Incarnation is an example of a word that we use with a solid understanding of what 'incarnation' truly means....what it implies....what consequences come with it.
Incarnation means 'in the flesh.' It starts with 'carnal' - like 'carnal knowledge' or knowledge of the flesh (or in current language "hooking up"). Add the 'in' in the beginning and you come up with something that in fact, comes into the flesh.
So 'evil incarnate' is a person who is, in their flesh, evil. In every aspect. All the time. I expect we (the English speaking world) use the word a little loosely.
The Church does not. In fact, at the heart of Christian belief is the dogma that Jesus was God incarnate. God in the flesh. God looking just like us. God walking among us, sweating with us in the heat and shivering in the cold, hungry when without bread, lonely, frightened, worried, .....and I would add.....probably irritated, annoyed, hurt, frustrated. In other words, human.
For people of other faiths, the claim that Jesus was God incarnate is a huge stumbling block. Really? they ask. The man who was crucified? The man who died?
For Christian believers, this incarnation likewise confuses. How was Jesus God? they ask. How much of Jesus was human? they ask. Which part of Jesus died on the cross, the human part or the God part? they ask.
Some believers want Jesus to be especially divine. For these folks, The Last Temptation of Christ is close to blasphemy since their Christ would not be tempted. Some believers want to emphasize Jesus' human side - and therefore stumble over the miracles and signs of power Jesus performs.
The Church (notice the captial "C") came to an understanding in 332AD (or there abouts) at the Council of Chalcedon when it was decided that Jesus was 100% human and 100% divine - at exactly the same time. That the human and divine
'parts' of Jesus could not be separated nor divided, like a burning piece of coal one could not separate the fire from the coal yet both are present.
That's the doctrine. It is good to know it. But it is also good to know the power of a savior who has (a) walked among us and likewise (b) promised to be with us always. To have both, we need to wrap our heads around this Christ: God incarnate, and it is a challenge to us today as well. When I am walking with a family who is grieving I can say to them, "Jesus grieved (see John 11) and knows the loss you are experiencing, and he promises to walk with you in this loss as well."
A good grasp of 'incarnation' helps us connect with the divine each day of our life for the power of God walked with and among us once, and walks with and among us still. "....the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" John 1.14 A good way to start the new year.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Treasures of the heart
"... Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart." Luke 2.19
The opening of the Gospel of Luke has Mary pondering. When the angel comes and announces her pregnancy, she was perplexed by his words and pondered. When Zechariah named his son John (per the angel's instructions, and in contrast to the tradition of naming children after a family member), those who heard the news pondered and said, "What then will this child become?"
And then Mary, hearing the shepherds' story about angels and messages from God, pondered these words, treasured them in her heart.
The craziness of last minute Christmas is upon us. Adults rush around with To Do lists clutched in their hands. Children are almost literally 'beside themselves' in anticipation. I remember (when I had young children in the house) how hard it was to find extra patience and any sense of calm within myself in the final run-up to Christmas. Now that I am alone, but hosting adult children, I am torn between the weight that hosting guests creates and the anticipation of having them with me for several days. There was a time in my mother's life when she not only didn't anticipate, she almost avoided any preparation for Christmas and I can already see how that might happen.
So when will the time come for us to pause and embrace the intersection of our lives with the divine gift of Jesus? How do we make room for the baby Jesus.....giving him space to renew and refresh us, allowing ourselves to be drawn into a cosmic moment of grace? What exactly will we be pondering this year?
The final days are upon us. What are we treasuring? What is taking root in our hearts? May it truly be Jesus, the giver and gift of life and love.
Peace
The opening of the Gospel of Luke has Mary pondering. When the angel comes and announces her pregnancy, she was perplexed by his words and pondered. When Zechariah named his son John (per the angel's instructions, and in contrast to the tradition of naming children after a family member), those who heard the news pondered and said, "What then will this child become?"
And then Mary, hearing the shepherds' story about angels and messages from God, pondered these words, treasured them in her heart.
The craziness of last minute Christmas is upon us. Adults rush around with To Do lists clutched in their hands. Children are almost literally 'beside themselves' in anticipation. I remember (when I had young children in the house) how hard it was to find extra patience and any sense of calm within myself in the final run-up to Christmas. Now that I am alone, but hosting adult children, I am torn between the weight that hosting guests creates and the anticipation of having them with me for several days. There was a time in my mother's life when she not only didn't anticipate, she almost avoided any preparation for Christmas and I can already see how that might happen.
So when will the time come for us to pause and embrace the intersection of our lives with the divine gift of Jesus? How do we make room for the baby Jesus.....giving him space to renew and refresh us, allowing ourselves to be drawn into a cosmic moment of grace? What exactly will we be pondering this year?
The final days are upon us. What are we treasuring? What is taking root in our hearts? May it truly be Jesus, the giver and gift of life and love.
Peace
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
The longest night
If you've done any reading in early church history......
or if you've heard the nay-sayers of this world tell the story
you will know that the date for the celebration of the incarnation, the birth of Jesus, was arbitrarily set by the early church.
We speak of December 25th as the birthday of Jesus, but it is much like the birthday of the British monarch - celebrated on a particular day for the convenience of the populace.
In the case of the early church, the competition was from non-believers, especially those who celebrated/worshipped the spirits of nature (pagans). As you know, December 21st is the winter solstice, the shortest day/ longest night of the year. In olden days (and I suppose in many places today as well) this night was noted with large bonfires and (some say) wild dancing in the moonlight. (OK, maybe I made that part up).
It is hard for us to understand why this was such an important turning point in the year for folks in a pre-electric world. In a society dependent on log fires for heat and candles for light, the shortness of the day was much noted. For people who did not have refrigeration, trucks to bring produce from far away places, etc., there was real concern about having sufficient food to last through the winter until new crops could be gathered. In those times, food supplies were under lock and key. This was the first time of 'food insecurity' (the current term used for folks who are or might go hungry).
If you were worried about the sun returning to warm the earth and bring forth new food, you'd go out and dance in the moonlight too. It was a form of worship to the gods who were responsible for bringing the new life of spring.
The early Christian church, post 332AD, wanted to displace this pagan celebration and so established their own 'celebration of the Son' at a close date. Thus Dec. 25th for Christ's birth. The truth is, if the shepherds were out in the fields watching over their sheep, the sheep were giving birth (that's why they were with them) and that happens in the spring (like March). Or so I'm told.
However, we might look at the Longest Night as that time of great darkness which befalls humanity when we turn from God, give in to evil and make this world almost inhabitable. Somewhere in this world at this moment, it is the Longest Night, when people wonder if life and light and grace will ever return to their lives.
So we all look to Christ's birth......whether it happened on Dec. 25th or not.
Peace to all
or if you've heard the nay-sayers of this world tell the story
you will know that the date for the celebration of the incarnation, the birth of Jesus, was arbitrarily set by the early church.
We speak of December 25th as the birthday of Jesus, but it is much like the birthday of the British monarch - celebrated on a particular day for the convenience of the populace.
In the case of the early church, the competition was from non-believers, especially those who celebrated/worshipped the spirits of nature (pagans). As you know, December 21st is the winter solstice, the shortest day/ longest night of the year. In olden days (and I suppose in many places today as well) this night was noted with large bonfires and (some say) wild dancing in the moonlight. (OK, maybe I made that part up).
It is hard for us to understand why this was such an important turning point in the year for folks in a pre-electric world. In a society dependent on log fires for heat and candles for light, the shortness of the day was much noted. For people who did not have refrigeration, trucks to bring produce from far away places, etc., there was real concern about having sufficient food to last through the winter until new crops could be gathered. In those times, food supplies were under lock and key. This was the first time of 'food insecurity' (the current term used for folks who are or might go hungry).
If you were worried about the sun returning to warm the earth and bring forth new food, you'd go out and dance in the moonlight too. It was a form of worship to the gods who were responsible for bringing the new life of spring.
The early Christian church, post 332AD, wanted to displace this pagan celebration and so established their own 'celebration of the Son' at a close date. Thus Dec. 25th for Christ's birth. The truth is, if the shepherds were out in the fields watching over their sheep, the sheep were giving birth (that's why they were with them) and that happens in the spring (like March). Or so I'm told.
However, we might look at the Longest Night as that time of great darkness which befalls humanity when we turn from God, give in to evil and make this world almost inhabitable. Somewhere in this world at this moment, it is the Longest Night, when people wonder if life and light and grace will ever return to their lives.
So we all look to Christ's birth......whether it happened on Dec. 25th or not.
Peace to all
Thursday, December 15, 2011
The nativity.....really?
You may not have given it any thought, but each Christmas Christian churches read "The Nativity Story" from the 2nd chapter of Luke. Never Mark, nor Matthew, nor John. Just Luke, every year.
Did you ever wonder why?
Because that is the only quality nativity story we Christians have.
Here's some background. Biblical scholars (or at least the ones teaching 11 years ago when I was in seminary) believe that the Gospel of Mark was the earliest written work. Mark begins his story with the appearance of John the Baptizer. Jesus comes into the story full grown and ready for ministry.
Matthew and Luke were probably written next. (How they come to that conclusion is a discussion for another time). Matthew begins his story of Jesus with a geneology - which we never read in worship - then moves to Joseph. Matthew gives us the story of the kings comings to visist and the killing of the babies by Herod. But no stable, no angels singing just some consideration of divorcing Mary.
Luke has the prophecy to Zachariah and Elizabeth and then the familiar anunciation and Magnificat portions before the lovely stable scene.
The gospel of John is believed to have been written last. John takes us all the way back to the beginning of time.....before there was anything. "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God". John ties Jesus' coming with the very creation of the universe.
So we use Luke 2 - every year - but not because it is the only story of how Jesus came to us, but maybe, because it is the most colorful, romantic (and I might say) down to earth. It is a story we can relate to, which may be why Luke wrote it down in the first place.
For me, I can still repeat the words of the Angel of the Lord - the part I played in my kindergarten Christmas play
"For unto you a child is born in the city of David, a savior who is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign to you, you shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger."
It is a good piece of scripture to know.
Pax
Did you ever wonder why?
Because that is the only quality nativity story we Christians have.
Here's some background. Biblical scholars (or at least the ones teaching 11 years ago when I was in seminary) believe that the Gospel of Mark was the earliest written work. Mark begins his story with the appearance of John the Baptizer. Jesus comes into the story full grown and ready for ministry.
Matthew and Luke were probably written next. (How they come to that conclusion is a discussion for another time). Matthew begins his story of Jesus with a geneology - which we never read in worship - then moves to Joseph. Matthew gives us the story of the kings comings to visist and the killing of the babies by Herod. But no stable, no angels singing just some consideration of divorcing Mary.
Luke has the prophecy to Zachariah and Elizabeth and then the familiar anunciation and Magnificat portions before the lovely stable scene.
The gospel of John is believed to have been written last. John takes us all the way back to the beginning of time.....before there was anything. "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God". John ties Jesus' coming with the very creation of the universe.
So we use Luke 2 - every year - but not because it is the only story of how Jesus came to us, but maybe, because it is the most colorful, romantic (and I might say) down to earth. It is a story we can relate to, which may be why Luke wrote it down in the first place.
For me, I can still repeat the words of the Angel of the Lord - the part I played in my kindergarten Christmas play
"For unto you a child is born in the city of David, a savior who is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign to you, you shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger."
It is a good piece of scripture to know.
Pax
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Rejoice oh highly favored one.......
Singing Holden Evening Prayer each Wednesday at Advent worship, filled as it is with the wonderful music of Marty Haugen, fills me with the song of Mary.
"An angel came from God, to a town called Nazareth, to a woman whose name was Mary. The angel said, "Rejoice oh highly favored one. The Lord is with you."
Who wouldn't want to hear those words spoken directly to them? Perhaps anyone who knows that a living relationship with our Lord is not a promise of easy street and a comfy chair.
For those who have figured out that God's promise is to be 'with you' not 'to make all things easy for you.' those words are in fact wondrous words of comfort. For those people of faith who have known darkness, those words are the light and the hope to which we cling, for we do not walk alone.
Again from Holden Evening Prayer: "You shall bear a child, and his name shall be Jesus, the holy one of God most high."
For anyone who has had to commend into God's loving hands one whom we have loved dearly, those words are poignant and painful. We too know what is going on in all those scripture passages where Mary 'ponders these things in her heart.' Mary knows that someday, this child of hers will close his eyes forever. Our trust is that the God who was willing to empty himself and come to us as a baby also knows the pain of loving and releasing someone special. That is our light and our hope.
And Mary said, "I am the servant of my God" - that is the wonder of this season of carols and candles.
Whenever we offer ourselves into the hands of our God, whenever we take up God's plan (especially when we have no idea what it is and where it will lead), whenever we hold fast to the relationship God offers us, we press back the darkness and claim the light of life in God's name.
The power of this season is not the church's ability to bring tears to the eyes of the sentimental nor is it in the ability to get folks into the sanctuary for their annual visit. The true power of this season is manifest whenever one of God's beloved ones - young or old - turns toward God and says, "Here I am, the servant of my God, in whom I put my trust."
peace
"An angel came from God, to a town called Nazareth, to a woman whose name was Mary. The angel said, "Rejoice oh highly favored one. The Lord is with you."
Who wouldn't want to hear those words spoken directly to them? Perhaps anyone who knows that a living relationship with our Lord is not a promise of easy street and a comfy chair.
For those who have figured out that God's promise is to be 'with you' not 'to make all things easy for you.' those words are in fact wondrous words of comfort. For those people of faith who have known darkness, those words are the light and the hope to which we cling, for we do not walk alone.
Again from Holden Evening Prayer: "You shall bear a child, and his name shall be Jesus, the holy one of God most high."
For anyone who has had to commend into God's loving hands one whom we have loved dearly, those words are poignant and painful. We too know what is going on in all those scripture passages where Mary 'ponders these things in her heart.' Mary knows that someday, this child of hers will close his eyes forever. Our trust is that the God who was willing to empty himself and come to us as a baby also knows the pain of loving and releasing someone special. That is our light and our hope.
And Mary said, "I am the servant of my God" - that is the wonder of this season of carols and candles.
Whenever we offer ourselves into the hands of our God, whenever we take up God's plan (especially when we have no idea what it is and where it will lead), whenever we hold fast to the relationship God offers us, we press back the darkness and claim the light of life in God's name.
The power of this season is not the church's ability to bring tears to the eyes of the sentimental nor is it in the ability to get folks into the sanctuary for their annual visit. The true power of this season is manifest whenever one of God's beloved ones - young or old - turns toward God and says, "Here I am, the servant of my God, in whom I put my trust."
peace
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
John again?
This Sunday we are scheduled by the wider church to have John 1 as the gospel lesson. It is the Gospel of John's presentation of John the Baptist - although in the gospel of John, he is John the Witness instead.
If you read through the first chapter of John you will note that the Baptizer devotes more time to who he isn't than to who he is... His entire job is to witness to the one who is coming....the one who is among you....the one you don't recognize....the one who is greater than I am.
Every Advent we have two John the Baptist texts and I know that preachers are often found sputtering....What, John again? The implication, of course, is that there is not enough to be said to fill two Sundays of preaching around John and his ministry of witnessing and baptizing.
Yet we tell the Christmas story every year. Again and again, Luke 2 is read - some of us are able to repeat from memory long portions of the story without any true effort on our part.
What is the point of re-visiting a story we know so well?
Well, with John it is to help us stop and consider all that the coming of God in the person of Jesus might mean for us....this year, this day, this decade,.....you can add your own caveat here. No rushing into a glowing story of a newborn babe without proper consideration of what it means to have a God who chooses to take on the limitations of being human and stand among us.
Not simply among the glowing candles of a Christmas Eve service. Not simply among the gaily wrapped presents of our Christmas mornings. But among us - in the between time - between the first and second comings - between the craziness of preparation and the let down of the day after. The miracle of the incarnation - the taking on of human flesh by God in Jesus - we will never be able to wrap our heads around that. It is too wonderful, frightful, amazing, and in the end incomprehensible.
It takes us two weeks of John the Baptist's 'crying out' to even begin to get us ready.
If you read through the first chapter of John you will note that the Baptizer devotes more time to who he isn't than to who he is... His entire job is to witness to the one who is coming....the one who is among you....the one you don't recognize....the one who is greater than I am.
Every Advent we have two John the Baptist texts and I know that preachers are often found sputtering....What, John again? The implication, of course, is that there is not enough to be said to fill two Sundays of preaching around John and his ministry of witnessing and baptizing.
Yet we tell the Christmas story every year. Again and again, Luke 2 is read - some of us are able to repeat from memory long portions of the story without any true effort on our part.
What is the point of re-visiting a story we know so well?
Well, with John it is to help us stop and consider all that the coming of God in the person of Jesus might mean for us....this year, this day, this decade,.....you can add your own caveat here. No rushing into a glowing story of a newborn babe without proper consideration of what it means to have a God who chooses to take on the limitations of being human and stand among us.
Not simply among the glowing candles of a Christmas Eve service. Not simply among the gaily wrapped presents of our Christmas mornings. But among us - in the between time - between the first and second comings - between the craziness of preparation and the let down of the day after. The miracle of the incarnation - the taking on of human flesh by God in Jesus - we will never be able to wrap our heads around that. It is too wonderful, frightful, amazing, and in the end incomprehensible.
It takes us two weeks of John the Baptist's 'crying out' to even begin to get us ready.
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