No priest, no theologian stood at the cradle in Bethlehem. And yet all Christian theology has its origins in the wonder of all wonders that God became man. Alongside of the brilliance of the holy night there burns the fire of the unfathomable mystery of Christian theology.
(Dietrich Bonhoeffer)
A wonderful reflection from Cheryl at holdthisspace for Christmas in the prison where she works. She notes that “ it’s still a bit rough, but you get the idea…”.
Rough or not, it is certainly worth sharing as we make our way on to Bethlehem… as we wait “for love to be born”.
The story (Luke 2: 1-20) tells us that this is all it takes for love to be born:
you listen to the voice of improbable angels
you dare to believe you might have a part to play in their story
you say yes to the idea of the impossible
you give up the future you thought was inevitable
you defy the protocols and social mores of the day
when they get in the way of what you know is true
you dare to say to those who would deny your value and your role
that you just might have what’s needed, in this moment
you search for your allies and trust them with your dream
you devour the moments of joy when they come
you demand truth from yourself and those around you
you give up the things you are comfortable with
you travel long journeys in inhospitable conditions
you stand up to be counted
you take whatever shelter you can get
you aren’t afraid of darkness or dirt
you do whatever it takes, even if you’re lonely, scared,
a laughing stock, intimidated, overwhelmed, lost, uncomfortable
you accept gifts of wisdom from strangers
you honour those who put their gifts of love, however small, alongside yours
you risk everything, even your life, to give it breath
that’s all it takes for love to be born.
Picture is: Henry Ossawa Tanner – The Annunciation
“If John’s Gospel were the only one we had, this is all that we would know about Jesus’ birth: before his name was Jesus, his name was the Word, and he was with God from the very beginning of creation, bringing things into being, making things happen, shining light into the darkness.
He was God’s self, God’s soul, God’s life force in the world. He was the breath inside all living things. He was the electric spark that charged peoples’ hearts. He was the fire inside the sun. He was the space between the stars. He was the axis around which the galaxies spin.
John goes on to say that not everyone got that message. Many were blinded by this light and preferred the darkness they knew to the light which they did not know. The Word sidled up to them and hummed life into their ears, but they cleared their throats and walked away. So God decided to speak in a new way. God decided to speak body language. “And the Word became flesh and lived among us – full of grace and truth.”
This is John’s Christmas story in a nutshell. Like Luke, John is telling us about an encounter with the Holy One. God’s Word was translated into a human being. God’s self, soul, and life force were concentrated into one mortal life on earth, and as a result, nothing would ever be the same again. Not because everyone listened, because everyone does not, but because the eternal Word of God took human form.”
I rediscovered this quotation today on a post from my old blog. It was originally found among some sermon starters from eSermons and is well worth repeating as we prepare for the “eternal Word of God” to take human form.
Picture is ‘pickwell sunset’ by Jonny Baker on Flickr
May the light draw us into life
and stir a longing into our souls
May the stars shine along our pathway
and lighten the way with prophecy
May the words of ancient promise
echo in every word we speak
May the sound of a baby crying
haunt every silence born of apathy
May incarnation be more than godly flesh
but a fresh way of godly living
May the Spirit of Christ be born in us
and God make a home among us
An Advent blessing from: Mucky Paws… I’ve posted it before, but it is well worth repeating.
It caught my attention because me and my congregation have had our way lightened by prophecy this Advent. In Isaiah, there have been words of comfort and hope for us. Words of ancient promise have echoed down through the centuries to touch us today on our particular Advent journey with God.
And the challenge for us (and for us all) is to allow our Advent longings to transform our lives in the coming year… this is incarnation.
I was browsing Advent posts on my old blog… reminding myself where I had been and looking for some inspiration and I came across this prayer.
It is ascribed to St. Columba and it speaks about the blessedness of journey. It is essentially a prayer for protection against the unknown -the unknown places where Columba would rest his head and the unknown people he would encounter as he travelled. Some would oppose him, but others would welcome him in -offering their home as his home.
Columba’s prayer so closely mirrors my experience of the journey at the moment, having made the difficult decision to shut the church buildings (see previous posts).
I have encountered opposition (not from within my own congregation) – “poison” has poured from people who really should know better. But more importantly I have encountered great hospitality and grace from my neighbouring congregations in the parish (one Roman Catholic and the other Episcopalian) who have offered their hospitality and support to a congregation without a home… who have made sacrifices to welcome us in.
So this Advent – I hope you encounter “favourable company” on your particular journey of faith and I hope that no one’s poison reaches you
The path I walk, Christ walks it.
May the land in which I am be without sorrow.
May the Trinity protect me wherever I stay,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Bright angels walk with me -dear presence – in every dealing.
In every dealing I pray them that no one’s poison may reach me.
The ninefold people of heaven of holy cloud,
the tenth force of the stone earth.
Favourable company, they come with me,
so that the Lord may not be angry with me.
May I arrive at every place, may I return home;
may the way in which I spend be a way without loss.
May every path before me be smooth, man, woman and child welcome me.
A truly good journey!
Well does the fair Lord show us a course, a path.
Picture is : tate stairs by Jonny Baker on Flickr
Sunshine and Shadows 
