Magyar Egyház, 1967 (46. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1967-11-01 / 11-12. szám
8 MAGYAR EGYHÁZ MAGYAR CHURCH Bishop Louis Nagy: rThe Word Became Flesh ... ” Our world keeps on changing, only the human heart remains wicked and evil. Mankind has wasted all the beauty and goodness which God entrusted to him in this world. Through man’s corruption beauty has become distorted into ugliness, evil has overcome goodness, instead of joy despair cries aloud and prayers are choked by cursings. Man, alienated from God, is fast approaching eternal doom rather than the kingdom of heaven. This world created in beauty has been corrupted, man who was destined to live a happy life has fallen, God’s angels holding their flaming swords have driven him toward punishment. Man’s sin has poisoned everything in this world, that is why man is doomed to be unhappy forever. Man’s evil cries out as high as the heavens, therefore there is no peace in this world. This is the reason why bombs are falling today upon innocent children, this is why young people die in great numbers, this is why peaceful homes are being burnt down, and man is compelled to be a displaced person on this earth which should be his dwelling place. In this ever-changing world, in which only sin remains unchanged, the mind of man discovers and invents marvelous things. Mankind travels amidst the stars and will descend on celestial bodies, that his pride and vain glory might increase when he should humble himself. Such powerful weapons have been invented by man that they snuff out the life of entire continents with the ease that a child blows out tiny little candlelights on the Christmas tree. Man pays homage to his self-made wonders as he continues his desperate dance toward doom. In this chaotic world in which man fancies himself to know all that is to be known, a few short words speak volumes to us: “The Word became flesh.” There is no greater mystery than this. If someone could have traveled to other planets and could have known about them intimately, even such a man could not comprehend this great mystery. No one could say anything more meaningful to men murdering each other, to a world shaking with the fear df death, to people waiting for a dawn following a long and dark night, to sad, tearful broken-hearted men, than this message: The Word became flesh. The Word of God that created our world, that divine Mind which maintains order in the entire Universe, His only begotten Son came to this earth, assumed human flesh so that God could meet with man, so that man alienated from God might approach Him, — God became flesh, so that we might know something of His being and we might understand in part. God became flesh not only to speak to us and that we might speak to Him, but also that the God-man, Jesus Christ might tell us in His wonderful deeds and words who God really is. The incomprehensible, holy and almighty God can be approached with the trust and confidence of a child. God became flesh so that the Word incarnate might change completely the corrupt human heart and so that the God-man might accomplish His work of mediation for sinful man. The Word became flesh so that the Son who is the same as the Father and the Holy Spirit might become like us through His incarnation: a person, with a suffering heart, knowing hunger and suffering. One who could weep and endure the agonies of death. The Word became flesh so that weeping man might know true happiness, and the rebellious prodigal son might become a child of God. God became flesh so that erring man might be adopted as a son of God. We can never really comprehend the mystery of Christmas. We must only believe the miracle of incarnation. Whosoever believeth that God became flesh in the Lord Jesus Christ is a child of God. Only those can have a true Christmas celebration who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Word incarnate. Peal, o ye Christmas-bells the sweet mystery: The Word became flesh! Believe, ye unhappy, sinful men that God came to us in Jesus Christ and ye shall be the children of God! Only those who sincerely believe that the Word became flesh so that man could become rich toward God in the gift of His Son can have a truly blessed Christmas. RECONSIDERATIONS Positions of the Roman Catholic — Presbyterian-Reformed Dialogue A national-level dialogue group of Roman Catholic and Presbyterian-Reformed churchmen jointly announced the publication of a book of theological documents discussed at semi-annual meetings between representatives of the two traditions. Called Reconsiderations, the book presents theological positions of the two traditions on “Revelation. Scripture and Tradition,” “The Development of Doctrine,” and “The Ministry and Order of the Church.” The three general topics have been among matters discussed by the Roman Catholic-Presbyterian and Reformed group at dialogue sessions that began in July 1965. The conversations, held each spring and fall, are jointly sponsored by the American Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Affairs and the North American Area of the World Alliance of Reformed and Presbyterian Churches. “The discussions have led to the discovery of unexpected common ground, and to deeper and fuller understanding,” a forward to the book says. “The papers are presented so that those in both traditions who read them may have similar joyful and productive encounters.” The Presbyterian and Reformed delegation includes representatives from the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, the Hungarian Reformed Church in America, the Reformed Church in America, the United Church of Christ, the Presbyterian Church in the U. S., and the United Presbyterian Church U.S.A.
