{"id":3598,"date":"2023-12-11T14:34:38","date_gmt":"2023-12-11T14:34:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.firstpresvaldosta.org\/?p=3598"},"modified":"2023-12-11T14:34:38","modified_gmt":"2023-12-11T14:34:38","slug":"peace-the-message-of-the-birds-by-kate-westerlund","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.firstpresvaldosta.org\/index.php\/2023\/12\/11\/peace-the-message-of-the-birds-by-kate-westerlund\/","title":{"rendered":"Peace: The Message of the Birds (by Kate Westerlund)"},"content":{"rendered":"

December 10, 2023<\/span>
\nSecond Sunday of Advent<\/span>
\nPEACE:\u00a0 The Message of the Birds (by Kate Westerlund)<\/span>
\nPsalm 85:1-2, 8-13 \/ Mark 1:1-8<\/span>
\n\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

By show of hands, do we have any professional bird watchers in the congregation?\u00a0 I\u2019m not a professional bird watcher, however, I do love to sit and watch the birds from my sunroom, and I have a handy set of binoculars on my table when I want to get a closer look.\u00a0 Sometimes I examine their colors and the way they zip back and forth across the yard.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What I can\u2019t do from my sunroom is hear them chirp.\u00a0 I can\u2019t hear them singing or talking back and forth without going outside to listen.<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019m going to talk a little bit more about birds in the Bible, but first, let me read our second book in our Storybook Advent, \u201cThe Message of the Birds,\u201d by Kate Westerlund.<\/span><\/p>\n

(READ)<\/span><\/p>\n

Birds are mentioned throughout the Bible, and serve as powerful symbols and metaphors for important ideas and values.\u00a0 From the dove as a symbol of peace to the eagle as a symbol of strength, these birds offer insights into our relationship with God, our connection to the natural world, and our own human nature.\u00a0 By exploring these stories and symbols, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the beauty and complexity of the world around us, and a greater understanding of our place in it.<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, in 1 Kings, ravens were commanded by God to bring food to Elijah while he was hiding from King Ahab.\u00a0 They bring him bread and meat in the morning and evening so he can survive in the wilderness.<\/span><\/p>\n

God sent a raven and a dove to Noah while he was on the ark.\u00a0 In Genesis 8, it says, \u201cAfter forty days Noah opened a window he had made in the ark and sent out a raven, and it kept flying back and forth until the water had dried up from the earth.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Then, later in Genesis 8, Noah sends out a dove to see if the floodwaters have receded.\u00a0 The dove flies back and forth finding no place to rest until the waters have dried up.\u00a0 On the third attempt, the dove returns with an olive leaf in its beak, indicating dry land.<\/span><\/p>\n

The bird most mentioned in the Bible is the dove, being mentioned more than 50 times, and are used as symbols of peace, love, and the Holy Spirit.\u00a0 The dove\u2019s significance has gained popularity as a symbol of peace and the presence of the divine.<\/span><\/p>\n

In Matthew, the hen is used by Jesus as an image of a protector gathering her chicks under her wings describing his own desire to gather and protect the people of Jerusalem.\u00a0 He says, \u201cJerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Jeremiah says, \u201cEven the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons, and the dove, the swift and the thrush observe the time of their migration.\u00a0 But my people do not know the requirements of the LORD.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Luke tells us to \u201cConsider the ravens:\u00a0 They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them.\u00a0 And how much more valuable you are than birds!\u201d\u00a0 We are to trust in God\u2019s provision and care.<\/span><\/p>\n

Eagles are used as symbols of strength, power, victory, and to represent God\u2019s protection and care for his people.\u00a0 Remember in Isaiah, \u201cBut those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.\u00a0 They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.\u201d\u00a0 Put your trust in God to have strength to rise above your troubles and soar like eagles, and be at peace.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sparrows represent God\u2019s care and also humility and meekness.\u00a0 Jesus speaks in Matthew of the sparrows who had little value, yet God cared for them, and will care for us even more than many sparrows.\u00a0 The Psalmist writes, \u201cEven the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young \u2013 a place near your altar, LORD Almighty, my King and my God.\u201d\u00a0 The sparrow is content to make its home in a small and humble place near the altar of God, a sacred and holy place.<\/span><\/p>\n

So I love this story, \u201cThe Message of the Birds,\u201d with the birds listening ever so intently from the rafters as the baby Jesus coos below them in his manger.\u00a0 But unlike adults who just hear cooing, the birds hear the message, a song, a special song of joy and goodwill.\u00a0 A song of blessing.<\/span><\/p>\n

They hear the message ever so clearly and recognize its importance and the urgency to get the word out, just like John the Baptist, they scurry out to deliver this ever so important message.<\/span><\/p>\n

And to whom do they carry the message?\u00a0 The children, the ones who listen with their hearts.\u00a0 The ones who are still filled with wonder and curiosity, so much so that they are willing to hear the special song the birds sing.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hand in hand, all nationalities joined together, holding the light of Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit, they gather to listen, and they hear \u201cLet there be peace.\u00a0 Peace on Earth!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

During this Advent season, have we closed our ears, or are we still waiting to hear the message, to hear the special song that brings joy and goodwill to all?\u00a0 Oh, how I long to hear it!!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Listen, \u201cLet there be peace.\u00a0 Peace on Earth!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Say it with me, \u201cLet there be peace.\u00a0 Peace on Earth!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Amen.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

*Cover Art by Unsplash; used with Subscription<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

December 10, 2023 Second Sunday of Advent PEACE:\u00a0 The Message of the Birds (by Kate Westerlund) Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13 \/ Mark 1:1-8 By show of hands, do we have any professional bird watchers in the congregation?\u00a0 I\u2019m not a professional bird watcher, however, I do love to sit and watch the birds from my sunroom, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[76],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nPeace: The Message of the Birds (by Kate Westerlund) - First Presbyterian Church Valdosta<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.firstpresvaldosta.org\/index.php\/2023\/12\/11\/peace-the-message-of-the-birds-by-kate-westerlund\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Peace: The Message of the Birds (by Kate Westerlund) - 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