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.

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.

The importance of listening

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Andrew, Apostle, Epistle to the Romans, God, Good News, Jesu, Lord, Saint Andrew, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

Today is the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle. All of the readings for this day speak in some way about the role of an “apostle” – one who speaks/preaches. In the letter to the Romans, Paul reiterates a line from the Hebrew Scriptures that emphasizes this role rather lyrically. “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.” In Eastern spiritual practice, devotees often reverence the feet of their guru as one who walks in light. Christians have attributed that line to Jesus whom we see as the one who brought the “Good News” to our world. The psalm for today (19) is also replete with beauty as the psalmist sings: “Your words, O  Lord, are spirit and life! They are more precious than gold, sweeter than honey…”

Perhaps there are no more important words than those spoken by Jesus in today’s gospel to Andrew. “COME,’ Jesus says. “Follow me.” What if Andrew and the other fishermen who met Jesus that day had been so occupied with their nets that they didn’t clearly hear (with their hearts) what Jesus was saying? Perhaps today is a good time to ponder what is being said to us and about how we might sharpen our inner ear so that we might be ready to respond to the call of God each day.