flesh of love,

take my hand
and lead me.

Steve Garnaas-Holmes
Unfolding Light
www.unfoldinglight.net

December 25, 2019

Angels say, 
        Holiness is near.

Joseph says,
        Welcome mystery.

The stars say, 
        Open your eyes in wonder.

Shepherds say,
         We who are poor are not afraid.

The sheep say,
         Hush.

Mary says, 
        Your struggles are blessed.

The child says,
        Your flesh is my flesh.

God says,
         I am here.

__________________
Steve Garnaas-Holmes
Unfolding Light
www.unfoldinglight.net

December 24, 2019

May the coming of Christ
deepen your wonder
and widen your gratitude.

May the helpless child
bring forth your tenderness
and strengthen your love.

May the gentle mother
give you courage to embrace the holy
and find the divine in yourself.

May the child who shares our death
bring light into your darkness,
and hope to your weariness.

May the holy family in the stable
open your heart to the poor,
the homeless, the refugee.

May the child sought by soldiers
embolden you to cry out
and empower you to resist injustice.

May the angels who sing above you
awaken your heart
and surround you with beauty.

May the One Who Comes
remind you of your belovedness
and fill you with kindness and mercy,
and give you joy.

December 23, 2019