Tekau mā iwa- Rāpare 19 Hakihea - Whakamarumaru

Day 19 - Thursday 19 December - Whakamarumaru

He kaupapa mō te rā

Whakamarumaru

Whakamarumaru means to offer shade or shelter and protection. Whakamarumaru requires action not passivitiy. In any circumstance where shade, shelter or protection is offered, it is done so with a knowledge of risks and an active intent to prevent harm.

Te Taiao offers us whakamarumaru. Equally, in an act of reciprocity we can seek to be safe and sustainable and all of God’s creation will flourish.

He Karaipiture (Bible Reading)

Ruka/Luke 2:8-14

I taua wāhi hoki ētahi hēpara e noho koraha ana, e tiaki ana i tā rātou kāhui i te pō. Nā, tū ana tētahi anahera a te Ariki i ō rātou taha, ā, whiti ana te korōria o te Ariki ki a rātou, ā, tawhio noa; ā, nui whakaharahara tō rātou wehi. Nā, ka mea te anahera ki a rātou, “Kaua e mataku, tā te mea he kaikauwhau tēnei ahau ki a koutou mō te hari nui, meāke puta mai ki te iwi katoa. Nō nāianei hoki i whānau ai he Kaiwhakaora mō koutou i te pā o Rāwiri, arā a te Karaiti, te Ariki. Ko te tohu tēnei ki a koutou; e kite koutou i te tamaiti ka oti te tākai ki te kākahu, e takoto ana i te takotoranga kai mā ngā kararehe.”

Nā, ohorere tonu ko tētahi ope nui o te rangi e tū tahi ana me taua anahera, e whakamoemiti ana ki te Atua, e mea ana: “Kia whai korōria te Atua i runga rawa, kia mau te rongo ki runga ki te whenua, me te whakaaro pai ki ngā tāngata!”

There were some shepherds in that part of the country who were spending the night in the fields, taking care of their flocks. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone over them. They were terribly afraid, but the angel said to them, “Don't be afraid! I am here with good news for you, which will bring great joy to all the people. This very day in David's town your Savior was born—Christ the Lord! And this is what will prove it to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great army of heaven's angels appeared with the angel, singing praises to God:

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and peace on earth to those with whom he is pleased!”

Whakarongo/Titiro Mai (Listen/Watch)

“If you could encourage the world to do one thing, what would it be?” 100% Pure NZ

Ngā mea waihanga (Create)

A mixture of hymn book wreaths in chorus with the gingko leaf ensemble, with paua and scallop shells in a cameo appearance.

He Whakaaroaro (Reflect)

The shepherds, working in the fields were frightened by the appearance of the angels, yet they continued to show whakamarumaru to the sheep in their care. In this short excerpt from the first Christ-mas we get a glimpse of the fear of the shepherds and we also hear of God’s protection, in the person of Jesus Christ. God offers us whakamarumaru with a protection and rangimārie (peace) that carries us through troubled and difficult times even when we are scared and frightened. To be a follower of Christ doesn’t require us to have everything all together or to be strong or powerful. We don’t have to learn a certain way of doing things or follow any rules. We come to Christ-mas like the shepherds… and God welcomes us with protection and peace.

Whakahokia mai (Respond)

Go outside in the early morning or as darkness is falling at night. Sit in silence and welcome God’s peace and protection into your life.

Karakia (Pray)

Subscriber Contribution

Jo shares photos of pōhutukawa from Queen Street in Auckland. Even right in the centre of our largest city, the pōhutukawa herald Christmas. There’s an image of a church in the background and in Jo’s words, “All raising our arms to God…”