Fraternity-Testvériség, 1979 (57. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
1979-10-01 / 4. szám
REV. LOUIS ILLÉS: WHAT IS YOUR ANGLE?____ “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life”. John 3:16 If the verses of the Bible would be listed in order of importance, this verse would be at the very top. It contains a ray of hope, the only hope for mankind. Paradise lost became Paradise regained through this verse. Yet, we live in misery; crime and the reporting of crime, corruption of morals and public life is on the uprise. The reason for this is man’s attitude toward God’s offer expressed in our Bible quotation. Winter is around the corner, as a matter of fact, parts of our country have lived through snow storms, frost and other discomforts of this wonderful, but, for mankind disadvantageous season. We freeze, in spite of the fact, that at times during the winter season, the earth is the closest in its course to the sun. Yet, parts of its surface are freezing more than at the time when the distance is a great deal longer in the summer. The reason for this is that the earth is spinning at an angle, and I will arbitrarily call tbe winter situation a season of the “angle of disadvantage”. We are close to the sun, yet we freeze our cars off, because its rays bounce off with little warming effect. Let us not forget, though that other parts of the earth, that are exposed to the sun’s rays at an advantageous angle, enjoy warm weather. People, and birds flock, migrate South in the winter season, to take advantage of this. Permit me to take the liberty, and compare God and man’s relationship to the relationship of the sun and the earth. Of course, it is a feeble comparison, at least the comparison between God and its creation, the sun, but for our mortal minds it will have to do. There were and still are seasons, when God and man were and are closer to each other than at other times. I will point out three occasions in history, when God and man were the closest to each other. The first time was, when God created man in His own image. The second time, when God has chosen a people to be His people. The third, and for the purpose of this meditation, the last time God was very close to man, when His Son came to earth, on the first Christmas Eve. One of the differences between these three occasions is that the first occasion lasted a very short time. Adam’s original sin (and for the sake of emancipation let us include Eve, too!] ended the blissful state of God’s original plan, mankind’s spiritual planet, in spite of God’s nearness, turned at an “angle of disadvantage”, we have fallen from the Creator’s favor, and our ancestors were expelled from the Garden of Eden. Paradise was lost. The second occasion of the nearness of God and a chosen people lasted a little longer, but this “season”, too, was ended by the stubborness and sinfulness of the chosen people. We were in need of a stronger, longer, perhaps everlasting closeness with God. God, in His inexplorable wisdom, grace and love, has foreseen the events of history, including mankind’s blunders, and decided, before time began, the saving mission of His Son, our salvation. The first Christmas’ closeness between God and man was better than any other occasion in history, and it still lasts for those, who accept the saving grace of its miracle. Yes, God is still very near to mankind, He was never far, and Christ has assured us of a haven, where the “angle” is always an “angle of advantage”. Those who desire to take advantage of this haven, chose to live and labor in “the communion of saints”, the Holy Mother Church, for our Hungarian Reformed heritage calls our spiritual community by that name. Winter is around the corner, as a matter of fact, parts of our country already “enjoy” its “blessings”... Christmas, too, is around the corner, and it is up to us, You, and I, what kind of weather we will experience, the weather of the Northern, or the Southern hemisphere. As we enter the Advent Season, let us examine our attitudes, and see to it, that in the nearness of God, near to the heart of God, we will not freeze at the “angle of disadvantage” and we will not let the rays of His love bounce off our hearts but we will enjoy the warmth of the joyfully chosen “angle of advantage” and soak up every ray of His love. May Your choice assure You not only of a warm fire in Your hearth, but also in Your heart, may You have the privilege of celebrating a Joyful, Merry Christmas, may You experience God’s presence, may You not only receive but also accept His offer and message of love! Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! THE NATIONAL OFFICERS OF THE HUNGARIAN REFORMED FEDERATION OF AMERICA Wish you a blessed Christmas and a happy, peaceful New Year. 2
