Date: 22 Dec 2002
Time: 07:07:19
This mystery that surrounds us and is in us is almost too deep to proclaim. The Word has become flesh and dwells among us? Why can't I accept my own body? Why cannot I accept the materiality of life? Why am I a docetist at heart? Why can't I get my hands dirty in the mix of darkness and light? Why can't I affirm Christ in the bowels of human suffering?
Indeed, to see his glory is to be able to do all the above!
tom in ga
Date: 12/11/2003
Time: 7:10:43 AM
The poetic opening words of John's gospel refer to Jesus as the Word that became flesh--that is, the one whose human existence incorporates God's very self.
Date: 12/11/2003
Time: 7:19:40 AM
See double images today in the lessons and in the contemplation of the birth of Jesus, our Savior.
Begin with Mary. The first image: On Christmas we see her in the stable where she "brought forth" her firstborn son. She is "treasuring" the shepherds' report of their angelic vision and pondering it in her heart.
Now the second, the double of the vision:
At the cross, her station keeping, / Stood the mournful mother weeping, / Close to Jesus to the last. / Through her heart, his sorrow sharing, / All his bitter anguish bearing, / Now at length the sword had passed. ("At the Cross, Her Station Keeping" [STABAT MATER])
Then consider Jesus. He "became flesh." See the fair little Lord Jesus, swaddled, in the straw and hay of the manger. See his glory, "the glory of an only Son coming from the Father, filled with enduring love" (Jn 1.14). "He is the reflection of God's glory and the exact imprint of God's very being" (Heb 1.3).
Now, the double of that image: See him at Pilate's judgment hall. See that once fair face bloodied from the crown of thorns; that head, bowed. Dead.
Now see ourselves, united with our risen Lord. Know that his right hand and his left hand and his holy arms have gotten him the victory. He has forever changed "this sorry Scheme of Things entire." See us, then, each of us, with our child Jesus, our risen Savior, continuing God's redeeming, remolding work.
Ah Love! Could you and I with Him conspire / To grasp this sorry Scheme of Things entire, / Would not we shatter it to bits--and then / Re-mold it nearer to the Heart's Desire! (From the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam)
Date: 12/19/2003
Time: 1:27:13 PM
I intend to reflect on the word Incarnation in "taking on humnan flesh." The great mystery is God's love for us while we were still sinners. How do we enflesh our human-ness and recognize how God is working in our lives? What can we do to make God more real in our lives? Do those reality shows help make things real or are they a sham for reality itself?
old priest in Iowa
Date: 12/20/2003
Time: 10:43:45 AM
old priest in Iowa,
You ask, "What can we do to make God more real in our lives?" If WE are DOING something to MAKE GOD more REAL in our lives, then we are creating an idol that is NOT God. It is always human temptation to control God, to make God, to be God, and sometimes our language reinforces that tendency.
Instead, maybe we should be asking, "How can we better uplift the reality of God, inspire responses to God's great and wonderful gifts, and show to the world the God the world is often too blind to see."
May first reaction to reality shows is that they are stupid, but people make money on them, so they'll probably continue for the forseeable future. The thing is, we are all living a reality show all the time. People watch us, people vote us out of their lives when they don't want to be friends anymore, people give us things when they think we've earned them, and when they want something in return. We may not be famous, but we are real, as the God who creates us is real.
Michelle
Date: 12/20/2003
Time: 1:24:23 PM
Oops, should have been, "My first reaction..."
Michelle
Date: 12/21/2003
Time: 8:55:02 PM
I need some help. A few years ago I used a story in my sermon based on this text. I think I would like to use it again - but I can't find it.
The story is about a father who is an art collector and his son who gets killed in a war. It goes on from there.....
If you have this story - please send it to me at cathyannplumer@yahoo.com
Thanks! Cathyann
Date: 12/22/2003
Time: 7:57:05 PM
Gentle brothers and sisters, I’m not enough of a computer guy to visit “chat rooms,” etc., but I came across DPS a couple of months ago, have listened (read) intently, have taken many of your words to heart and mind, and wanted to leave a few words with you now. What I am is an old-guy (61), thirty-five years an Episcopal priest, many years a shrink, very little “official” connection with the Church nowadays, but Abbot of a non-denominational religious order that works 24/7 with the “anawim,” the poorest of the poor: AIDS (105 have lived and died with us), Recovery, “illegal” immigrants, mentally ill, etc. I also travel around the country, “sitting with” and speaking to parishes (all denominations) and communities, telling the stories of our life together…yet, also hearing the stories of folks like you and those who sit in your pews, most them—as you know—trying to make some sense out of the nonsense of life. If you’d like to see what we’re up to, simply go to www.orderofchristianworkers.org and surf through the daily chaos! What I wish to say to each and all of you concerns a few observations from the DPS “comment” page: 1) with all of the clearly obvious diversity in theology, background, location, and viewpoint, you DPSers show a wonderful sense of mutual tolerance, inclusion, and kindness to one another; 2) there is, too, a real sense of intimacy and “confession”—of allowing each other to see both the pains and joys which fill your lives; 3) on many occasions, I have witnessed a sense of “pastoral care” of each other—not out of a sense of obligation, but from a sharing of the heart; 4) as the monk, Toby McCarroll, once said, “All we really have to share are our stories,” I am continually encouraged that you are willing to do so…and allow me to hear them. So—as we say here, I will continue to carry you in my heart and in my prayers of gratitude. I pray that you will continue to offer courage to one another…and that we will maintain this journey together…agreeing, arguing, struggling, pondering, searching, forgiving, and celebrating. May your holydays be filled with the same blessings and grace which you so obviously offer to others…. Fr. Tom, OCW
Date: 12/23/2003
Time: 11:57:45 AM
Is the word becoming flesh our stories which we can share with people?
Michele PA
Date: 12/23/2003
Time: 12:01:18 PM
I have no idea where to take this on Thursday and if I don't get something soon- I'm going to go nuts.
Why must John be so abstract? I was doing some reading on heraclitus, a philospher from the 6th century BCE and how he used the word LOGOS to decribe a common law- a unifier which unties all of creation- and wondering if the Hymn John uses as his prolouge is familiar with Heraclitus- and that Jesus is the common unifier- that whic untied us and is all in all
Michele PA
Date: 12/23/2003
Time: 12:04:25 PM
ack-- let me re write that last bit..
What is Jesus is the Unifier-- who unites (not unties us- although that too could work as a theme:p)
What if Jesus is the common law Heraclitus is talking about?
Date: 12/23/2003
Time: 2:09:08 PM
Cathyann -- Think this is the story you're looking for:
Years ago, there was a very wealthy man who, with his devoted young son, shared a passion for art collecting. Together they traveled around the world, adding only the finest art treasures to their collection. Priceless works by Picasso and many others adorned the walls of the family estate. The widowed elder man looked on with satisfaction as his only child became an experienced art collector. The son's trained eye and sharp business mind caused his father to beam with pride as they dealt with art collectors around the world. As winter approached, war engulfed the nation, and the young man left to serve his country. After only a few short weeks, his father received a telegram. His beloved son was missing in action. The art collector anxiously awaited more news. fearing he would never see his son again. Within days, his fears were confirmed, the young man had died while rushing a fellow soldier to a medic. Distraught and lonely, the old man faced the upcoming Christmas holidays with anguish and sadness. The joy of the season, that he and his son had so looked forward to, would visit his house no longer.
On Christmas morning, a knock on the door awakened the depressed, old man. As he walked to the door, the masterpieces of art on the walls only reminded him that his son was not coming home. As he opened the door, he was greeted by a soldier with a large package in his hands. He introduced himself to the man by saying, "I was a friend of your son. I was the one he was rescuing when he died. May I come in for a few moments? I have something to show you." As the two began to talk, the soldier told of how the man's son had told everyone of his, not to mention his father's, love of fine art. "I am an artist," said the soldier, "and I want to give you this." As the old man unwrapped the package, the paper gave way to reveal a portrait of the man's son. Though the world would never consider it the work of a genius, the painting featured the young man's face in striking detail. Overcome with emotion, the man thanked the soldier, promising to hang the picture above the fireplace. A few hours later, after the soldier had departed, the old man set about his task. True to his word, the painting went above the fireplace, pushing aside thousands of dollars worth of art. His task completed, the old man sat in his chair and spent Christmas gazing at the gift he had been given.
During the days and weeks that followed, the man realized that even though his son was no longer with him, the boy's life would live on because of those he had touched. He would soon learn that his son had rescued dozens of wounded soldiers before a bullet stilled his caring heart. As the stories of his son's gallantry continued to reach him, fatherly pride and satisfaction began to ease his grief. The painting of his son soon became his most prizedpossession, far eclipsing any interest in the pieces for which museums around the world clamored. He told his neighbors it was the greatest gift he had ever received. The following spring, the old man became ill and passed away. The art world was in anticipation, that with the collector's passing, and his only son dead, those paintings would be sold at auction.
According to the will of the old man, all of the art works would be auctioned on Christmas Day, the day he had received the greatest gift. The day soon arrived and art collectors from around the world gathered to bid on some of the world's most spectacular paintings. Dreams would be fulfilled this day; greatness would be achieved as many would claim, "I have the greatest collection." The auction began with a painting that was not on any museum's list. It was the painting of the man's son. The auctioneer asked for an opening bid, but the room was silent. Who will open the bidding with $100?," he asked. Minutes passed, and no one spoke. From the back of the room came a voice, "Who cares about that painting? It's just a picture of his son." "Let's forget about it and move on to the good stuff," more voices echoed in agreement.
"No, we have to sell this one first," replied the auctioneer. "Now, who will take the son?" Finally, a neighbor of the old man spoke. "Will you take ten dollars for the painting? That's all I have. I knew the boy, so I'd like to have it." "I have ten dollars. Will anyone go higher?" called the auctioneer. After more silence, the auctioneer said, "Going once, going twice, gone." The gavel fell.
Cheers filled the room and someone exclaimed, "Now we can get on with it and we can bid on the real treasures!" The auctioneer looked at the audience and announced that the auction was over. Stunned disbelief quieted the room. Someone spoke up and asked, "What do you mean, it's over? We didn't come here for a picture of some old guy's son. What about all of these paintings? There are millions of dollars worth of art here! I demand that you explain what is going on!" The auctioneer replied, "It's very simple. According to the will of the father, whoever takes the son...gets it all."
========
Hope that helps.
Blessings, Eric in OH
Date: 12/24/2003
Time: 6:50:25 AM
This may be too late for some, but if there's anyone else out there who's writing their Christmas day sermon on Christmas eve, like me, then here are my thoughts on John 1. I've decided to title the sermon, "The Three 'ations' of Christmas," with the 'ations' in question being Creation (vv. 1-5), Salvation (vv. 10-13) and Incarnation (v. 14). Christ (as the Word) is present in all three of those. These are three gifts that God has given us--much better than fuzzy slippers or a Christmas tie!
Blessings to you all, and peace to the world in this holy season,
macdonde in Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Date: 12/24/2003
Time: 12:03:52 PM
I tried writing my Christmas Day sermon earlier, and it just wouldn't come. So, thank you for all the recent posts, and God bless each one of you with the truth of this holyday season.
Michelle
Previous:
Date: 20 Dec 2000
Time: 23:58:34
I love this text because sometimes the Luke 2 almost takes on a fairy tale quality about it. Here we have what Christmas means - God becoming incarnate, God with us. I will be speaking of the hymn "Twas in the Moon of Wintertime", also called The Huron Carol. Most people seem to find it very strange when they first sing it. What do wandering hunters have to do with the Christmas story? Well, this was written for the Huron Indians, who wouldn't have known much about sheep, and probably didn't do much with the herding of animals. To make the story understandable to them, shepherd needed to become hunters. Some people find this offensive because "that isn't the way it's written," but that's the way it need to be sung if the Indians were to understand it. I've always found the chorus strange to sing, "Jesus your king is born, Jesus is born," with the two beats of the "your" that seems to throw things off. But that emphasis is so profound - it is "Your" king, not just the king of people back then, not just the king of those who recognize themselves in shepherd, but your king. Christ becomes incarnate anew in every culture and every life. Lisa in SoIL
Date: 21 Dec 2000
Time: 21:18:28
I suspect many are having Christmas day, but most don't preach on the John text. I really like that text, however. With all the winter weather we've been having, I'm thinking about Garrison Keillor's story called "Storm Home," about the family in town that was designated for him to go to if there was a storm during the school day and they couldn't get out to their place. He never had to go there, and never even met the couple, but he found great comfort in the idea of having a "storm home," a place to go where he would be wanted and protected. They loomed large in his imagination. As the years went by, he imagined that he could seek refuge with his storm parents from the various non-weather-related storms which plagued life. It never happened, but he found great comfort in the idea of being able to go. I'm going to talk aout Jesus Christ the God become flesh as being our "storm home," that is, the place of refuge and safety in our stormy world. I haven't really formed the whole thing, but I'm thinking in that direction. Moose
Date: 22 Dec 2000
Time: 21:39:33
A dialogue with Joan Osborne's hit song from a few years back, 'What if God was one of us', has some interesting possibilities.
RG in Ontario
Date: 23 Dec 2000
Time: 03:14:47
There is a great entry in Henri Nouwen's book "The Road to Daybreak" for March 20. He is reflecting on "The Word became flesh". I've centered my meditation around this quote. Hope it is helpful to you.
"Until now my whole life has been centered around the word: learning, teaching, reading, writing, speaking. Without the word, my life is unthinkable. A good day is a day with a good conversation, a good lecture given or heard, a good book read, or a good article written. Most of my joys and pains are connected with words.
"L'ARche, however, is built not on words, but on the body. The community of L'Arche is a community formed around the wounded bodies of handicapped people (This is where Nouwen ended living and ministering... among people who could barely sit up or feed themselves.) Feeding, cleaning, touching, holding - this is what builds the community. Words are secondary. Most handicapped people have few words to speak, and many do not speak at all. It is the language of the body that counts most of all.
"'The Word became flesh.' That is the center of the Christian message. Before the Incarnation, the relationship between body and word was unclear. Often the body was seen as a hindrance to the full realization of what the word wanted to express. But Jesus confronts us with the word that can be seen, heard, and touched. The body thus becomes the way to know the word and to enter into relationship with the word. The body of Jesus becomes the way to life. 'He who eats my body and drinks my blood will have eternal life.'
"I feel a deep resistance against this way. Somehow I have come to think about eating, drinking, washing, and dressing as so many necessary preconditions for reading, speaking, teaching, or writing. Somehow the pure word was the real thing for me. Time spent with 'material' things was necessary but needed to be kept to a mininum. But at L'Arche, that is where all the attention goes. At L'ARche the body is the place where the word is met. It is in relationship to the wounded body of the handicapped person that I must learn to discover God.
"This is very hard for me. I still find a long meal in the middle of the day a waste of time. I still think that I have more important things to do than to set the table, eat slowly, wash the dishes, and set the table again. I think, 'Surely we must eat, but the work which comes after is what counts.' But L'ARche cannot be endured with this mind set.
"I wonder when and how I will learn to fully live the Incarnation. I suppose that only the handicapped people themselves will be able to show me the way. I must trust that God will send me the teachers I need."
I'm not using the entire quote. I've just adapted parts. But I found it useful, especially since we are celebrating communion that day.
God be with you all. DGinNYC
Date: 22 Dec 1999
Time: 16:16:16
This text is one which some of us love and some of us hate. To me it is one of the most glorious passages in scripture, speaking of the Logos and the incarnation. But I've discovered over the years that to many people who are much more concrete in their thinking than I am, this is a passage which just seems like a bunch of gobbledygook to them. A big part of my focus in this message is going to be simply explaining trying to make the abstract concrete for some folks.
I think this is a great text for basic teachings on Jesus. I remain amazed at how many people who have spent decades in church pews still don't realize we teach the divinity of Jesus. Even more have no idea we teach that creation took place through Jesus. The whole point of emphasizing these basics is not to make people feel stupid, but rather to emphasize the wondrous miracle of the incarnation.
The second emphasis of my message will be on verse 12... that to those who received him he gave the power to become children of God. I think often we like Christmas because we are dealing with "baby Jesus", the "sweet little Jesus boy". You know, the baby who doesn't cry when he wakes up. To our eyes he appears defenseless, powerless, dependent on us, and subject to our control. We like that type of Jesus much more than a Jesus who reminds us of our sin, who calls for us to sacrifice our entire life, and who challenges us by living a life of purity. This will be a big opportunity to remind people of their opportunity to reunite with God through Jesus.
"Word to the People"
Dan
Date: 22 Dec 1999
Time: 16:16:57
This text is one which some of us love and some of us hate. To me it is one of the most glorious passages in scripture, speaking of the Logos and the incarnation. But I've discovered over the years that to many people who are much more concrete in their thinking than I am, this is a passage which just seems like a bunch of gobbledygook to them. A big part of my focus in this message is going to be simply explaining trying to make the abstract concrete for some folks.
I think this is a great text for basic teachings on Jesus. I remain amazed at how many people who have spent decades in church pews still don't realize we teach the divinity of Jesus. Even more have no idea we teach that creation took place through Jesus. The whole point of emphasizing these basics is not to make people feel stupid, but rather to emphasize the wondrous miracle of the incarnation.
The second emphasis of my message will be on verse 12... that to those who received him he gave the power to become children of God. I think often we like Christmas because we are dealing with "baby Jesus", the "sweet little Jesus boy". You know, the baby who doesn't cry when he wakes up. To our eyes he appears defenseless, powerless, dependent on us, and subject to our control. We like that type of Jesus much more than a Jesus who reminds us of our sin, who calls for us to sacrifice our entire life, and who challenges us by living a life of purity. This will be a big opportunity to remind people of their opportunity to reunite with God through Jesus.
"Word to the People"
Dan
Date: 22 Dec 1999
Time: 20:29:56
"In the beginning ... was the Word ....
We anticipate the new millennium, a new time, a possible new creation, a new paradise ... and at its very beginning is God ...
tom in ga
Date: 23 Dec 1999
Time: 14:19:38
The "Word" and the "Wordless Word": I am overwhelmed by this mystery...this power of ""Presence"....this "breathe of YHWH". The spirituality in psycholinguistic phenomenon calls me to research and reflect upon Heidegger, Walker Percy, and Jacques Derrida's language theories, George Kelly's "personal construct" theory, the mysticism of Hasidism and Kabbalah of jewish tradition dealing with the word...not to forget the work of Kierkegarrd and Barth opening vistas to the Word of God. Such abstract research meditation and yet the Sacred Presence of Love Incarnate meets me/us in encounter, confrontation, in the our unique concrete particularity. Nail-Bender's revelations in personal witness of living stories does so much more than psycholinguistic theory! Just reflecting on this powerful scripture of the Word, not to be taken for granted....."He who reads the Torah, and is not troubled by it...who prays simply because he prayed yesterday......the worst scoundrel is better than he". (saying from Hasidism) PaideiaSCO in north ga mts seeking a vision of the Word in the night made Holy
Date: 27 Dec 1999
Time: 15:40:43
I am taken by the power to become Children of God, as is Dan, in v 12. I think that I also will tie into 17 & 18. The Law came through Moses, but through the grace of Jesus we see the spirit of the Law that allow us to become children of God. Just some early thoughts. revd
Date: 27 Dec 1999
Time: 15:59:18
The Law is words; the spirit of the Law is the Word. The Law gives order; the spirit of the Law gives love and grace with the Law. Therefore, we can act out love for one another without fear. revd
Date: 27 Dec 1999
Time: 17:52:16
In UMC tradition I have selected the first hymn for the first Sunday of the New year; " And Are We Yet Alive."This hymn has become an opening hymn for many Annual conferences that I have attended.
Verse 3 of the first Chapter of john's prologue is the basis for a "Logos Christology" presented by K.H. Ting and found in the Chinese Theological Review. The theological premise is that if all of creation is "through" the Word then there is within all humanity a portion of Christ with us. This is similar to George Fox's "Inner Light" and Wesley's idea of "Prevenient Grace."
As a pastor I see my role as one which encourages the hearer to discover and nurture the Christ that is already within them. This starting point has been very refreshing and fulfilling to me. Knowing that Christ abides within may not fir with other theologies but it works for me.
A W-G rocky coast Me.
Date: 28 Dec 1999
Time: 23:48:10
28 DEC 99 We've sure got some tension in today's texts... the Jeremiah reading reminds Israel of God's abiding presence and power; Ephesians sings of God's intended destiny for all humankind--to be adopted into God's family; and John points to the pre-existence and pre-eminence of Jesus Christ. God was faithful long before the incarnation of Jesus. I struggle between the exclusive "the only way to the Father is by me(Jesus)" and the assurance I need that God has not now excluded Israel. Hebrews one reminds us that "in these last days God has spoken to us by a Son" but that doesn't mean that God didn't love and speak prior to Jesus--the text itself:"(Long ago) God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways..." Just musing on the screen... Peter in CA
Date: 30 Dec 1999
Time: 00:51:51
I'll be using John Wesley's Covenant Service for the New Year, very moving way to start the year. Our Bishop recently shared this reading from Eugene Peterson's version of the NT. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us = God moved into the neighborhood! He's already here! Emmanuel= God with us! Rejoice! So many times we pray "bless this and bless that", the Bishop suggested we need to pray, "God let me (us) be a part of what You are blessing!" Because He, the Word, who became flesh, is Moving about, doing His will! Bless us by letting us be a part of it, in the neighborhood where You already are! Thank you Lord! LS
Date: 30 Dec 1999
Time: 01:18:56
Peter in CA,
I too share your tension. This may not work for all, but I offer it as a possible ease to the tesion you feel.
While we can not dispute that Jesus was clear in John's gospel that nobody can come to the father except throught him, he does not leave that to our terms.
Yes. Everyone must go through Jesus, the eternal and incarnate Word of God. But, that passage to God is exclusively on Christ's terms. Is Israel abandoned? I say no. (Otherwise we proclaim a god who won't keep promises--a god that I can't accept.)
Enough of my 'cyber-rambling.'
My sermon will be called "In the Fullness of Time." John's account of the Word brings into perspective the eternal nature and time specific nature of Jesus. He is who always was and always will be. Yet, as the Word-become-flesh, Jesus is who is now. He is the fullness of time. With all the emphais on the canging calendar it should be comforting to sit back as the hoopla dies down (and the hangovers fade) to realize that Jesus is eternal and rejoice in right-now presence of Jesus.
---
On a related note. While preparing my sermon today, commentator Robert Trout (Of classic radio days) spoke on NPR's All Things Considered (December 29, 1999). He mentioned how his deffintion of heroes of the 20th century would be quite different from one's from a different generation. Heroes are developed out of the events of one's own coming of age. In Trout's case, the great depression.
Then he said this quote:
"People find their heroes in experience, not history."
The word became flesh and dwelt with us. The vital message of the Christmas season is that Jesus is not a historical event, but a "right-now" presence. As christians, what we need to be in the business of doing is making Jesus an experience for today so that those who are coming of age can claim him as a hero from their genuine experience of the Word dwelling among us and not some historical person who we read about.
Just some musings.
For anyone who wants to hear Trout's comentary it can be found at http://npr.org/programs/atc/
It has a really wise perspective on the last 100 years.
Peace,
DWR
Date: 30 Dec 1999
Time: 04:51:11
I also have been intrigued by the concept of "he gave power to become children of God" however I am intrigued by the order in which that power appears.
It seems that the power is given after receiving and believing -- not before, perhaps concurrently.
Is it possible that merely receiving Jesus and believing in him do not make us children of God? Is there more that needs to occur? Do we need to utilize the power we are given or else fall short of our full inheritence (is there even an inheritance if we don't utilize the power to become children of God?)
Having said that I know the word the NRSV translates as "power" isn't the typical "power" word, and is translated by the NIV and others as "right", but still we have to excercise that right, don't we? Any Greek scholars out there have some help for those of us with crashed computer programs?
Anyway, I plan to link with 1 John 3:10 and the concept that there is more to being a Christian than merely saying, "Jesus is Lord" and giving intellectual assent. We need to truly believe and that belief needs to lead us to doing what is right.
JR in TX
Date: 30 Dec 1999
Time: 19:18:34
30 DEC 99 I'm with you, DWR. I heard someone say (and this feeds best into the classic place of separation from God in a specific place, hell): "If someone is going to get to hell, they have to go through Jesus." Point being, for that matter of eternity (perhaps a smaller concern of Jesus than some might argue), but if someone is going to suffer "eternal damnation", they'll need to go via God's grace in Christ--and that will be hard to resist. Clearly, I don't see our God--the God of Isreal, obviously--as a promise BREAKING God, but promise MAKING. Good Christian folk rejoice that "in these last days God has spoken to US by a Son." THere's room for grace in the coming year; God promises constant presence with us (from Is. 43-Romans 8 and more). Blessings to all you dilligent workers into 2000. Peter in CA
Date: 30 Dec 1999
Time: 19:38:58
The NIV says, "he gave the right to become children of God." Interesting. Receiving the power is receiving spiritual rights as in a family legal setup. I'm focusing on being close to the heart of God. Jesus is from the heart of God, is the Logos, the Light of the "world." We, Christ's followers, are still "dwelling" in the "world." What does it mean to be in the heart of God? What does the heart of God look like? Are there any physical analogies that can serve as metaphors? ---David & Jane-Ann in Ohio
Date: 30 Dec 1999
Time: 21:26:37
Some of you mentioned being intrigued by the order of accepting and giving the power to become children. could someone explain the Greek to me. I know word order is different, but phrase order? In the Greek it is that "to those whe accept him, he gives the power to become children of God, who believe on his name." My Greek is not good enough to understand why we change the order when we translate it. If the order were not changed then for merely accepting we are given the power to become children of God and the belief is a consequence and not a prerequisite to becoming children. I know that when my faith grows thin it is strengthened by the Spirit. My Luther's catechism taught us that faith itself comes from God. Perhaps this is what it really says here? Dana, Vestal, NY
Date: 30 Dec 1999
Time: 21:26:59
Some of you mentioned being intrigued by the order of accepting and giving the power to become children. could someone explain the Greek to me. I know word order is different, but phrase order? In the Greek it is that "to those whe accept him, he gives the power to become children of God, who believe on his name." My Greek is not good enough to understand why we change the order when we translate it. If the order were not changed then for merely accepting we are given the power to become children of God and the belief is a consequence and not a prerequisite to becoming children. I know that when my faith grows thin it is strengthened by the Spirit. My Luther's catechism taught us that faith itself comes from God. Perhaps this is what it really says here? Dana, Vestal, NY
Date: 31 Dec 1999
Time: 16:21:45
I was hoping that some of you would have some ideas about chronos & chairos (spelling?)I could use. also some of you may find the recent TV movie, Tuesday's with Morrie useful in your discussion of transformation - the longer the young sportswriter spends with Morrie, the more transformed he becomes. The story is about time, the time Morrie with ALs dosn't have much of & the time the young sportswriter squanders. -linda in MD
Date: 31 Dec 1999
Time: 19:03:14
The Word "JESUS CHRIST" is the true author of new beginings. Y2K Yeild 2 the King!
Troy brewer/ Texas
The Word became flesh....and how often we Christians prefer the word to the flesh. This Gospel reading inspires me because it resists the temptation to 'spiritualise' the gospel out of earthly realities and makes us seek salvation in history...in real lives...in the flesh.
The Archbishop of Canterbury recently said we ought to concentrate on the spiritual side of the Gospel...how far he was from the Gospel reading today which insists we take human experience, real lives, seriously.
Simon in London
To all You PCUSA folks: I hope that the following is not too late for your sermon preperation for Sunday, January 3rd. Since I, myself, shall be using the Epiphany texts this Sunday, I scrolled down the John 1: 1-18 scripture postings. I want to call to your attention, if it has not all ready been mentioned above, the beautiful sermon reflection from El Jefe (posted under SERMONS for 1/3.)...It is a lovely play upon the "light/darkness" theme of John's Prologue...I hope this is helpful.... Gregory in Dot, MA..aka "one of the three wise men".....
Hi foks: I know it is the eleventh hour, Saturday morning, but I am tackling John 1, working on "The Word was made flesh." Fred Craddock (The Gospels) says that the concept of Word or Wisdom "gives expression to two equally important tenets of healthy religion: god is transcendent, distinct from the world; God is related to and involved in the life of the world. The mediating Word is both a witness to that distance between God and the world and a link between the two." (132)
Some would feel that this is something that needs to be heard by organized religion in our day. That people are searching for meaning in religion, but that often today's forms of religion do not express the mystery, another word for transcendence, that they are looking for.
An article in MacLean's says it this way:
"A vivid testimony to the need to reconnect community and transcendence lies in the empty church pews, particularly in those faiths that bought heavily into the modern processes of liberalization, and whose leaders came to understand charity primarily as succoring the oppressed, wounded, forlorn and abandoned. To be sure the greatest test of faith may come where the life of the spirit meets the afflictions of the flesh…but service disconnected from mystery -- the awesome experience of the infinite and holy -- soon withers and dies. The suffering to which the liberal churches so visibly minister may be a signal of a deeper darker affliction that only the awesome mystery of transcendence can cure."
Allan McIntosh in Sydney River, Nova Scotia
God became human to show us what being human is supposed to look like. In the beginning God created humanity, and it was good. Then humans tried to become like God - the end of paradise. People became inhumane (unhuman) in their relationships. When we sin, we are not being "only human" but are "less than human". God became human so that we could again become the humans we were intended to be. -Patty
I am preparing this service with the theme of "light" as my starting point. The lectionary pointed me toward Matthew 2:1-12, the visit of the Magi, which I will use alongside the gospel of John. Also, I've adapted Isaiah 60: 1-6 (arise, shine; your light has come) to a responsive reading......... I've also come up with a sermon title "Lighten Up", but have no sermon yet to accompany it! I think my starting point will be Virginia Ramey Mollenkott's reflections on our need "to recover a positive theology of darkness, with its creative and healing significance". I too think that darkness often gets a bad rap in our metaphorical imagery. Virginia uses the image of roots that grow and thrive in the moist cold darkness of the earth. Her book is entitled "Godding", and is mentioned in "Aha!" for this week. That's as far as I've gotten.....
SueCan
I'm struck by the phrase "the Word became flesh and lived among us". Light and the reconstitution of the Full-Human are important and probably where I'll be preaching. The idea that the Breath of God moved into the neighborhood (isn't that "lived among us"?) - That the Lord of the Universe walked along the same roads we do, smelled the same odors and perfumes, and ate the ordinary foods of ordinary people That's pretty Radical! Pretty Cool. And to think, some people don't like celebrating Christmas. The day the Author of Everything (time, the sky, the heavens, the backroom at work, the earth beneath us, etc) was born into the world in the same way you and I were. His first minute of life - even if he's the Light of the World - was accented by the distinctive and ear piercing cry of the newborn child. When Jesus was born do you think he was purple/maroon and all slimy? Did Joseph's eyes light up when he saw Jesus' skin fill with color at the start of his first cry? Wow! Jesus is the Light of the World who knew the straw head bettwer than the pallace parlor. That's cray stuff. PWinPA
In the West, Christ came to reconcile us to the Father, the divine remedy to the fall and original sin. The Western Church has been hooked on this idea for centuries; but the Easter Church does not see it that way. Even if there was no fall and Adam and Eve hadn't been tossed from the Garden, Jesus still would have come in order that man might become divine.
Don't you think it is interesting that it is godly to become man; and manly to become God -- what does this suggest?
tom in ga
Merry Christmas, All! I'm using the LIGHT theme to (hopefully) tie this sermon together. First stressing the "In the beginning" connection with Genesis (no coincidence John uses words of creation to begin his prologue.) Then (somewhere) I'll tell my favorite Robert Fulghum story: it's from "It Was On Fire When I Lay Down On It" and tells of a philosophy professor asked to answer the questions: What is the meaning of life? In response, the professor relates a story of his own growing up during the war -- of finding a broken piece of mirror from a German motorcyle. Making a game of reflecting light into dark places with the mirror, he later recognized his childish game as a metaphor for what he might do with his life. "I am not the light, nor the source of the light, but light is there and it will only shine in many dark places if I reflect it there." That, he concluded, is the meaning of my life. (Fulghum tells it better, friends; I'm paraphrasing here.) And, I believe, it is also the meaning of our life in Christ -- our vocation as the people of God.
As we go from the celebration of the Christ event into the New Year, my hope is that as the church we can more and more be "light reflectors" -- reconcilers -- as individuals and as an institution. Blessings, and Happy New Year! Susan in SanPedro
SueCan
In response to your observation that darkness often gets a bad rap. I agree. When I looked up at the stars one night, I realized it was the light of day that masked and hid the glory of the stars. The light of day hid the deep truths of the galaxies beyond.
We can make an analogy of this in several ways - the depth of our soul, the vision of that which is greater than ourselves.
When people are in crisis, especially during the holidays: losing or mourning the loss of a loved one, battling illness, suffering under a poor economy, stung by broken relationships, living with consequences of sin - that is their darkness. But often in that darkness they see a depth (or a holiness) to or in life we take for granted. Catching a glimpse of that which is larger than us can happen in a most profound way. And I do mean "glimpse". There is so much more beyond that which we can see.
The light of God is in our dark of night, the light of God is in our light of day.
Tigger in ND
In the begining was the Word...
In what language? In the language of love, a language that is not difficult to understand and do not require interpreters. A language that is not misinterpreted or difficult to pronounce. A language that warms the heart and make us feel at home even in a different country.
Latina
In him was life, and the life was the light of all people.
...of all people, even the illegal immigrants. In the darkness of their situation there is hope for their hearts, there is guidance, there is salvation. But if faith comes from hearing the word, how come they will beleive if no one preaches in their language???
Latina
"In the beginning was the word…" This has always been a very powerful text for me. I think about the incredible power that the Word of God has. That the Word simply needed to be spoken, and it was so. In Genesis we hear, God spoke the word, "let there be light" and there was light. John talks about that same Word in the beginning of his Gospel. That powerful Word of God became flesh and blood.
But this year, I'm reading this Gospel from a different perspective. This year, I'm actually a priest. I'm expected to be a leader, a teacher, a guide for the Cathedral. And I have a very different understanding of the power of words. I carefully craft each sermon I write, preparing for hours before I even sit down to type it out. And I struggle over the wording of different passages. And then I deliver it with energy and passion! And as I greet people after the service, I hear "good sermon" "thank you for that message" "I liked what you said" over and over. And then I watch these people from week to week, and notice that they're not changing like I'm telling them to in my sermons. This doesn't just happen at the cathedral. It happens at virtually every church in the world. Then I suddenly got it! Words are NOT as powerful as I had thought. No, to get people to act more and more like Jesus calls us to act, I can't simply talk about it. I must live it. The words that I preach, I must also live.
And I wonder if that's a lesson that took God a while to learn as well. In the Old Testament, we hear the stories of God sending messengers to talk with his people, to help them do those things which God wanted them to do. God tried talking himself, in the form of a burning bush, to talk with Moses about his plans for his people. Also, God influenced many prophets to speak about the ways of God to the people. But still, with all of this talk, God's people still didn't get it. They weren't living the lives God had hoped for them to live.
So just maybe, God finally realized that although words were powerful enough to create or destroy, words were not enough. The Word of God could not convince us of God's love for us, God's faithfulness to us, or that we should trust God and follow the path God draws us towards.
No. The word of God could not get God's point across. And then the revolutionary idea came: The Word must become flesh! It isn't by words, but by action that people will understand these things.
God became a human being -for us-to help us understand God's total love for us all, God's total faithfulness to us, God's complete forgiveness and redemption of us. A little baby Jesus was born into the world so that we might understand the greatness of God, and so that we might understand by watching-not just hearing-God in the world.
In the beginning was the Word….and the Word was made flesh. I've always understood this to mean that the powerful became weak for us. But maybe it means that the weak became powerful by being like us. And if that's true, then imagine how we can be powerful agents of God. It is not by the words we speak or write or even believe. But it is only when we enflesh those words--when we act out that which we say we believe, that we will be imitators of God, and true followers of Christ.
May God be with you on your journey. HCSvoboda
"I wonder as I wander...."
Hey! Where did everyone go?
"God became human so that we might become divine." This quote, more or less, comes from St. Athanasius, 4th century Bishop of Alexandria. Athanasius, as a young man, accompanied his bishop to the Council of Nicea, from which we get the Nicene Creed. The chief issue at the Council was, of course, the Arian theology of Incarnation: was Jesus God from God, light from light, very God of very God, or was he something else? Divine, yes, but not as the Father is. Rather, as the Arians were disposed to say, "there was a time when the Son was not". The Council of Nicea disagreed, and its position on Jesus being eternally begotten of the Father, not made, became the mark of orthodoxy. Of course, what difference does all of this make? It's interesting to read that in the markets of 4th century Constantinople that your ability to get bread might depend on how you answered the question, "Was there a time when the Son was not?", but that kind of thing is irrelevant to us isn't it?
No, it isn't. Athanasius defended this principle on the grounds that good incarnational theology is also good anthropology. To understand who we are and whose we are, we need to understand who Jesus was, is, and evermore shall be. Christ being fully human and fully divine, opens the door to us to fulfil our nature. Athanasius understood this so well, that he was deposed not once, not twice, or three or four times, but five times for unashamedly proclaiming the orthodox faith. God became human so that we might become divine. This is where the rubber hits the road for us, folks. It's where Christmas can make a difference in our lives, where the transcendent enters our immanence and transforms us into something that is more than we can ask or imagine. Bruce on Pender Island, BC
The Divine Intervention, the Divine Self-Actualization, the Divine Presence, full of grace and truth, comprising the autobiographical life of God became/becomes historical in the person/life of Jesus. Beyond the "word" spoken with "unclean lips", the Eternal Word became flesh and lived "with" us, the community/people of God. It is not that he counted equality with God a thing to be grasped, but he "emptied" himself...and so we too are called to empty ourselves, even as the unknown author of the Cloud of Unknowing emptied himself, that he may know the Eternal/Silent Word of Love/Presence, and be filled with all the fullness/perfection/breath of God! The autobiographical story comprising our "history" has evidences of a "stranger" who walks with us on our grief-striken, guilt-ridden, despairing journeys to Emmaus. For his Presence/Word/Love to fill our empty void let us receive frrom the heavenly banquet table the Bread of Life he prepares and breaks and gives to us...and our eyes will be opened to his appearence...and his mystery of disappearence. The incarnation, I do not believe, is locked away in the tomb of a "closed", and perhaps "forgotten" past, but is living and is as close as the "people of God", and the Sacrament. God's unfolding life drama goes on not only in life of the Universe, the history of this world we live in, but especially in the life of every individual for whom he has made for himself. PaideiaSCO in LA
From Bill in Icy Tennessee (will anybody be at services in downtown Memphis this afternoon or tonight? Oh, well, we'll be there (the Clergy and my wife!) I hardly ever contribute to this DPS dialogue; I usually just "use" your efforts to inspire me and give me different perspectives about how to approach the Gospel for that Sunday. You have no idea how many of YOUR ideas have shown up in MY sermons! It is a resource better than any commentary, in my opinion. Anyway, for what it is worth, I want to share what I've got in mind to preach tomorrow morning at 11. through the miracle of computer technology I'll be able to print this out and will have ed two turtle doves with one stone! *** John 1:1-14 always inspires me,but this year, thanks to a phone call from my wife's youngest (35) of four sons, I find I am able to verbalize better some thoughts I have had for years about it. (it is obvious from the contributions already here on dps that many of us hold this Christmas passage very dear). The other day my wife's youngest son, age 35 and a young man who perceives himself as an atheist, called his Mom. "Al" said that he had watched "From Jesus to Christ" on PBS the night before, and was more convinced than ever that the Xn faith is nothing but a "story." After all, he said, the supposed "hero" ended up ! Sunny (my wife)said, "well, I won't tell you again what I believe happened after that, and I don't mean to be an evanglist, but just think: the "Word" is still alive 2,000 years later! to which Ned replied, "What is the Word?" to which Sunny replied, "the Word is, 'God is Love.'" When Sunny told me about this conversation, it came to me that "the Word" is that which she told Ned, and more. In fact, we might think of theWord as meaning at least three major things: the Word is God, the Word is 'God is,' and the Word is 'God is Love.'
I. the Word is God here a few remarks about 'Logos' and how the baby Jesus is God enfleshed, how Jesus is "the content" of God, how the Word is all of what God wants us to know and to receive.
II. the Word is "God is" here a few remarks about how there are times in life that it is not that easy to be sure there is a God at all. That the dark times in life sometimes cause us to doubt. How our secular world calls us to doubt! How Ned and others would convince us that God is made in man's image, and not the other way around. Andthat God sent Jesus into the world, how God himself came into the world for, among other reasons, to reassure us that He (God) is real, is really there, really "is."
III. the Word is "God is Love." here a few remarks about God being the source of all love, that where we see darkness in life it is not of God's making nor of His will, but that the light of God's love is always available, that the love that we receive from others is GodLove as conveyed through others, that the love in us for God and for others has as its source the God of love Who is "one-hundred-million-percent" Love, and whose Son, the baby Jesus whom we receive once again this holy night (day) is the very fullness of love in the world.
Hope this provides somebody some material for tomorrow!
Holy, Merry Christmas to all dps'ers!
Greetings DPSers on this Boxing Day, I hope that folks in Memphis managed to navigate their way to hear Bill's sermon......it looks great! Also thanks to PaideiaSCO in LA for the Emmaus image. I liked the idea of "autobiography", in that God's story becomes historical in Jesus Christ, and then enters our story as the "stranger". Thanks also to DP in DL, I especially like Ann Weems "Toward the Light".
One of the "lightness/darkness" images that has come to mind for me is this -- do you remember when you were a child, perhaps at summer camp, or at a friend's house for a sleepover, and the order would come from on high (ie parental units) that it was time for lights out? I remember lying in bed and it was so dark you couldn't even see your hand in front of your face, and my friends and I would talk. But something about speaking into the darkness gave our speech a special quality, a quietness and a depth that we could never duplicate anywhere else. We shared in those times the deepest parts of ourselves -- what we hoped for, who we cared about (mostly each other). Even as I remember it now, all these MANY years later (as I quickly approach 40), I feel a warmth and a "lightness" as I recall those special times. We were for each other, my friends and I, the presence of the "stranger" in the darkness, the soothing voice, the reassuring words, the gentle "good night" before we drifted off to sleep.........
SueCan
I haven't really begun on Sunday's sermon yet - still have to get through New Year's Eve! But one thought already comes to mind - the anthropologist, Eisley, wrote a book a while back in which he talks about us having "day born eyes." Our eyes were created for the day, not for night. In the night we stumble and fall. We were created as day creatures, to live in the presence of the light. Just a thought.
By the way, I really disagree with Whithead et al when they see God as developing - as if Jesus was somehow His "Plan B." John and Paul, I believe, would also disagree very strongly. For them, Jesus was always His only plan. So the living Word did not come because God "learned better." He was, is and shall be God's only plan for us.
Gary in New Bern garoth@coastalnet.com
I'm not sure if this will amount to anything.......but in pondering the Fulghum story about reflecting light, it occurred to me that way back in high school we learned about how light also refracts. All I can remember at this point is that the refraction of light is responsible for making the highway look shiny and wet when it's off in the distance ahead of you -- and of course, when you get there, it's dry. Does anyone know anything more about how light is refracted?
SueCan
SueCan,
Try surfing at http://tqd.advanced.org/13405/index.html
It's a web-site dedicated to learning about light and contains links to refraction and reflection pages.
Hope to help,
Rick in Va
Rick in Va, Thanks for the link -- it was just what I was looking for. Turns out rainbows are caused by an aspect of refraction known as dispersion. Interesting........
SueCan
Here is a story about light and dark. When My friend Jim came home from Vietnam, the two of us left San Diego in a small ketch and headed for an island off of Mexico. A storm came down from the north and hit us just after night had fallen. The heavy seas and gale winds forced us to proceed downwind toward the island until we knew that we must have passed within an area roughly bounded by reefs. There was a safe passage ahead which opened into a protected little cove on the island, but it was too narrow to see in the dark. The water was too deep to anchor. Changing course would have exposed us to the danger of the reefs and we were headed mighty fast towards the dangerous rocks of the island. Taking down all sail would have caused us to be broached by the seas. You can believe we prayed for the light of dawn. When at last it came, we saw not only the dangers to avoid, but also the narrow channel to safety. So too does the light of Christ in our lives give us the heading of salvation, past real dangers, into the peace and safety of God's harbor. It is from such a place that we can ourselves set out to serve the needs of others...(in fact we saved another boat the next day, and led it to the harbor)
God bless you all, Rene.
I just read January's Reader's Digest, which has an article about the sunlight returning to Barrow Alaska on January 23. For 65 days, they have lived in darkness, and now, on Jan 23, they eagerly await the return of the sun. I think this might make a good link to John 1. Phyllis in Chatt
Rene,
Great stuff...
For all,
From Draper's Quotations for the Christian World... 'lite' quotes...
Darkness is my point of view, my right to myself; light is God’s point of view. OSWALD CHAMBERS (1874–1917)
I don’t have to light all the world, but I do have to light my part.
Light is above us, and color around us; but if we have not light and color in our eyes, we shall not perceive them outside us. JOHANN WOLFGANG VON GOETHE (1749–1832)
Light! Nature’s resplendent robe; Without whose vesting beauty All were wrapt in gloom. FRANCIS THOMPSON SHELLEY (1859–1927)
Light, even though it passes through pollution, is not polluted. SAINT AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO (354–430)
Rick in Va
They began coming about two years ago. I'll never understand why they came. Maybe it was out of boredom. Maybe it was because they had nothing better to do. Maybe it was because a young, tenacious pastor who didn't know any better, willed them to come. Maybe it was simply because they had been noticed by someone who did not have a scowl on their face and a disparaging word on their lips.
I'll never understand why, but come they did, to this small broken down church. This church peopled by a dying congregation, metaphorically and literally. I was struck by how much they looked alike, this mass of unwashed, unkempt, uncivilized, and very broken horde and this broken down and shabby church -- the dirty little church which always sported a large puddle in the floor after each rainfall. Sometimes it was very hard to distinguish where the church ended and the kids began, especially in the areas which soon belonged to the horde. The clutter of their lives certainly matched the clutter of the church. How much they looked alike.
Teenagers and children, all unchurched and all unwanted. And it was easy to understand why. Their existence was one of chaos. Chaos in school. Chaos at home. Chaos on the streets. And the chaos, always, always, followed them to church. Who would want them? The darkness of their lives would infect everything. The violence which they saw up close, sometimes far to close, would lurk just under the surface of their Sunday demeanor, sometimes exploding into our realm, disrupting the proper worship services, causing us good folks to cringe, causing our stomachs to churn and our anger to rise.
The darkness of their poverty would come forcing its way into our presence, demanding that we notice their ragged appearance, demanding that we note their dirty faces. Even when we tried not to notice, undisciplined teenagers will always garner attention. And they did. Even when we wanted to turn away, we could not, for they were always right there, in our faces, displaying their darkness, even wearing it as a badge of honor.
"Look at me!!" their presence screamed, "look at me and take note." "I am not like you. I am loud. I am troublesome. I am everything which appalls you. I am everything which most frightens. I am your brokeness. I am your poverty. I am the result of your apathy. I am your pain. I am your darkness. And because I am all these things, you hate me and despise me."
"I am you."
And they were hated, and they were despised by some. And yet they still came. The young, tenacious pastor and another woman whose compassion is as deep as her patience for chaos, never gave up, never turned away, never shied from the darkness. Even when the darkness pressed down on them and enveloped them, and it did. Even then, they never gave up.
On December 20th, twenty children and teenagers, twenty children and teenagers whom no one else wanted, stood at the front of that broken down church, stood just to the side of the puddle stain on the chipped linoleum floor, they stood arm in arm and they sang. They sang of angels, they sang of shepherds. They sang of hope from the midst of despair. They stood situated through a past touched by hell. The stood connected to one another out of the presence of love. And they sang the story of new life. They sang of their life. They sang their story. They sang the Word. They were the Word and the Word was flesh.
And we who watched, those of us who sat there with tears in our eyes and a catch in our throats, all of us, all of us were bathed in the light. On this night, on this night at least, the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
We know because we were there.
Shalom my friends,
Nail-Bender in NC
SueCan: Thanks for sharing, you really enlightened me (ha). All joking aside, I am going to take your lead and preach on "light reflectors/refractors". Great stuff, thanks!
Rick in VA: Thanks for the quotes and the site on "light"... very helpful.
Tigger in ND: I received my quote for my bulletin from you (duely credited!) Thanks
Wishing you all a year filled with prayer, praise, health and all of God's many blessings. Wendy in QC
In March I was in En Boqeq, at the south end of the Dead Sea, not far from Masada. It was an odd day to be in the desert, with rain showers passing over every fifteen or twenty minutes. It seems that only two kinds of people visit En Boqeq: tourists who've just been to Masada and are looking for somewhere to eat and those who suffer from various diseases and travel to the Dead Sea to bathe in its waters and soak up its non-burning sunshine. But there was no sunshine in En Boqeq the day I was there. Rain sprinkled down, the temperature was only about 60 degrees, and it was easy for me to resist the invitation of some friends who donned bathing suits for a dip in the salty, slimy, stinking waters of the Dead Sea. Then something rather breathtaking happened. The late-afternoon sun blazed out between the low-hanging clouds and the mountain ridge behind the town. Its light drew a full-spectrum rainbow from the leaden surface of the sea and brushed the dun-colored mountains of Moab, in the distance, with bright primary colors. If Jesus is indeed the light who has come into the world, then he does what light always manages to do best: he brings out the colors, just as the sun turned a gray, rainy day in the desert into something I will never forget.
Bill in SoMD
Hey Y'all. Good stuff. I am particularly intrigued by the notion of God becoming as we are, that we might become as God is. Through Christ we become what we are called to be.
Has anyone seen the new Robin Williams movie, "Patch Adams"? If you havn't, go. There is a scene that takes place on the first day of Med school, during an address from the Dean. He points out that it is human nature to be affraid and to doubt. His role, the school's role, is to take the human-ness out of them and make them more than humans -- and make them Doctors. Patch Adams doesn't buy it. He sees his role as a Doctor to become the best human he can be! Isn't that what this text is about? As Patty put it so well: "God became human so that we could again become the humans we were intended to be!" Go get 'em, folks! Give 'em Grace! ~Russ
I've a question and hope not to side track. Verse 12 describes those who become children of God. 1 John 3:10 describes the same. I know that many speak of all of mankind being children of God.
Is it more accurate to say that we are all part of God's creation but do not become children of God until we believe that Jesus is Lord and Savior (are 'born-again' or re-generated by His Holy Spirit)?
Paul speaks of being adopted (once redeemed) into God's family and becoming offspring of Abraham and heirs to God's promise. In other words, natural birth does not automatically make us children of God's new covenant but spiritual birth does.
Have we, in the main-line church, diminished the role or the importance of spiritual birth? Is baptism it? If so, why not open a spiritual 'car wash' of sorts and just run people through?
Just musing in Va,
Rick
You all have so much good thought about this Scripture that I am about to boil over! Rick in Va, your question is right on the money. Baptism ought to infer that inward spiritual shift towards the compassionate part of our being. Compassion, like its sister, Kindness, cannot occur without ourselves recognizing our own likeness in the other. This kind of perception is the kind that has to extend itself and reach deep, like the button of light in the Fulgaham story. With such effort, we become more truly human, as so many of the DPSers have pointed out. Nail-bender's story is a wonderful story that illustrates this, and it makes a crucial point. No single part of the human whole can be complete while even one suffers. Hence Matthew 25:40, where Jesus says that our treatment of the least is our treatment of Him. Hence the revolution of Christ. I too struggle with baptizing those who have come more for the fashion than the passion, but I do believe that those who fall away can always remember the intention and integrity with which the congregation accepted them. They will be, perhaps, a bit more hungry for the light.
Perhaps that is where I will end my sermon, but I will begin with a consideration of how difficult it is to perceive the possibility of God among us. For that I will use the funny story about the Pope driving the limo after he has had to replace the regular driver, who is afraid to get one more speeding ticket. Two cops pull the limo over for speeding and one says to the other, "I couldn't write him a ticket." "Why not?" "This guy is big." "The Mayor?" "No, bigger than that."
Oops! I think I got cut off before the punch-line to the story. It keeps going until one cop asks, "who is bigger than the president of the United States?" And his partner answers, "Well, I'm not exactly sure who he is, but the Pope is his chauffer!" Please understand that I am not irreverent, but if I don't tell a story or make them laugh with the first minute, I will have lost my congregation of tired farmers!
Again, God bless you all, Rene (in Bluff Point NY)