John 8:12-19 I am the light of the world

I am the light

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life." Then the Pharisees said to him, "You are testifying on your own behalf; your testimony is not valid." Jesus answered, "Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid because I know where I have come from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. You judge by human standards; I judge no one. Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is valid; for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. In your law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is valid. I testify on my own behalf, and the Father who sent me testifies on my behalf." Then they said to him, "Where is your Father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also."

Comments: On New Years Eve I hear this passage saying: I am confident that what I say is true; God is the only authority I need. The Pharisees are asking him to footnote his sources for his teaching (a normal way of rabbinic teaching). But Jesus is saying what I am telling you is evident—open your eyes, listen to God.

There is no way to prove God to people unwilling to perceive the light. Love is not something that can be proved, only lived.

2 Peter 3:8-13: Walking with the Confidence of Salvation

A thousand years as one day

But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed.

Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire? But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home.

Comments: There are those in the Christian communities that are beginning to tire of waiting for the Parousia. The writer of Second Peter is reminding them that God’s time is different than their time. This is sage advice. Now 2 millennia later we are still waiting for the coming of Christ.

All too often Christians get all hot and bothered about Judgment and the Second Coming just like the community that 2nd Peter is written to. But it is more important how I live my life from day to day. The response to the unfailing love that is marked for me in the Incarnation is to live a life of love. Lives of love are not lived in fear of judgment but with the confidence of the support of Christ.

Matthew 12:46-50: Holy Family

Jesus true family

While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers were standing outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, "Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you." But to the one who had told him this, Jesus replied, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" And pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."

Comments: Some traditions celebrate the feast of the Holy Family with in the first week of Christmas. It seems appropriate since we put so much emphasis on the family at Christmas time. But this passage is interesting in that Jesus seems to be choosing his followers over his family.

In the Middle East, one had to have family. It was impossible to function, even to get food and clothing if one was not member of a family, or adopted by one. One’s life was quite circumscribed by the family. The senior male, or patriarch dictated what you did, what you could have. The commandment to honor one’s father and mother took on incredible weight in such a system. The system had become so unbending that often people were imprisoned in their family system their whole lives, never exercising the talents that God had given them.

Jesus, in this passage, is offering a sense of freedom from the family system for those who were in the system’s grasp. I do not believe that Jesus was being disrespectful of his family in this passage. In fact, the kind of freedom that Jesus was offering in this passage would have made the family more loving by freeing it from its social expectations. Jesus shows that it is the respect and caring we have for others is what claims one as family rather than one’s blood kin. Faith is not a system we adhere to; it is a loving relationship we have with God.

John, Apostle and Evangelist 1 John 1:1-9

The word of life was revealed

We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life - this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us - we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Comment: I have served two congregations named for St. John the Evangelist. Pastors are always looking for a time to party and the patronal feast is always a good idea, but with St. John’s feast coming two days after Christmas I could never sell that party.

It is also interesting that the reading for the feast comes from one of the epistles. There is some question if the Epistles of John and the Gospel were written by the same person. Certainly they were written by people steeped in the same theology, the community of St. John. But there is evidence that the Epistles of John were written some years later when the theology of the Gospel of the John had evolved.

The Johanine community understood that sin—no matter how small, could ruin one’s relationship with God. It was for that reason that confession of sin and knowing the forgiveness of God is essential to understanding the greatness of God. There is such a feeling of gratitude when I know that I am forgiven for my mistakes, foolishness or even my intended nastiness. The humility is good for my soul and makes me vulnerable enough to allow God’s love to be planted in my heart. It allows the transformation to become more Christ-like in my behavior, more peace-loving in heart and more centered in God with my life.

Boxing Day: Friday Five

It's Boxing Day!

Whatever that may mean to you, I invite you on this day to simply share five things that today, December 26th, will bring for you.

1. I have been commenting on the daily bible reading from ELCA on my blog, so I have remembered the Feast of Stephen today. The feast of St. Stephen was a day when one’s diaconal ministry was to be exercised. I need to serve others today.

2. I had forgotten some of the history of Boxing Day. It was when the employees were given their gifts by their employers. It was a time of giving to those less fortunate. It has reminded me of the need for alms giving. It is rather ironic that the radio that I have streaming at the moment is singing the “Veni Creator Spiritus”. Word of God-Word of Life! God is always talking to me in music. It may not even be in words—the music just speaks to my soul.

3. I have to go pick up a prescription for cholesterol-lowering med that the doctor had determined I need. I think after yesterday’s dinner, it is appropriate.

4. I am quite tired and a bit crabby (probably sugar-crash). December 26th is a day when I recoup. Christmas Eve at church was sooooo beautiful. I want to savor the warmth, the fidelity, the sense of family that was all around me. It was so much fun to see families who had grown up together get back together. The forty-somethings that went to Sunday school together back together with their children. How much fun!!!!

5. Turkey Sandwiches!! This is what J and I look forward to. I think J likes the sandwiches better than the roast turkey dinner. So tonight it is turkey sandwiches in front of the new Christmas present TV.

Stephen, Deacon and Martyr Acts 6:8-15; 7:51-60

The plot against Stephen

Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and others of those from Cilicia and Asia, stood up and argued with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. Then they secretly instigated some men to say, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God." They stirred up the people as well as the elders and the scribes; then they suddenly confronted him, seized him, and brought him before the council. They set up false witnesses who said, "This man never stops saying things against this holy place and the law; for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses handed on to us." And all who sat in the council looked intently at him, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel. ...

"You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are forever opposing the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do. Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, and now you have become his betrayers and murderers. You are the ones that received the law as ordained by angels, and yet you have not kept it."

When they heard these things, they became enraged and ground their teeth at Stephen. But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. "Look," he said, "I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!" But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he died.

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Comments: In the countries that were British colonies, today is called Boxing Day. It was the time that employees received their gifts. Throughout Europe the day is celebrated as the Feast of St. Stephen. It was a day of giving alms and giving gifts to those who were not as fortunate.

Stephen was one of the first deacons that was chosen by the apostles to serve the Greek-speaking Christians in Jerusalem. Stephen was a zealous man. He preached of the faith to those who found fault with his preaching. He was brought in front of the council of the synagogue. There were those who wanted to be rid of the young firebrand and brought false charges against him for blasphemy. Mob rule took over and he was taken out and stoned. Stephen was the first martyr of the Christian movement.

Today the day after Christmas has a tendency to look like Black Friday. It would be good to reinstitute the celebration of the Feast of Stephen and share our Christmas with the poor.

Feast of the Incarnation

Tom was a farmer. He was a man of few words. He ran the family farm that his father and his grandfather had worked before him. All his brothers and sisters had gone on to other jobs and vocations in their lives but they all enjoyed coming home to the family farm for the Christmas holidays. It made for a mad house for a few days with his siblings and spouses and children, but it was a time for family and friends. Tom enjoyed that, but this year Tom was tired. He felt burdened by the annual onslaught of the family. He still had to milk the cows and see to the daily routine of running the farm. He and his brothers and sisters had all been raised in the Church. And his brothers and sisters and their families were fairly regular in their attendance. But Tom’s attendance had fallen off as he had gotten older. The wife and the kids went, but he had work to do. So when it came time for the whole family to go to Church on Christmas Eve, Tom just stayed home.

He never said why he didn’t want to go to Church. He didn’t want to argue religion with his family. All of that church stuff was a pain in the neck any way. He was a grown man. He didn’t believe in God becoming man. He believed in God; that was ok. But all of this baby Jesus stuff—that was all myth, wasn’t it? He was a good man. He dealt justly with his neighbors. He was good husband to his wife and a fine father to his children.

He sat in the quiet living room, looking out on the birds and geese that he so enjoyed about the farm. This was peace for him—quietly looking out upon his farm watching the birds. A bitter cold front was coming in. He watched the birds and the geese in the sleet. He hated to watch animals in distress. They were freezing to the trees and into the pond. He knew if they just stayed huddled out there, they would freeze. He ran outside and tried to shoo them out of the pond. But the birds didn’t move. He went to the barn and opened the doors hoping the birds would be saved by flying inside where it was warmer. But the birds would not enter the barn. He could not save them because the birds did not understand that the barn was a place of shelter.

He stood there broken-hearted, knowing that he could nothing to save his lovely cardinals, titmice, starlings, phoebes and beautiful Canadian geese. If he only could speak bird talk, he thought. If only he could be a bird and lead them into the barn….

And then the light went on in Tom’s heart…. He understood!

God so love the world that he gave his only begotten son that whoever believes in him may not perish but have eternal life.

He understood what the story of the Christ child was about. It was about a God who so loved creation that he became human so that we would know how to come in from the storm.

The Incarnation of God, the miracle of God becoming human is not so hard to understand. There are theologians who would make it involved and complex. There are those who would say we have to believe in all kinds of mind-bending things to have faith—Virgin births, Immaculate Conceptions, Triune Gods, Justification by Faith. But all doctrines are, are ways to explain complexly the simple truth of God’s love for us and all creation. The God of Love came to us to teach us how to love one another. The God of Love gave himself to us in the Christ. He showed us not just how mighty he was. She showed us not just how loving she was. God just came among us and lived with us so that we could know how to care for one another, how to live for one another, and how to die for another.

Faith is allowing ourselves to be moved by that God who became one of us. Faith is allowing ourselves to be transformed by the goodness of the Divine so that we might model our lives after one who was like us in all things but sin. Faith is a matter of trusting that the truth of the Holy is as available to us today as it was 2000 years ago. It is just as real to us as it was for shepherds in the fields. God’s entering into our lives is not miraculous. It is the stuff of living life to the fullest; it is the stuff of living life richly.

Tom didn’t get to Church that night. To be honest, Tom really didn’t get to church much of that year. But when the family came together the following Christmas, he went. In the candlelight he celebrated the God who spoke to us in our own language of love. His life began to change. Not dramatically, but things took on new meaning. It didn’t make his farming any easier, but somehow his life seemed richer, his family seemed dearer, the relationship with his wife, closer. His life was more connected somehow to something greater than himself. He had no need of complex doctrines or arcane ways of worshipping. He merely knew that someone had opened the barn door for him. He knew that there was a benevolent wisdom who guided him. He attended the church to hear more about this God who would welcome him so. He found that he could live a life worthy of the gospel with the help of the Divine Presence. And now he gave thanks for an icy evening when he learned the meaning of the Christ story.

Christmas in church is my favorite time of the year. I really began my own journey in Christ at the Christmas Eve service some 40 years ago. In those days I was a professional musician and Christmas time was the most lucrative time for a struggling French horn player. But that night at a candle lit service not much different than this, my music became offering and God took my breath away. And she hasn’t given it back since. The Spirit lit a fire in my heart that has kept me warm ever since.

My hope for you is that this service, or whatever way that you have of communicating with the God who loves you more than life, may provide for you an experience of the Holy that will begin your transformation into what it is God holds for you. My prayer is that the Christ who comes as a child will allow you be vulnerable enough to accept his love for you so that you may share it with others. And most of all, may the Spirit of the Incarnate God build a fire in your heart that will never fade. AMEN.

Comment: I am indebted to the Revs. JEU and CG for this story.