Looking for Light

This morning’s gospel passage (John, 1: 1-18) is what is known as the Prologue – the “pre-word” introducing all that the Evangelist John has to say about Jesus, the Christ. His gospel is different from the other three. Written later and influenced by Greek thought, we hear in John a much more philosophical/theological bent than that of Mark, Matthew and Luke with more long discourses and more emphasis on the divinity rather than the humanity of Christ. All of this is already evident in the passage that we have this morning even though John is speaking of the same event that we celebrate as the incarnation. The core truth in this reading is two-fold:

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. AND What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

This reminds me of a famous passage by the great 20th century theologian Thomas Merton about the fact that God chose to come among us as one of us, “a member of the human race,” he says, ” a race that is given to many absurdities…” Merton talks about the same reality as John regarding the light that Jesus brought to the human race by being with us. Speaking of the transformation that is possible if only we will recognize our true nature, Merton says, “If only I could tell them that they are all walking around shining like the sun!” So today, whether or not the sun is shining in the sky, I plan to look for the Christ-light in the faces and energy of the people I encounter and hope that they see it shining back at them through me.

Good Advice

I just heard that Pope Francis earned this year’s title of “Best-dressed Man” for his “elegant, simplicity.” Perhaps it is a bit of serendipity to think of that as I get dressed with Paul’s words to the Colossians this morning ringing in my ears. He says:

Clothe yourself, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, with heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, forgiving as the Lord has forgiven you. And over all these virtues put on love. Let the peace of Christ remain in your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body. And be thankful.

If we were to dress that way each day, perhaps we would, as Thomas Merton predicted, all see each other walking around “shining like the sun”.

Deeper Joy

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Christ, God, Gospel of John, Jesu, Jesus Christ, John, John the Evangelist, New Testament, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, word of life

The three New Testament letters attributed to John the Evangelist reflect the perspective of John’s gospel, giving us a picture of Christ as the Eternal Word of God, spoken for our benefit. These later writings have nothing in them of the poor conditions of the birth of Jesus about which we have been talking and singing these past days. Actually, there is no birth narrative at all. John is inspired by Greek philosophy and speaks more of the divine nature than the humanity of Jesus. And yet, this morning in the beginning of John’s first letter we read a profound testimony to the kindness of our God who came to us in human form. I suggest it as a text for today as we allow our senses of hearing, sight and touch to speak to us of God.

Beloved, what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked upon and touched with our hands concerns the Word of life – for the life was made visible; we have seen it and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was made visible to us. What we have seen and heard we proclaim now to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; for our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We are writing this so that our joy may be complete.

Perfect

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Advent, Christmas, Christmas and holiday season, God, Jesus, Presentation of Jesus at the Temple, Thanksgiving, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, United Parcel Service

NBC News photo

For people of faith, “the Christmas season” extends far beyond yesterday’s date. Some “old-timers” like myself remember the days when Advent was Advent and the Christmas season began in the evening of December 24th, ending way out on February 2nd, Candlemas Day. As time went on, the traditional ending became the feast of the baptism of Jesus on January 13th or thereabouts. Not so in the marketplace today where “AFTER CHRISTMAS” sales abound!

For those whose hunt for the “perfect Christmas” began before Thanksgiving this year, today may seem either a relief or a disappointment. From travel delays to UPS delivery failures, from the horrific Target snafu to the inability to find the right gift, from intestinal virus to lack of time off from work, this year seemed especially trying in attempts to reach the goal. And this morning it’s snowing again in the northeast and many people are on their way back to work.

I heard a wonderful sermon yesterday morning whose theme was perfection. The celebrant* spoke of our search for what is “perfect” in our lives and in the world and then juxtaposed the coming of Jesus to those images. In the eyes of the world, it seems that God got it all wrong for Jesus. He came to a poor couple – not rich. He was born in a stable – not a castle or a hospital. Shepherds were the first to see this “king” – not the privileged. You get the idea. So as we look back at yesterday, perhaps we might think about how our lives don’t usually go according to a “perfect” plan and consider how God has chosen to manifest in what we consider imperfection and even weakness. In that reflection we might just learn something about what God is trying to say, not just for yesterday but in all the “perfect” days to come.

*Many thanks to Rev. Michael Galuppi for his wise words about the Incarnation.

Christmas Blessings

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baby Jesus, Christ, Christmas, Divinization (Christian), Epistle to the Hebrews, God, Incarnation, Isaiah, Jesu, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

There is so much to say this morning and yet nothing touches the greatness of the mystery, the gift that we are given this day as we commemorate the Incarnation. God comes to us once more as the prophet Isaiah foretold with a message that calls us to hope:

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings glad tidings, announcing peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation…

The letter to the Hebrews speaks clearly about this miracle.

In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors through the prophets; in these last days, he has spoken to us through the Son, whom he made heir of all things and through whom he created the universe, who is the refulgence of his glory, the very imprint of his being, and who sustains all things by his mighty word.

Coming to us in a way that we might understand and celebrate, even as we celebrate the beauty and miracle of every child born, living life with joys and trials that reflect our own, teaching those around him in his person and his words how to yearn for union with God by loving one another – all this Jesus did while he was on earth. Today we remember all of this. May we come to enter more deeply into the meaning of it all that we might carry on the mission that he left us to fulfill in our day, knowing that he is still with us guiding us to truth, leading us on the way, loving us toward our ultimate destiny in God.

Fidelity Forever

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Characters of Supernatural, Christ, David, God, Mary, Messiah, Nathan, Saint Joseph, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, throne, Zachariah

The two major figures in this morning’s readings are King David and Zachariah, who got his voice back in yesterday’s gospel. They both have inspired messages for us on the same theme: the covenant with God lasts forever. Both of these men have reason to praise the faithfulness of God as second chances abound in their stories. David’s story reads like a novel, seesawing back and forth from favor to punishment back to favor as he makes horrible choices while growing in the knowledge and love of the God who continues to save him from himself. Finally, through Nathan the prophet, the message of God to David is a promise that was the proof of God’s fidelity through it all:

Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me; your throne shall stand firm forever.

 Zachariah had doubted the promise God made to him and was struck dumb until his son was born and named. As we read today, he bursts forth at that moment with a song that is sung each morning by monks and others around the world. Zachariah’s Canticle is seen as a prophecy of the soon-to-be-birthed Messiah, a beautiful song that ends with a beautiful image for us:

In the tender compassion of our God, the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

In God there is no linear time, only an eternal present. So today as we prepare for our celebration of the moment the promise was made to David and made to Zachariah and to Mary and Joseph and Paul and the “good thief” and all of the saints down through the ages in every land of every tradition, may we know deeply that this same promise is made to us. At every moment of our lives, God is faithful and God asks only recognition of that fierce, bonding love that is our saving grace.

The Refiner’s Fire

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Book of Malachi, Christmas, fire, God, Lord, Malachi, Nativity of St. John the Baptist, Refining, Second Coming, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

There is a caution in the readings for today. It’s about promise and possibility but also about responsibility for what is given. The psalmist seems eager when he sings: Your way, O Lord, make known to me. Teach me your paths! It reminds me of how enthusiastically I sing O come, O come, Emmanuel…with the image in my head of a sweet baby in a cradle of straw – no thought to the entire package of His coming. The implication of the seriousness of the Incarnation of Christ is foretold in the book of Malachi, which is what caught me this morning. When it speaks of the Lord coming soon, it then asks a question.

Who can stand when He appears? For He is like the refiner’s fire, or like the fuller’s lye. He will sit refining and purifying silver…”

What it does not say but what is patently clear is that WE are the silver that needs refining. Perhaps we are like Zachariah in this morning’s gospel who heard something from God (Elizabeth’s pregnancy in her old age) that was just too incredible to trust as true revelation. We know what happened to him! His refining took place all during the months before the birth of John the Baptist when he couldn’t speak. It was during that time, surely, that he learned the depth of what it means to trust and to serve the Lord.

In the very brief time left before Christmas, can we make ourselves ready for this force, this refining fire? Can we bring ourselves to a willingness to trust that whatever needs still to happen in order that we might be purified of the dross of our lives is for our good? Although the refining process will go on, today is the perfect day to stand up and step toward the fire of the One who loves us mightily and knows our deepest beauty and value.

What About Joseph?

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taize, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

As we move into the “last gasp” of preparation for Christmas on this fourth Sunday of Advent I would like to invite (or remind) those of you who are local to Binghamton to our Taize prayer service this evening at 6:00PM at the First Congregational Church at the corner of Front and Main Streets in Binghamton. It will be a service of light with silence, readings and song to help us “take a breath” before moving to the celebration of Incarnation that is Christmas. Please join us!

This morning the gospel reading focuses on Joseph, a major player in the drama that we celebrate in this season, but one about whom we know little. Sometimes I like to take myself back in time and touch into what it must have been like for Joseph to have his world turned upside down as it was when he found out that Mary was pregnant. (Mt. ch. 1) It’s hard to imagine what must have seemed “mind-blowing” for him, this just man who was probably looking forward to a rather serene life in a small town with the woman he loved. What must it have taken to trust both Mary and the messenger angel who spoke to him about this situation being a God event rather than a normal human one? And when Mary left town to go to her kinswoman, Elizabeth, how might he have explained her absence – and then her return, large with child! I imagine that Joseph had many serious conversations with God during this time as well as throughout his life. His struggles are not known to us. Rather we see a man whom we have come to know as strong yet gentle and caring, faithful and visionary, steadfast in the role he has been cast into for life. In other words: a great model for us as we walk our own  journey of faith.

Take the Leap

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Jesus, light of the world, radiant dawn, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

For those of us in the northern hemisphere, today is the darkest day of the year and yet the readings for today fairly shout with gladness because of the closeness of the “Radiant Dawn” about which we sing, that is, the coming of Emmanuel (God-with-us). He comes, the Hebrew Scriptures say, “springing across the mountains, leaping across the hills” calling us to come to Him. And when Mary entered the house of her kinswoman, Elizabeth, the infant in her womb (John the Baptist) “leaped for joy” in recognition.

Today, the psalm refrain calls us to EXULT! and to “sing a new song to the Lord.” What is it, I might ask myself, about the coming of Christ into the world that will make my heart leap for joy? And how will that change my life in the world? He’s coming soon, so I need to prepare today to take that leap!

Go Ahead: Ask!

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Ahaz, ask, Gabriel, God, Hebrew Bible, Hebrew Scriptures, Jesus, Lord, Mary, sign from God, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

It’s my joy to be back to writing after nearly a week of “technical difficulties.”

In this morning’s Scripture readings there is a connection between Ahaz in the Hebrew Scriptures and Mary in Luke’s gospel, as both are confronted with messages from God. In the first, God tells Ahaz to ask for a sign from God. Ahaz refuses saying, “I will not ask. I will not tempt the Lord!” The next part of the conversation puts one in mind of a child saying, “Ask me what I have behind my back” or “Ask me what I did today.” Even if you refuse to ask, the child will tell you, and that’s exactly what happened with Ahaz. God said, “I’m going to tell you anyway!” and the message is a foreshadowing of the birth of Jesus. The gospel recounts the familiar conversation between Mary and the angel Gabriel, wherein Gabriel tells Mary (unbidden) that she is to be the mother of God’s Son. Unlike Ahaz, she does not refuse but she does question how it can happen since she has not had relations with a man. Gabriel’s explanation is certainly incredible but it ends with an assurance of what Mary must have already believed, because it caused her to assent to what was being asked of her. The angel said: “Nothing is impossible for God.”

Today is a good day to examine our willingness to assent to what is asked of us but also a day to ask for what we think we need from God. We must, however, be mindful in our asking of the fact that God knows what is good for us and what will keep us on our path toward God – even if our vision is cloudy in the asking. Willingness to surrender to God always trumps our personal will when dealing with God. Knowing that God is for us and will keep us close even in the most unthinkable events of our lives will guide us toward the maturity of asking the right questions.