Calvin Synod Herald, 2012 (113. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2012-11-01 / 11-12. szám
8 CALVIN SYNOD HERALD Revelation - Continuedfrom page 7 began to praise God and to speak about the child to all... The gospel presents us with two challenges: First, to recognize the revelation; second, to give witness to it. The revelation can be thrust aside. We can remain with questions: “What child is this who laid to rest on Mary’s lap is sleeping?” Or we can doubt the importance of what we have seen: Could it be that a child bom to peasant parentage 2000 years ago is truly the fulcrum on which human history rests? Or we can reject the revelation: The innkeeper in the story had access to everything the shepherds knew, but out of greed or preoccupation he turned away. This sort of thing happens in our families. All the children are raised in the same Christian home, but maybe only one or even none recognize the revelation for their own lives. We receive models for our lives from the gospel today. We may be like the innkeeper who is too busy to find a place for this holy visitor to be bom . . . We may even more strongly reject him as did Herod in St. Matthew’s account. Or we may, like the shepherds in the fields or Simeon and Anna in the temple, recognize the revelation, give praise and tell others. Later on St. Peter would be told to cease and desist his witness in Jerusalem. He replied, “We cannot but proclaim the things we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:21) Most of us would say we recognize the revelation. We have come to worship. But has our witness to this truth fallen too silent? Question: In 2013 will we find ways to witness to the life and light that has come to us? There is a witness that each one may give. Our Lord needs no more fellow travelers. Our Lord invites faithful witnesses. Let the shepherds along with Simeon and Anna be our models. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, world to its end. Amen. David B. Bowman, Ph.D Pastor (Interim) Faith Lutheran Church Los Gatos, CA The Right Sequence And The Right Direction Scripture reading: Luke 2:1-20. Text: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace...” Galatians 5:22/a. There is a fourfold anticipation before every Christmas service:- on the pastor’s part, the sanctuary will be filled with worshipers,- on the congregation’s part, the faithful will hear a wonderful sermon,- a few will expect to learn about something basically new that will be uplifting, and- some prefer to hear about the never-changing Christmas gifts of love, joy, and peace as we read them in our text. We find love, joy, and peace printed on the Christmas cards. We sing, “Joy to the world! The Lord has come...” Also we sing, “Peace on earth, and mercy mild . . (from: Hark the Herald Angels Sing ...) Will everyone’s expectation become reality? “BEYOND ALL QUESTIONS, THE MYSTERY OF GODLINESS IS GREAT: HE (Jesus) APPEARED IN A BODY ...” 1 Timothy 3:16/a. For Apostle Paul the incarnation, namely “he appeared in a body” (please read John 1:14), was a mystery. For us, who have heard it so many times, Jesus’ birth is more a miracle than a mystery. Does this mean that in year of 2011 there is no “mystery” in Christmas at all? We can still perceive mysterious events as a result of incarnation, for instance, hatred turning into forgiveness, medically unexplainable healing as a response to prayer, narrow escape from a catastrophe all via that same divine love through which the Savior was bom, (read John 3:16), and we have that “special peace of mind” (that is, we are saved) that the world cannot offer. “BUT THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS LOVE, JOY, PEACE .. ” Please see our text. In the Apostles’ Creed we recite, “I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost (Spirit)...” With broad-minded interpretation we can say the Jesus Christ was also the fruit of the Holy Spirit. No doubt he represents love, joy, and peace. Please read Luke 2:8-14. If love, joy, and peace have been important and inseparable parts of Jesus’ birth and ministry, you may ask, what is new this year in our Christmas celebration? THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SEQUENCE AND THE DIRECTION. The overwhelming majority will definitely agree that love, joy, and peace are the three timeless gifts of Christmas. At the same time, the same people will have different ideas of how to obtain them, how to use them, how to keep them, and how to cherish them. Please, pay very close attention to the sequence of the Bible listing of the fruits of the Spirit: first LOVE, second JOY, and third PEACE. If you are a good observer you will agree with me, the popular sequence is just the OPPOSITE. Why? Because we prefer and wish to have and enjoy first PEACE, that is live without fear, anxiety, stress, and worry. We do not want to be threatened, irritated, or bothered by anyone or anything. Our number one wish is to live an undisturbed life. JOY will enter into our lives following peace only after we managed to keep ourselves from undesirable persons, from danger, and from risky situations. Finally when we are blessed or are fortunate enough to live in peace and have a joyful, carefree life, we will have opportunity to love and will offer our affection. This sequence is wrong! God is correct, first LOVE, secondly JOY, and then PEACE.
