My dear fellow Episcopalians,
We are blessed by God to be moving through these holy seasons. Advent is our time to prepare for the ultimate mystery of the Incarnation. How is God-becoming-human going to change our lives this year?
Christmas Day begins a 12 day season of giving. We give in gratitude for many things. It’s also a time for us to ponder God’s gifts to us and how we might return thanks. That season ends with Epiphany, traditionally the revealing of Jesus to the Gentiles represented by the magi. After their encounter and a vision in a dream, they return home by another road. That’s the feast where we really should ask, “how are we going to change the direction of our lives?”
It’s too easy for us sweeten this story. The crèche. The sweet carols. The beautiful cards and wrapping paper. These are all distractions from the real story.
Jesus was born into a world of uncertainty, oppression, injustice; an occupied land in an empire known for its ruthlessness. Let’s not forget the flight of the Holy Family into Egypt and the murder of the innocent children in Bethlehem.
This was the time God chose to enter the world. It also was in that time that the world changed. A new way living and interacting with others began. It began a time of living by the law of love; of working for peace and justice, and loving one another as Jesus loved us.
We began this year in grief and heartache. We have had to respond to events we never expected. This season we need to pray for all those who will be without a loved one for the first time or who lost someone in their life around this time of year. I ask your prayers especially for the family of Tom Palermo.
I also ask your prayers for all those in 12 step recovery and that includes Heather Cook as well as her family. These holidays are particularly difficult for recovering alcoholics and addicts.
We are blessed to know that God loved the world so much that the time chosen for the miracle of the incarnation was an uncertain and dark one. Many are saying we live in dark and uncertain times; that fear is motivating us more and more. I take great comfort knowing that God is with us. As we sing the hymn “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” let’s remember that Emmanuel means, “God with us.”
I find great hope in that. And that is my wish for all of you.
Faithfully,
