“… those who are better off stand shoulder to shoulder with those who suffer. No one is fee until all are free. No one is safe until all are safe. No matter how ‘up’ I may feel personally, my place as a Christian in the larger scheme of things is not to bask in the continual sunshine of God’s presence, but, in repentance and prayer, to come alongside those who bewail the seeming absence of God. Pascal wrote, ‘Every religion which does not affirm that God is hidden, is not true.'” (Advent, Fleming Rutledge)
Tag: Advent
First Sunday of Advent
The glorious church we miss seeing
We’re hard on the Church in general. We’re hard on the American Church in specific. We can take turns on the reasons each of us are hard on the Church.
I am hard on the American conservative Church because of its spiritual blindness. Yet… I stay with it. Why?
Continue reading “The glorious church we miss seeing”Incarnation — the work of God in a weary world
I remember hearing the story of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and the writing of his poem, “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day”. I was reminded of it again as I read an article by Kristen O’Neal on the subject of the poem.
The entire article is well worth your time to read. These last few paragraphs are deeply meaningful to me as I contemplate the world in which we live right now. Personally, it’s been a blessed year. I leave this year deeply thankful. For our world, however, there is a darkness that ever creeps forward.
Continue reading “Incarnation — the work of God in a weary world”Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this. (Isa. 9:6-7)
The song of Mary
In this Fourth Sunday of Advent, it is good to reflect on the Gospel for the day (Luke 1:39-56). In our day, let Mary’s song lift up our spirits and bring us hope once again.
Continue reading “The song of Mary”The darkness humanity will not solve
“We can send Christmas cards about love and peace all we want, but the human race is utterly incapable of turning itself around…
Continue reading “The darkness humanity will not solve”Remembering what Christ demonstrated for US to do
Dear Church,
Stop gathering around the name of Jesus while ignoring the ways of Jesus.
Remember the poor.
Visit the prisoner.
Feed the hungry.
Clothe the naked.
Welcome the stranger.
Deliver the oppressed.
Serve the least.
And rise for the marginalized.
He waits for us there.
— Carlos A. Rodríguez (@HappySonship) December 18, 2018
We are met by the oncoming Lord
Quite simply, I can’t adequately find a way to give a stronger recommendation for Fleming Rutledge’s book, Advent: The Once and Future Coming of Jesus Christ. It has been refreshing and challenging all at the same time as I’ve learned more about what this season should entail in my life.
Continue reading “We are met by the oncoming Lord”In Advent you must face the darkness
If there is anything I am learning in this season of Advent it is to allow the darkness to do something in me.
Continue reading “In Advent you must face the darkness”