Advent: Correcting the Story - Sunday, December 29
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
Luke 2:13-14
I have some sage in my office from Wounded Knee, South Dakota. It was collected and given to me several years ago by a close friend who lives on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, where the Wounded Knee Massacre occurred on December 29, 1890.
Most of us have a good idea of what happened at Wounded Knee on that day between Christmas and New Year's Day. Some of the massacres few survivors, badly wounded and extremely distraught, sought refuge inside the Episcopal Chapel at Pine Ridge. Over the pulpit, a banner proclaimed, “Peace on earth, goodwill to men.”
The Massacre of Wounded Knee happened 129 years ago. That may seem like ancient history, but to the Lakota, it is not. Theirs was a culture of oral history, of paying attention to stories. The story of Wounded Knee was passed on, and each generation heard and paid attention to the story of pain caused by the white man.
It is stories like these that have turned Native people away from Christianity, "the white man's religion." Unfortunately, they were shown and told an incorrect story of Jesus. Instead of God's grace and mercy, they experienced sinful man. Lutheran Indian Ministries works to correct this story.
So, this season, are we paying attention? Did we listen and pay attention to the story which first happened over 2,000 years ago in the town of Bethlehem? Are we proclaiming the glory of God like the angels who appeared to the shepherds? Are we correcting the story of Jesus for the Native people who only know pain caused by those claiming to be his followers?
Dear Lord, strengthen our resolve to share your Word of peace and reconciliation in this sinful world. Amen.