Can You Actually Comprehend Such A Thing?

 The Holy Spirit ,The Angel Gabriel, tell of God’s Possibilities.

“Don’t be afraid Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now you will conceive in your womb; and bear a son.”

“The Holy Spirit will come upon you.  And the power of the Most High will overshadow you; the child to be born will be Holy." (Luke 1:30-35)

Brain shift:

What happened to Mary; happens to each of us when we are baptized.

And, I might add, maybe even when we are not baptized.

The Holy Spirit is conceived in us — lives in us — becomes pregnant in us.

And then uses us to be God’s word, God’s light.

We are to reveal, to the world, the love of God, His peace, His will.

It is the greatest gift of all.

So what thoughts, or feelings, are brought to your attention when I suggest the God lives in you; right here in the most ordinary of places.

We are to be about revealing Him right here where we live today — any day, any where.

Does that suggestion light up your very human mindset?

Can you even imagine such a thing?

Well I am here to tell you that is all possible with the Mighty God I believe in.

25 ‘I have said these things to you while I am still with you. ²⁶But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.(Jn.14)

The Word Became Flesh

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

As far as I am concerned this passage tells of an amazing gift God brought to earth in the Baby Jesus.  I am going to attempt to unwrap this gift as best I can with my limited mind.

 However, I need to offer an honest warning: What you will read are words and thoughts in this message that makes perfect sense to me as I sit here in my chair all alone.

With no one else to enter into my limited-self conversation.

My mine works in thoughts that sometimes jerk — don’t run smoothly — but it all makes perfect sense to me sitting here with my fingers moving on the keys of my computer.

It is the way my mind makes order out of the Bible truth. 

The “incarnation of God” in the baby boy is not easily explained.

What I hope you will understand is how personal, intimately personal this Gospel is for each of us.

“Incarnation,” from the latin, means “in the flesh.”

This passage, from John. is explaining the true — actual — identity of Jesus.

The “Word” — God’s creative energy — from the very beginning.

I invite you to think about how God created, all that is, in the beginning of time.(see Geneses 1&2) 

God spoke.

    God spoke and it was!

                     “Let there be: And there was light.

                                              Light in the darkness.

There was earth, sky and water.

                                    And there was life.

animals

             birds 

                plants 

           humans.

That was “the Word” in the beginning.

Jesus is the Word of God — in the beginning and now.

The baby in the manger, God’s entire divine fullness dwelled.

Brain shift:

The Word informs.

                The light reveals. 

“The Word became flesh. And revealed God’s heart — God’s heart, God’s love.  God’s Peace and good will.  God’s divine will being done on earth.

An absence of arrogance for all people.

Grace upon grace.

That is what the Angel announced at the Christ child’s birth.

The Christmas story goes much furthers than what happened on the first holy night.

It is actually has to do with how God operates even now in you and me today.

That tiny baby, born in a dirty manager, grew up like all little boys.  He grew into a man who revealed himself — that is, revealed God to all who would listen,

Brain shift:

Now here is where we need to move.  We need to move away from this well told story; and move into how God works in us today.

God lives in all of us in much the same way as he live in Jesus skin.

Later in John’s Gospel Jesus tell us how it all works.  You can find it in chapters 14-16.

Jesus tells his Disciples all of this as he is preparing to leave his earthly body:

“I will not leave you orphaned, I am coming to you.”

“ In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; be cause I live, you also will live”

“I am in he father, and you in me. and I in you.”

“I am the vine, you are the branches”

An intimate connection -- incarnation -- an extremely intimate connection between God, Jesus and us.

God’s light, God’s word equals Jesus.

Now is to be revealed through you and me.

God’s Word first came into being in that baby boy on the first Christmas.

When Jesus/God left his physical body; he left us with himself in the form of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit who live in our physical bodies.

Jesus tell the disciples: 

I have said these things while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything. And remind you of all that I have said to you.

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you.”

“Incarnation can be grasped as one of God’s way of engaging with us.”(p 148 The Haunt of Grace by Ted Loder)

                                     More tomorrow

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²He was in the beginning with God. ³All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being ⁴in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. ⁵The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. ⁸He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. ⁹The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. ¹¹He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. ¹²But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, ¹³who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. ¹⁵(John testified to him and cried out, ‘This was he of whom I said, “He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.” ’) ¹⁶From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. ¹⁷The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known. (Jn.1)

The Christ Child Brought Shalom

 

" ...And On Earth Peace..”

I received a Christmas card many years ago, that I still have.  The front was a beautiful midnight blue with the word PEACE.  Inside the message: “Peace is not a season.  It is a way of life.”

The night of Jesus’ birth the Angels announced his mission for all the world to hear: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” (Luke 2:14) 

The Greek word for peace, in that passage, comes form the Hebrew word shalom. Shalom — peace — is a state of being.  A presence of well-being that encompasses not only the individual but the environment.  

Peace is the absence of violence and/or major conflict and confusion, opposite of any kind of disturbance.

“St. Augustine defines peace as ‘the clam that come from order.’  For him, that order  is founded on the equilibrium of, or balance, between and among, all the parts of the body, the body and the soul, humanity and God, and the people constituting the political community.’  It is a comprehensive and compelling notion…..(Stephen B.Boyd, p.98 Feasting on the Word, year C volume 1)

Shalom is a gift from Yahweh -- the primary source of shalom.  Shalom, both personal and national, is a state of stability.

  

In the ancient world, and even in todays world, Shalom is used as a greeting.  Like saying hello, or how are you.  But it carries a much deeper, and profound meaning,  offering the person well-being.

Jesus came to bring this shalom to all the earth. 

What does that truly mean in our world today?

8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger." 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!" 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.”(Luke 2:8-15)

Joy To The World The LORD Has Come

 

reboot

One of the most favorite Christmas hymns, other than Silent Night, is Joy To The World. 

The very first line announces a profound truth:  “…the Lord is come.”  

The Lord, who “rules with truth and grace;” and “wonders of his love” brings joy to earth.

  

The word to this song brings a phenomenon, an epiphany, of something exceptionally good.  Something that will make a huge difference upon the earth.

Peace and Joy live side by side.

      Both are basically impossible to describe.

                 God is the source of both peace and joy. 

 

Joy is a feeling of calm, contentment and a since that all is right.  

Joy is often brief, fleeting, momentary; then gone but not forgotten.  

Sometimes the moment last for a little while before it begins to fad.

Try this one on:  In the ancient Hebrew joy denotes “a gracious disposition that finds expression in a gracious action.”  

God is the source of this action.  An action that: “expresses spontaneous goodness.  God’s grace converted into acts.”

Reflect on that a minute.  What do you hear?

There are some passages from John that refer to this phenomenon of joy.

8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 11 I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.(Jn. 15:8-11)

There is a participation involved in this God-joy.

24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.(Jn. 16;24)

God prompts something in us to be.  To be, to feel, to act, and to think opposite of the expectation of the world.  When we “abide in” — submit to — Jesus’ love; there is something that allows us to respond in away that, “expresses spontaneous goodness.”  Or kindness.

When we act with spontaneous goodness something inside of us changes.  We take pleasure in the tiniest thing.  We begin to see others with distinctive eyes.  Eyes that are new, and I’ll say, clearer.  Maybe our judgment is less critical — more loving.  

When we grow, with God’s joy prompting us, life begins to take on a less tense emotional track.  Not so many ‘have toos’ and more ‘get toos.’

   

Jesus came so that we might learn to live with faith in His truth — His way.  And when we do, we grow into a deeper trust in his truth.  We find a life with many moments of pure joy.  

10 …I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. (John 10:10)

Joy is abundant life.

What Do I Want For Christmas ?

 What Do I Want For Christmas ?

What do I want for Christmas?

I want to kneel in Bethlehem,

the air thick with alleluia,

    the angels singing

that God is born among us.

In the light of the Star, 

I want to see them come,

the wise ones and the humble.

I want to see them come

   bearing whatever they treasure

to lay at the feet

    of him who gives his life.

What do I want for Christmas?

To see in that stable

the whole world kneeling in thanks

           for a promise kept;

    new life.

For in his nativity 

we find ours.

Anne Weems

Don't Be Terrified

8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: ¹¹to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹²This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ ¹³And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, ¹⁴ ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favours!’

The call, down through the ages: Do not be afraid for see -- I am bring you good news of great joy for all people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.

The angels appeared in the glory of the Lord and announced to a terrified group of shepherds: Do not be afraid.

Do not be terrified.

In the year 2021 the world needs to hear this angelic call to trust in God's wisdom.

It is not a new request. The Prophets of old were continually calling people to remember God's promise of possibility -- the promise that God is to be trusted above all the noise and destructive activity.

"Those who have ears listen."  Was the baby Jesus advice.

 ....for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: ¹¹to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹²This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.'

God, wrapped in bands of clothe lying in a manger, on that cold night.

Just think about that.

We hear these words so often that we miss the clue.  

The clue of where the good new of great joy comes from.

God born in the skin of that baby.

A God who cared so much for his human creation that he finally stop living out in cyber space some where. 

He decided to physically, come down among his children, to help them live in peace and good will. 

instead of their own clueless ways of being.

You see, it is my belief that God was completely aware of our inability to comprehend the truth of God's omnipotence -- unlimited great power.

That is, we human beings are so attuned to the human way of thinking and being; that we can only believe in a god that does it our way.  And that way of understanding leads us into false, flawed, conclusions about who and what and how God is.

And thus our fear.

The fear that we can't make life right. So then, neither can God make things right.  And so then how can anything become right?

And our minds go into a huge spinning conversation without any answers.

That is why, I think, God needed to come down to our level.  To actually walk along beside us and help us to finally do it his way.

"Those who have ears listen."

Really try to hear this magnificent, extravagant, promise born that first night as Mary gave birth to a new hope for the entire world.

Don't be so incredulous to something that can move our complicated lives into the possibility of peaceful being.

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. ²This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. ³All went to their own towns to be registered. ⁴Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. ⁵He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. ⁶While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. ⁷And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: ¹¹to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹²This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ ¹³And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 

¹⁴ ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,
   and on earth peace among those whom he favours!’

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’ ¹⁶So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. ¹⁷When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; ¹⁸and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. ¹⁹But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. (Luke 2)

 

The Light Can Outshine The Darkness

⁶ For a child has been born for us,
   a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders;
   and he is named
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
   Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 
⁷ His authority shall grow continually,
   and there shall be endless peace.

There have been multiple discussions, within the theological circles, about whether Isaiah was referring to Christ’s birth in this passage.

Personally, I choose to side with those who think Isaiah had been given the vision of hope — reversal of greedy human egos -- to come into the world with the promised Messiah 

Isaiah was speaking at a time when the world around him was in the throws of terrible, destructive, leadership.  

It was most certainly a time of “Deep darkness.” That is in the shadow of death itself.  In the Hebrew: the land of the dead. No more positive life within the people. No hope, nor strength to count on to sustain them. 

This condition is spelled out for us at the end of chapter 8:

¹⁹Now if people say to you, ‘Consult the ghosts and the familiar spirits that chirp and mutter; should not a people consult their gods, the dead on behalf of the living, ²⁰for teaching and for instruction?’ surely, those who speak like this will have no dawn! ²¹They will pass through the land, greatly distressed and hungry; when they are hungry, they will be enraged and will curse their king and their gods. They will turn their faces upwards, ²²or they will look to the earth, but will see only distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish; and they will be thrust into thick darkness.(Is. 8)

Into that darkness came a radiant light.

A light delivered in the form of a tiny baby boy.

“And a child shall lead them.” (Is. 11:6)

⁶ For a child has been born for us,
   a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders;
   and he is named
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
   Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
⁷ His authority shall grow continually,
   and there shall be endless peace.

Now as most bearings of good new, this one does seem a tiny bit crazy, to say the least.                                                                                                                 

Really? There shall be endless peace?

It is a dream.  Right?

Those words were predicted in the midst of the ancient world. 

Jesus was born much later.

And still, today, the peace promised is basically nonexistent.  Or so it seems.

Many people come, on Christmas Eve, to hear the Christmas story.  Most of them only come on Christmas and Easter.  That isn't a judgement, it is simply a sad truth.

They come into the dimly lite church building from a world outside that is less than peaceful.  Some of them find a bit of peace as they sing Silent Night in a candle lite moment.

And then they return to the world they live in everyday.

This sad truth often haunts my heart.

I wish there was something they hear or experience, in that worship service, that they could really believe and hold on to.

Something that would help them realize that readings like Isaiah are meant to being the news of extraordinary possibility. A possibilities that our world situation constantly Denys as possible.

My truth is that God came into the messy -- distructive -- world to bring hope, and joy, and the calm of peace.

He came to create a world where all people might feel safe and accepted.

He came to complete God's original design for living -- where his human creatures could put aside their pride. Living in faith toward peace and good-will.

I believe that God is still, today, working on that unbelievable possibility right here on this earth.

And if the nightly news would just start telling more stories about how most people are good, and caring, and willing to help; giving less concerned about the bully and power hungry people.  Then maybe, just maybe, more people would realize that our world is not in such dire straits after all.

Then maybe:  ^5.. all the boots of the tramping warriors, and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire. 

Then maybe people would see the possibility that God is active in the mix of good and not so good.

   He will establish and uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
   from this time onwards and for evermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

I am thinking that a simple -- very simple -- solution is to remove the hype that give news to the bad news.  

If they would quit giving those power hungry individual the spot light.

Then maybe the people who walk in such darkness could see the greater light.

I don't know.  What do you think?

² The people who walked in darkness
   have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness—
   on them light has shined.
³ You have multiplied the nation,
   you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
   as with joy at the harvest,
   as people exult when dividing plunder.
⁴ For the yoke of their burden,
   and the bar across their shoulders,
   the rod of their oppressor,
   you have broken as on the day of Midian.
⁵ For all the boots of the tramping warriors
   and all the garments rolled in blood
   shall be burned as fuel for the fire.
⁶ For a child has been born for us,
   a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders;
   and he is named
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
   Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
⁷ His authority shall grow continually,
   and there shall be endless peace
for the throne of David and his kingdom.
   He will establish and uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
   from this time onwards and for evermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. (Is. 9)

The Invitation To Fine Joy

⁵ Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously;
   let this be known in all the earth. 
⁶ Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion,
   for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah brings a message of hope to a fallen nation; that has suffered the very depths of suffering.

The message reminds them of God’s faithful promise of provision and strength.

Probably a difficult message to comprehend in their personal devastation.

Isaiah is clear: God forgives, comforts, and offers strength.

God will bring to those who have experienced unbelievable turmoil and unjust treatment from the oppressive powers -- peace

God will bring infectious joy to their present hopelessness.

There is to be new possibilities to come.  

There is to be new hope for a better future.

The word I want to focus on is joy.

We will hear that little word many times in the next few weeks. So I decided to do a little study on what the Greek and Hebrew language actually meant when they used  the word joy.

I will paraphrase what I have read from Theological Dictionary of the New Testament.

God will adorn their lives with deep feelings of being cared for and protected….In a more common thinking joy in us creates a need to cheer with gladness — rejoice with great busts of gratitude….It is a supreme blessing that only comes from God; creating a harmony of the soul…..this joy within springs hope..…And denotes a gracious disposition that finds expression in gracious action. (p 1301)  

The point?

When we feel that the world is "going-to-hell-in hand basket" we need to listen to the Prophet's, of old, words about how God has always worked within his human souls; and the world around them as well.

God's truth is, there is always hope -- and the promise of joy -- in those who have lived in the deepest darkness.  

We hear that there is no darkness so dark that God's light cannot penetrate it.

The question?

Can we, today, hear the Prophet's predictions joy -- of fearing no more?

You see, there is a great divide between those who find joy in their messy world.   And those who who can not muster-up the energy to trust in God's promise of presence.

During this Advent Season Isaiah is powerfully entering the world situation, as we in 2021 know it. 

He is calling us -- inviting us -- to believe what we see as impossible.

He is telling us that God is bigger than what we see as reality.

⁶ Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion,
   for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

God is in the very deepest depths of this world's mess.

God is the the very deepest depths of each of our souls.

And, and His will will prevail.

² Surely God is my salvation;
   I will trust, and will not be afraid,
for the Lord God is my strength and my might;
   he has become my salvation. 

3 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. 

⁴And you will say on that day:
Give thanks to the Lord,
   call on his name;
make known his deeds among the nations;
   proclaim that his name is exalted. 

⁵ Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously;
   let this be known in all the earth.
⁶ Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion,
   for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel. (Is. 12)