Jesus arrived to a world that should have recognized who He was. The predictions were overwhelmingly specific, and met exactly by His birth, life, death and resurrection. As he rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, he wept at the failure of His chosen people to recognize what was happening. A few people thought they knew who he was, and threw down palm branches. Several days later, the adulation turned to cries for his crucifixion. Sadly, this is the situation today. His disciples finally figured out who He is, and all but one gave their lives spreading the good news of salvation, forgiveness, and a glorious future in heaven. The vast majority of people still don’t know who He is, or why He came. The fact that He is coming back is even less understood or believed. For those of us who know Him, nothing in our lives is more important. The best gift we could possibly give to anyone this season is the good news that the curse of sin and separation from the Creator was broken in a stable in Bethlehem.
My second of two beautiful homilies this Christmas Eve morning: First, the Old Mission's Father Joe, and now (with my advent candles for light), Brother Andy's.
Christmas is also a time for all those Sunday School lessons to come flooding back - both New and Old Testament, along with the centerpiece of the Christmas story. A time of awe and remembrance for even those of us on the traditional fringe as Congregationalist/Unitarians.
Ecclesiastes 3 King James Version
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;............
Jesus arrived to a world that should have recognized who He was. The predictions were overwhelmingly specific, and met exactly by His birth, life, death and resurrection. As he rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, he wept at the failure of His chosen people to recognize what was happening. A few people thought they knew who he was, and threw down palm branches. Several days later, the adulation turned to cries for his crucifixion. Sadly, this is the situation today. His disciples finally figured out who He is, and all but one gave their lives spreading the good news of salvation, forgiveness, and a glorious future in heaven. The vast majority of people still don’t know who He is, or why He came. The fact that He is coming back is even less understood or believed. For those of us who know Him, nothing in our lives is more important. The best gift we could possibly give to anyone this season is the good news that the curse of sin and separation from the Creator was broken in a stable in Bethlehem.
My second of two beautiful homilies this Christmas Eve morning: First, the Old Mission's Father Joe, and now (with my advent candles for light), Brother Andy's.
One of the consequences of a long term “comfortable existence “. One of my favorite quotes from military days: “There are no atheists in foxholes “.
Christmas is also a time for all those Sunday School lessons to come flooding back - both New and Old Testament, along with the centerpiece of the Christmas story. A time of awe and remembrance for even those of us on the traditional fringe as Congregationalist/Unitarians.
Ecclesiastes 3 King James Version
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;............