| Neat perspective, Alfred.
It reminds me that while it may be more blessed to give than to receive,
sometimes receiving is a whole lot harder to do.
I think that too often I can shift my focus from God by concentrating on the
giving aspect of the season. However to truly receive a gift into my heart
and soul, I first must be willing to open them up, and when that happens, the
consequences can be dramatic, unpredictable, and sometimes frightening. I'm
reminded of the line by C. S. Lewis in his _Chronicles of Narnia_. While
always loving, our God is not a *safe* God.
Thank you for sharing your son's perspective.
Jim, who received the most wonderful gifts from several friends today. Gifts
that as I sit here typing I realize have literally saved my life.
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Light from light, the Word of the Father comes to his own
image, in the human race. For the sake of my flesh he takes
flesh; for the sake of my soul he is united to a rational
soul, purifying like by like. In every way he becomes
human, except for sin. O strange conjunction! The Self
existent comes into being; the Uncreated is created. He
shares in the poverty of my flesh, that I may share in the
riches of his Godhead.
-- Gregory of Nazianzus, Bishop of Constantinople [389]
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| SERMON PREACHED BY THE REVEREND ANDREW C. MEAD
AT THE CHURCH OF THE ADVENT - CHRISTMAS 1993
Be not afraid; for behold I bring you good news of a great joy which shall
be to all people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a
Saviour who is Christ the Lord. St. Luke 2:1-20
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
A hearty welcome to all of you, especially our visitors and guests. We
wish you a blessed and joyous Christmas. "Behold we bring good news of a
great joy." In this world of ours, how very much we all want and need to
hear good news, not just temporary good news, but permanent, abiding good
news. And here it is. Here is good news which is a tonic for the human
heart, deep down inside, a tonic for what ails us, no matter what our
circumstances, within ourselves, between people, between the whole human
race and its destiny. It is the birth of Jesus Christ.
Why is the birth of Jesus a great joy to all people? In order to
understand that, let us look at Him through Holy Scripture, through
the eyes of those who first encountered Jesus.
The first disciples were moved by Jesus' teaching. They saw him heal and
work miracles (they called these "signs"). Then they saw him arrested and
tried and condemned; they saw him crucified and killed. Three days later
when they came to embalm him, they found an empty tomb, and then they saw
the risen Lord.
Lest you think I am confusing Christmas with Easter, let me say that it
took the perspective of the _end_ for the disciples to understand the
_beginning_ (and all the rest, for that matter). It is significant that
it was Doubting Thomas who at the end made the fullest statement of faith.
When he saw the risen Jesus, he fell down and exclaimed, "My Lord and my
God!" This summarizes the Church's faith about Jesus, and why the message
of his birth is good news for all people. "My Lord and my God."
Let me speak personally on this point very briefly. I was brought up in
the church, and I have always been attracted to the figure of Jesus. But I
was not always a believing Christian. Because it was not until, in college,
I realized for myself what the Gospel says about Jesus and what it means,
not until then did my heart "warm up." I remember thinking at the time,
"This is so good, it has to be shared." I couldn't believe how good the
good news was. And is.
The Good News is that our very Creator has "come down" and _joined_ us, his
creatures. Specifically it means that God has become a human being, a
flesh-and-blood Man. He has made himself _knowable_, _reachable_. He has
also taken upon himself the burden of our sin and suffering, even of death.
And he has come through it, victorious, on the other side. God loves us
so much that He has done all this for us, for each of us, for all of us
together from the first disciples till now. This is Jesus Christ our Lord
and God.
This is the heart and soul of the gospel, the good news of great joy for
all people. This is what the angels proclaimed to the shepherds in the
fields outside Bethlehem. So let us receive Christ as well, just as we
receive Him in Christmas Communion, into our hearts, where He can cheer
us, and give us power to live and bring this joy and power to others.
Once again, I wish you all a holy, joyous Christmas. And remember, Jesus
is in church not only on Christmas, but every Sunday, even in February!
God the Father bless you with His grace. Christ Jesus His Son give you
the peace which passes understanding. And may the Spirit of the living
God fill you with faith, hope, and love.
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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