Category Archives: Christmas

The Hope That is Christ

“Glory to God in heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors.” (Luke 2:14, CEB)

 

Christ is born! He came to bring peace. HIS life will make the difference. Life in Christ will make the difference.

 

One of the things I reflected on in my message on Christmas Eve was the darkness in the world. There are some who would blame religion. The problem isn’t God or religion. It’s us. WE walk in darkness. The light has come and we have to respond. In Christ is peace.

 

Don’t let Christmas be just for today. Let the power of God dwelling among us live out every day.

 

May this day, and every day, be filled with the peace of our Savior in your life!

 

Merry Christmas.

 

Epiphany

Epiphany, Christmas, the Eastern Christmas…

In the Church, December 25 isn’t the end. In the Western Church it’s over. We’re done. Get back to work. Get to the gym.

For the Church, it is just the beginning. Through the celebration of Christmas and Epiphany, the East and West emphasize some strong points in the life of Christ:

He is the heavenly Son of God.

He is King of the nations.

He is Lord of creation.

He is the human child. The Word became flesh.

The is what the liturgical year focuses us on at the beginning of the year: the clear manifestation of the One we follow through this rehearsal of the life of Jesus year after year. The feast of Christmas/Epiphany attests to the entire arc of Christology. This one is both the God who reaches down to us and the human who raises us up to God. (The Liturgical Year)

christmas thoughts

From my reading this morning, Gregory of Nazianzus:

God became human and poor for our sake, to raise up our flesh, to recover our divine image, to recreate humanity. We no longer observe distinctions arriving from the flesh, but are to bear within ourselves only the seal of God, by whom and for whom we were created. We are to be so formed and molded by Jesus that we are recognized as belonging to his one family. If only we could be what we hope to be, by the great kindness of our generous God!

Prepare the Way

Reflecting on Matthew 3 for his Advent message in 1928, Dietrich Bonhoeffer said this:

We have become so accustomed to the idea of divine love and of God’s coming at Christmas that we no longer feel the shiver of fear that God’s coming should arouse in us… The coming of God is truly not only glad tidings, but first of all frightening news for everyone who has a conscience. only when we have felt the terror of the matter can we recognize the incomparable kindness. God comes into the very midst of evil and of death, and judges the evil in us and in the world. And by judging us, God cleanses and sanctifies us, comes to us with grace and love.

Lord, help me be prepared in my heart and life to meet you!