December 18th 2011

It is the fourth Sunday in Advent and I have not mentioned that great harbinger – John the Baptist. He is spoken of in all four gospels. He and Jesus were cousins. We first meet him as he leaps in his mother Elizabeth’s womb as he recognizes the presence of the Messiah also yet unborn. We know little of John’s childhood and growing up years. He emerges as a great prophet living in the wilderness and leading a very austere life. He proclaims a message of hope that the true light which enlightens everyone was coming into the world. He called on the people to repent, turn around and lead a new life as they prepared to receive the Messiah. His influence spread so far among the people that even the King was moved and disturbed by him.

What message does John have for us today? It seems that at Christmas time when we are celebrating Jesus’ birth we make sure to share to tell the true story of Jesus coming into the world as we reach out in love to all around us. Sometimes we are embarrassed to speak out. It can even be hard to perform a loving act to issue an invitation or make a phone call. It is not likely that we are going to be thrown in prison or lose our head as John did if we greet friends with Happy Christmas or on Christmas Day, proclaim Christ is born. If someone challenges you, enter with joy and inner prayer into a conversation with them. It was said of John “he was not that light but came to bear witness of that light”. John 1 verse 8.

Happy witnessing everyone

December 11th 2011

Last Sunday, taking our theme from the BAS collect, we thought about being confident before him. This week we are waiting in awe and wonder.  For many generations, the people of Israel had been waiting for the promised Messiah to be born. Every woman who became pregnant faced the possibility that perhaps her child was the one that they were waiting for.

Then it happened. The angel Gabriel appeared to a young girl, probably a teenager and announced that she, Mary of Nazareth was the one. She is filled with awe and wonder. She travels to visit her pregnant cousin Elizabeth and greets her with that wonderful hymn or canticle, The Magnificat. She first expresses the wonder and joy that she, a young insignificant girl is the chosen one of God. She is full of awe and wonder as she realizes the significance of what is about to happen. Her depth of understanding penetrates far deeper
into the truth than many of the mature followers of Jesus did later on.

Can we, this Christmas season, become immersed in awe and wonder as we prepare for the coming of the Christ child? This does not mean that we have to be very solemn and circumspect. It means that we try to experience real joy and happiness. Let us enter into the merriment and joy of the season. Let us enjoy the music, the decorations, the parties, the food. God gave us all these things and the capacity to enjoy them. Let us approach the Christmas festivities with joy as we contemplate the wonder of God’s love for us when he joined us here on earth as a little babe.

God bless you merry gentlefolk

Let nothing you dismay

Remember Christ our Saviour 

Was born on Christmas Day

December 4th 2011

Several weeks ago, I wrote about the central theme of each of the four Collects during Advent and pointed out the central theme for today, the second Sunday in Advent is confidence. I quote “that we may stand with confidence before his glory”.

What does it take to be a confident person? First of all, we need a clear conscience. How many of us have a clear conscience?  Is there no wrongdoing in our lives, no wrong attitudes towards others? We can be free. Christ has with his love and sacrifice bought this freedom for us. What else do we need to be confident?  We need knowledge and experience. In the Collect for today, in our old BCP we read:

“ Blessed Lord who has caused all Holy Scriptures

to be written for our learning, grant that we in

such wise hear them, read, mark, learn and

inwardly digest them,  that by patience and

comfort of thy holy word, we may embrace and

ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life

which thou has given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ."

I am not a literalist in my understanding of the Bible but I embrace it mindfully with love and joy as it nourishes me. The Bible gives me that confidence I need to stand before the throne. I try to live the life it directs and gain the experience we all need to further achieve confidence as we stand before him and worship him.