Drummond Hill

Wednesday Meditation (Isaiah 60:1)

Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.

Christians celebrate and give God thanks on January 6, marking Epiphany. Jesus was revealed to the world according to many Christians. This group of Christians celebrate the day of Jesus receiving the three wise men or magi. Many other Christians, however, remember Jesus’ baptism. Through the baptism, Jesus was revealed as the Son of God. We tend to rejoice in Jesus' baptism more than the arrival of the magi. Read more

Wednesday Meditation (Luke 2:20)

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Many questions. Yes, too many questions come to mind. But this is not the week for questions. Indeed, this is the weak for glorifying and praising God. Yet, since Boxing Day I have been amazed. Amazed at all these people who have felt that somehow they missed a day of shopping or outing because of the terrible snow and wind storm on Christmas Eve. They are out in full force at every store. They are determined to get the bargain before the year end sales are over. It is a sight to behold–the packed parking lots and packed stores. Read more

Wednesday Meditation (Isaiah 35:1,2)

Then Isaiah said: "Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.”

Wearying mortals and God! This phrase describes a lot about the way humanity functions. Indeed, the world has become so dense and overwhelming that many people are finding it difficult to be positive.

Wednesday Meditation (Isaiah 35:1,2)

The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, the majesty of our God.

The third week of Advent is set as a time for joy. Yes, we are to prepare the coming of our Lord with joy.

I sometimes wonder if joy is something we can really share in today’s world. People are busy. Their faces are often stoic expressions, revealing their hard lives. A cashier at one of our supermarkets, a late middle aged woman, had one of those tired and ready-to-go-home looks. It must have been a long day for her, even though I was there before 4 pm. She had no particular enthusiasm for doing what she was doing. People who were before me had similar facial expressions. They exchanged very formal matters of courtesy greetings with the cashier. They did not engage in any small talks. Everyone was going through motions.

Wednesday Meditation (Isaiah 11:1-4)

A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. The spirit of the LORD shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. His delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear; but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.

A wonder of wonders is that, when a baby is born, that little person is a stranger to us all except to her mother. We welcome the infant not only because we know the mother, but because she comes in total innocence and as one of the most vulnerable human beings. Something about such a newborn who gathers all our attention and care. Instinctively our hearts reach out to care and protect this new life. When this baby is brought into a room full of people, it is fascinating to see how everyone tries to relate to and get a smile from her. Voices become more playful and full of gentleness. Faces relax as smiles become their expressions.