Monday, December 20

 Two nations are in your womb,

    and two peoples born of you shall be divided;
the one shall be stronger than the other,
    the elder shall serve the younger. (Genesis 25:23)

In today’s reading, we meet one of the core characters in the book of Genesis.  Jacob’s story unfolds throughout 13 chapters.  Even before Jacob and his brother, Esau, are born, they are already in conflict.  

What must it have been like for Rebeka to have her unborn sons disagreeing to the point that she goes to inquire of God?  We know that things didn’t get better even after they were born.  Rebeka is told she is carrying what will become the Israelites and the Edomites. Wars will be fought, relationships fractured, and power struggles between nations.  

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have all experienced immense amounts of conflict. Conflicts within churches, families and our communities have ranged from masks vs. unmasked, vaccinated vs. unvaccinated, this politician or that politician, and the list could go on. We are all familiar with division and conflict.

 To complicate the situation even more, the writer of Genesis tells us how Isaac and Rebekah took opposing positions and favored one son over the other. But that can easily happen to us too.  It might not be picking our favorite family member, but we can easily fall into the trap of aligning ourselves with positions and people that think like us and are like us. When we do this, we can sometimes shut out how God is calling us to serve and love or, in the words of Isaiah 43:19, “Behold, I am doing a new thing” in our lives. 

This Advent, how is God calling you and me to work together with those who believe and live differently than we do?  How can we overcome our differences with others so that together we can reflect God’s love in the world? 

 Let us pray. Incarnate God, help me this Advent to be open to how you are at work in mine and in the lives of others.  Thank you for the birth of your son who comes to heal divided people and to make us one in you.  Amen. 

The Reverend Fritz Fowler is Lead Pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lansdale.