Magyar Egyház, 2006 (85. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
2006-10-01 / 4. szám
8. oldal MAGYAR EGYHÁZ The Fullness of Time Ephesus 1:10 All time is precious, but Christians have held that one point of time was significant above every point. That conviction is clearly seen in our manner of reckoning. The Greeks counted their time in Olympiads, that is the periods of four years between the Olympic games. The Romans began their dating with the legendary founding of the city of Rome. The Jews counted their years from the date on which they believed God had created the world. In Bible days events were sometimes dated with reference to the king of emperor. But to Christians there was but one real center of time, to which all previous time had led up and from which all future time was to come. That was the birth of Jesus Christ. That was what Paul, in writing to the Ephesians, said was the “fullness of times”. So in the 6th century a monk named Dionysius the Little became so convinced that it was wrong to date history by pagan calendars that he worked out a new chronology, marking the year in which Christ was bom as the year 1. Everything after that he called A.D. “Anno Domini” in the year of our Lord. Everything before that he called A. C. “Ante Christum”, before Christ. This, for some unknown reason, has been has been Anglicized, so that we say B.C. meaning “Before Christ” in English. In this fullness of time Christ was bom. "... as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth”. (Ephesus 1:10) Notice that this fullness of time arises out of a long background. That is the significance of the Advent season. The word means “coming” or “to come” from the Latin “ad” and “venio”. Just as when you expect a guest in your home you make preparation for his coming, just so the world had to be prepared for Christ’s coming. The Hebrew religion was a preparation for the Christian, and the prophets were a preparation for Jesus. Notice also, that the proper use of the fullness of time depends upon a courageous employment of it. Our Lord had no easy life even though all centuries before had been a preparation for his coming. He struggled throughout his life against a wicked and blind generation. A lesser person might have thrown away the opportunity. When the time is ripe our zeal must be ripe, too. We must see, too, that the outcome of the fullness of time must be left in God’s hands. When our Lord was rejected, his cause seemed lost. Only a very few of the faithful remained. But he knew that the success of his kingdom was ultimately entrusted, not to men, but to God. One of the early Scotch reformers, Andrew Melville, was threatened by the Earl of Morton with death by hanging if he did not cease his free speaking. Melville laughed and said: “Tush, sir. Threaten your courtiers after that manner! It is the same to me whether I rot in the air or in the ground. It will not be in your power to hang or exile the truth.” Jesus came in the fullness of time. All the past had been a preparation for his advent. He used the few years that were his with courage and faith. He was then content to leave the outcome to the will of his heavenly Father. In a real sense, each person comes in the fullness of time. The past has been a preparation for you. The present has a task for you to do. The future you cannot know, but you can hope, “so that we, who were the first to set our hope in Christ might live for the praise of his glory. Prayer for Christmas Holy and Mighty Lord, strong and tender God, One candle can pierce a thousand darkness, one flickering light can kindle new vision, one voice on fire can set our heart ablaze. Passionate and gentle God, you are the source of light, and we are your many candles, each uniquely burning for you. Touch us. Light us. Warm us. Purify us. May a flame rise in us and bum bright in us this holy and fiery night. Let it be. This wondrous night shines with the brilliance of your Son, the true Light who has come into the world. This greatest of all miracles we celebrate anew, amazed that you, who roam the universe at will, would shrink your Being, relinquish your glory and imprison yourself in the cramped and limited world within a human skin. But you did. You have reached for our hand in the darkness so that you could lead us from the land of shadowy fears and half-truths to the sparkling realms of healing light and ceaseless joy. Thank you for this love beyond measure, this gift beyond price. By the light of your birthing star over Bethlehem, shepherds and kings alike were led into your Presence. With you they found reasons to hope and to sing, a purpose for their existence and the vision of a future worth living for. Those who sought you became wise. Those who seek you today do, too. There may be among us people who are searching for something to make life worth the price of admission. Let them find you, here and now. Entice them with hope. Reassure them with the gift of suddenly blossoming belief. Guide them as they take their first steps along the way of love and mercy. Others among us have already journeyed far with you. Let some of the radiance of this holy night cling to them that they can become guiding stars for people who do not know the way to your Presence. With apt words and gentle encouragement, let them lead others to encounter the light and life you were bom to give. Amen. A Christmas Benediction May the stars be extra bright. May the song of the angels be clear. May the love of God hold you tonight and May God bring joy to you and all who are near.
