Merry Christmas 2022!

 Merry Christmas.  Dec 25, 2022

    Our world is spinning is it not? Wars, inflation, anger about politics or you name it...?  It seems we did not really learn the lessons of Advent.  People seem quick to judge, and criticize when really all we are really trying to do is be thoughtful and helpful.  Advent was about stopping and listening to God and ourselves as well as others, instead of going off on others with undue words and thoughtless harm....if I can put it that way.

   Today's Gospel in Luke reminded me that fear is a part of being just who we are as people ---even people of God.  The orig language in Luke 2:9 says, " And an angel of the Lord stood by them ( shepherds), and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and                                                                                                                                                                                         they feared with great fear ( phobia in orig meaning panic, flight, or terror) Biblehub.com ( megan--large and great in the widest sense fear)....." I know we can all fill in that blank.  What fear?  Fear of losing a loved one?  I heard this week of a friend I was talking to, and then I got a note that he had died.  It was unexpected.  I was in a bit of a shock time.

   One of our members fell and broke her arm, and had to have surgery.  That was fearful when I heard it.A lot of things cause us to fear.  I imagine the shepherds were absolutely terrified as the word is terrified for real here.    But as our study in I John concludes today, we are encouraged to know that God is near and Jesus is as well to us in all of our lives.  I John 5: 20 " And we know that the Son of God is come..."    The tense of the verb got me here.   Is come present is  tense here, so He is here now as well.     

   The angel said unto them, " Fear not" .  I imagine we all need that word from time to time ....when we hear things we don't appreciate, or the world news gets worse and worse.  Do not fear the angel says in vs. 10 for I evangelize you, literally. I bring you good news it is in English.  Good news of great joy has been brought to us.  It is to all.  That we forget as well.  We think sometimes the message is for only those we know, send Christmas cards to, or etc..........No it is for all and to all!!!  It is not just for the narrow group we pray for.  Our prayers are for the world!

    " We are in Him " John says 5:20 .  He is real. He is true.  Our bread and our Wine/juice of the Vine is a shadow of which He is the substance.  God is the ultimate reality, in contrast to idols v. 21  He has given us understanding , a capacity of knowing.

And as John says at the last, Amen.  That is what we say!  Amen.