I love Richard Rohr’s explanation of the Universal Christ. “No one comes to the Father except through Christ” (not the mere person of Jesus). The Christ is the universal unitive consciousness that is available to everyone. Some people have realized this universal consciousness, but most people have not. Many people who have realized it do not identify as Christians. And they are saved.
This passage is referring to the anointing of David as King of Israel. David’s eldest brother, Eliab, is NOT the chosen one. We are reminded not to be persuaded by external appearances or preconceived notions – because God is the One who sees into the heart of the one who is placed in charge of others. This reminds me of a certain false “king” in our own time….
“As Jesse and his sons came to the sacrifice, Samuel looked at Eliab and thought, ‘Surely the Lord’s anointed is here before him.’ But the Lord said to Samuel: ‘Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature, because I have rejected him. Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance but the Lord looks into the heart.’” 
(1 Samuel 16:6-7)
Today, I’m thinking about what it means to be a good caretaker – a person who takes care of….
What?
Usually we think of material objects. Yes, indeed.
My husband and I were discussing the way we care for our humble house. As a child, I spent seven years living in a mobile home with my parents and older brother. My mother always kept the house immaculate, and taught me to do the same. I learned the important lesson of being a good caretaker of whatever I “own” no matter how small or simple it may seem to be. I put the word “own” in quotation marks because I don’t believe we actually own anything. Whatever we have in our lives is pure gift.
Our culture, of course, believes in private ownership of everything, but the reality is that we have been given things for a short amount of time (days, months, maybe years) – and given the opportunity to care for them to the very best of our ability. The monetary value of these items doesn’t matter in the least.
So, my practice is to be a good caretaker of my house, my car, my clothing. I’m sure this caretaking duty also applies to my place of employment, my family members, my pets, my own body/mind.
My body is my vehicle for moving through life in this world, so I aim to give it healthy food, rest, and exercise.
My mind is a gift which I always want to nurture with wholesome entertainment, study, and meditation.
The term “caretaker” even suggests a kind of emotional detachment. Basically, I “take care” of everything because it’s the proper thing to do. Not because I expect a reward or because I’m entitled to something or because I fear losing it.
From a spiritual perspective, I explain that I do everything as a service to God. Since God has given me everything I have in my life, I’m happy to be a good caretaker out of gratitude.
What does this caretaker topic bring up for you?
This exclamation from John the Baptist, “You brood of vipers!” has always made me want to burst out laughing. I always at least smile when I read or hear the words.
The words are directed to the formal religious leaders of the time who, like many religious leaders in all time periods, think they have all the answers and feel secure in their own righteousness as “children of Abraham.” John the Baptist insults them (“vipers!”) and compares them to trees that bear bad fruit and to the chaff left over from the winnowing of wheat.
While I chuckle and instinctively think of folks I believe should hear this message in our day, I know the real message is meant for me. What in me needs to wake up and repent of unwholesome thoughts, words, and deeds? How can I become a tree that bears good fruit in this world? It’s never too late to begin again.
Today is the first Sunday of Advent, the time of year when Christians prepare for the coming of Jesus at Christmas and prepare for his return.
I love the idea that, just like with Mary, the mother of Jesus, God somehow makes “requests” of us to enable God to manifest in the world. These requests are happening all the time, but we often miss them. Every day we are given opportunities to let the Light of God in, but we might also choose to obstruct the Light or even bring darkness instead.
From Rev. Richard Rohr: “Mary is the model of the faith to which God calls all of us: a total and unreserved YES to God’s request to be present in and to the world through us.”
Holistic Yoga & Spiritual Guidance 