Close Encounters of the Divine Kind

December 14, 2025

In a recent gathering of local clergy with Regional Pastoral Support minister Laurie Stevenson we were guided through some Advent reflections including Joy that she symbolized as a candle in the window. Joy at Christmas, she said, is often misunderstood as constant cheerfulness yet Scripture tells a quieter truth: joy is something that comes in the morning, something that returns even after sorrow has had its time. 

That idea is based on Psalm 30:5 which says, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.“ In this verse we are reminded that seasons of sorrow and hardship are temporary, and God promises that hope, light, and lasting joy will eventually break through the darkness. It is fitting for our ongoing journey of waiting and preparing of advent toward the wonder and mystery of Christ’s birth and Christmas.

But what if the waiting and preparing brings us something that was not expected or wanting? What if it doesn’t bring joy? Once in first year university I had woken up in the night, to see a strange shaped figure at the foot of my bed which was strange because the way my bed was set up the foot was jammed right up against the wall with a bookshelf above it. Needless to say I was startled and jumped out of bed and tried to make a fast exit out my door but my legs were tangled in the sheets and I feel to the floor in my panicked state. The hard cold floor knocked some sense into me, and I thought hold on, get a grip Gaylyn.  I looked back to where the apparition had been and there was nothing. Once my heart slowed down to a more normal pace I got back up and examined my room. There had to be a rational explanation. Perhaps light from the streetlight outside my window? No, the blinds were fully closed. Perhaps something hanging off the bookshelf that had the shape of a figure? No nothing but books. Had I been dreaming? As I got back into bed I wondered, could it have been a figure, an angel or messenger come to tell me something important? Had I missed an opportunity to connect with the divine because of my fear and disbelief that that would even be possible? As I tried to go back to sleep, I offered a prayer, God, if you were trying to give me some kind of message, please come again and this time I won’t be so afraid. Well actually, I probably will be afraid but help me not to be. And though I knew this wasn’t a divine visitation like the one experienced by Mary, I nonetheless thought of her and others who had come in contact with the divine. 

In both of our scripture readings this week we hear of two individuals who were surprised by God in what they may not have initially thought of as a joyful experience. First, we have the prophet Jeremiah when he was just a teenager, same age as most of our confirmands, now our newest members who hears God’s call to him. God says he knew him before he was even shaped in his mother’s womb and saw in him the material of a prophet who would speak to the nations.  With horror in his voice Jeremiah responds, don’t look at me, I’m only a teenager who knows nothing!

Mary is visited by the angel Gabriel who tells here she’s been blessed by God and will carry the holy child. And she responds, “How can this be? I am too young!” But the angel reassures her that there is nothing God cannot do. In each of these cases God reaches out to individuals with a purpose for them and like many of us, their first response is, “No way”, I’m too young, or too old. I’m not good a speaking, I’m too busy, I don’t think I’m ready to do something like that that feels so outside my comfort zone.

 I know of others who have had divine visits, words spoken to them in the dead of night that lead them to quit their corporate job and go into ministry, or a bright light filling a room that brought healing that was unexpected and difficult to explain. Even I’ve experience something that felt like a warm breeze across my whole body that seemed to say, my peace I give you, Trust me, All will be well. 

In Jeremiah’s case, he said I can’t speak, but God said I will give you the words. Mary was deeply troubled by the news that she would have a baby when she was engaged to Joseph, and she knew the shameful state she would be in if the public knew. Yet God said, “You are blessed. Don’t be afraid.”  I see some patterns here of what happens when we encounter the Divine. Often the story begins, ‘Don’t be afraid.’ Why say that? Because God knows our human reaction is likely to be fear. When the unexpected enters our lives we fear it, we fear the unknown, we fear what will be expected of us. We fear what the end result might be. We fear our own sense of vulnerability. 

Secondly, when God or God’s angels or messengers speak to we mere mortals we don’t often feel worthy or capable. Our first response, is to list all of the reasons we can’t do whatever we’ve been asked to do. We see ourselves one way whereas I believe God sees us differently. Like a parent or teacher who sometimes sees a talent or potential in a student that they don’t always have the confidence or self-awareness to see in themselves. God is like that with each of us. Knowing since before we were formed in the womb, God sees us, really sees us, our frailties our faults, yet nonetheless loves us and sees that more is possible for us than we might see or believe.

And finally, in each of these situations God reassures those being invited to act that we are not alone. Whatever is asked of us, we are given the tools and means to accomplish what is asked. Even in death, God promises to be with us. Our creed proclaims with conviction, “We are not alone.” Whatever is asked of us; whatever we face or experience we are beloved children of our creator, and we are never abandoned.

In her Advent reflection Laurie went on to describe Joy as being like a candle in the window, an old gesture of welcome – an invitation, a beacon, a sign of warmth when the night feels long. Today we might imagine the porch light on as holding the same intention of welcome and hospitality. Even from far down the road, its glow catches the eye and tells the traveller: You’re not alone. You belong here. There is room for you. Joy works the same way. It doesn’t erase hardship; it simply shines through it. It is a light that reaches us even when we don’t feel particularly joyful.  Like the light on the front porch or the glow from a window, joy is invitational. It nudges us forward especially when we feel weary of the journey. Joy like light that shines in the dark, beacons us forward, inspires us to keep moving forward toward that which calls us. Joy is not really something we create for ourselves, it is a gift from within I believe that God offers to us. I remember an old bible camp song, I’ve got joy like a fountain, I’ve got joy like a fountain in my soul….it seems to spring forth and surprise sometimes.

It’s something that emerges from within from some deep place within us. I came across this poem by Donna Ashworth in “Wild Hope” that I thought expressed this beautifully.

Joy does not arrive with a fanfare

On a red carpet strewn

With flowers of a perfect life

Joy sneaks in

As you pour a cup of coffee

Watching the sun

 hit your favourite tree just right.

And you usher Joy away

Because you are not ready for her

Your house is not as it should be

for such a distinguished guest.

But joy you see,

Craves nothing for your messy home

Or your bank balance

Or your waistline

Joy is supposed to slither through

The cracks of your imperfect life

That’s how joy works

You cannot truly invite her

You can only be ready when she appears

And hug her with meaning

Because in this very moment Joy chose you!

Like Joy, God’s divine presence enters our lives in surprising and astonishing ways. Unexpectedly like an infant born in a stable who comes to save the world with ways of peace and love and justice.

Like Jeremiah & Mary and many others who have gone before us and will follow us in faith, we are only asked to be ready to receive that presence, not in fear, but in hope and trust that we are enough and that we can begin to see ourselves as the beloved being that our Creator knew us to be before we were even shaped in our mothers’ womb.

That is our Advent hope for peace and the ultimate joy we can experience in our close encounters of the most loving Divine kind.

 Joy to the world indeed! Amen