Monastic Mumblings, a Friar's Journey

Epiphany - Witness of the Son of God

Christmas is now past and Christians turn to a new season, the Season of Epiphany. It won't end until just before Lent. Some of us know that this season is concerned with the three Magi, but there is more to it than that. The central theme is the showing forth of Christ to the world, when His presence was revealed to the three Magi, the Messiah was thereby shown to the Gentiles for the first time. In the early church, it was a time when new converts were admitted to the church after a period of preparation.

But there are at least two other events associated with Epiphany. They are the Baptism of Christ (Luke 3:21), and the Wedding at Cana, when Christ first turned water into wine (John 2: 1-10). These events are ones that celebrate the manifestation of Christ to the world and by His power to perform miracles, He was shown to be God's beloved Son.

For me, the meaning of the annual repetition of Epiphany is a participation in the historical events in the life of Jesus. Epiphany has a great spiritual significance far beyond just the dry facts of the matter, because in the Christian faith everything is present, here and now. Our Lord Jesus Christ is with us here and now, our inseparable Companion and Comforter. The historical event is just a motive and remembrance, because the Person of Christ is ever present, and His Grace is not just some historical memory. In this season, He was shown to the Magi, shown as a miracle worker at Cana, and at His Baptism. I am pretty sure that the Baptism of Christ is the the only united appearance of the Father and the Holy Spirit along with Jesus, quite an event in and of itself!

I like to think of this season as one of the Witness of the Son of God, when His Gift became evident to the entire world, and even to a sinner like me.

How can we respond to this time?

We can:
Remember Christ's baptism and our own, Remember the ways in which Christ was revealed to humankind, and most of all think about ways that we are called to bring Christ and to model Christ to the world.

O God, Who by the leading of a star manifested Your only Son to the Peoples of the earth: Lead us, Who know You now by faith, to Your presence, where we may see Your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

12th Day of Christmas - Human nature

The Incarnation is not something that occurred for 33 or so years a couple of thousand years ago. It is an ongoing experience, a change in human nature, something that has brought humanity up to God, and God down into our very messy humanity.  It is ongoing and ever changing, as Christmas ends and Epiphany will begin let's open our hearts to all the possibilities of Incarnational mystery we can find in our lives.

O God, Who wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully restored, the dignity of human nature: Grant that we may share the divine life of Him Who humbled Himself to share our humanity, Your Son Jesus Christ; Who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

11th Day of Christmas

Well here it is the 11th day of the end of the Season of Christmas is drawing near.  I want to post a portion of a sermon not given a couple of years ago by Oklahoma City minister,  Rev. Scott Jones.  Powerful words and ones I want to contemplate as we enter a new year of service to Christ.

So the question we must ask ourselves today is not whether we want peace and goodwill, because most everyone says they want those things right before they run over you getting to the checkout line at Target. This is the best time of year because most people voice these high ideals and even live them out in ways that they don’t normally. But to accept the warm fuzzies of Christmas is not to be a Christian. The question before us is “Do we really want Christ to be born anew in us?” Because that means committing ourselves not to the warm fuzzies of this holiday, but to the way of peace that leads through the cross.

“Do we really want Christ to be born anew in us?” 

Isn't that the question that we dare not seriously ask ourselves?!

10th day of Christmas - Limits and Incarnation

I get a daily mediation from Fr. Richard Rohr, and during this season, I would like to ask some questions and ponder Fr. Rohr's question: "What limitations of the human scene am I being asked to accept?"

Is it a gift to accept our own limitations and smallness? To live in an accept limits on our lives?  Did not Jesus Himself give up a limitless existence to live as one of us, to limit Himself?

I can see that it would be a gift, a resting in what is, and not a constant pining away for what we don't have.  I also think it is exceptionally difficult for rich Americans and others to accept limitations on our lives, we want everything expended for our safety and comfort. Maybe that is a hindrance to our entering the Kingdom ahead of the poor who deeply know their limits. 

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.” (Philippians 2:5-7)

9th Day of Christmas - Light in the darkness

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it (John 1:5). 

This Christmas season, I have been pondering Light breaking into darkness, and it's continuing ramification. These words of Presiding Bp. Schori spoke to me, perhaps they will speak to you as well.

The world settles into winter, at least in the northern hemisphere, and life to many seems increasingly bleak. Foreclosures, layoffs, government bailouts and financial failures, continuing war on two fronts, terrorist attacks, murders of some identified only by their faith -- this world is in abundant need of light. We know light that is not overcome by darkness, for God has come among us in human flesh. Born in poverty to a homeless couple, to a people long under occupation, Jesus is human and divine evidence that God is with us in the midst of the world's darkness. Emmanuel, Prince of Peace, Divine Counselor is come among us to re-mind, re-member, and re-create. A new mind and heart is birthed in us as we turn to follow Jesus on the way.

The body of God's creation is re-membered and put back together in ways intended from the beginning. And a new creation becomes reality through Jesus' healing work. Christians tell the story again each Christmastide, and the telling and remembering invites us once again into being made whole. Our task in every year is to hear the story with new ears, and seeing light in the darkness of this season's woes, then to tell it abroad with gladsome hearts to those who wait in darkness. Where will you share the joyous tale of light in the darkness?

Where are we looking for God's Light today? In the halls of power, on a suburban Church "campus", or in an "unexpected place"? Where have you unexpectedly found the Light of God? Is there someone in our lives that needs to hear the story of the Light?

Almighty God, You have poured upon us the new light of Your Incarnate Word: Grant that this Light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

8th Day of Christmas - Feast of the Circumcision of Our Lord

Today we celebrate the moment when the new born Christ Child first shed His blood for us. Every Jewish male was formally named and circumcised on the 8th day after his birth. God the Word, Incarnate submitted Himself fully to the Law to fulfill that Law for us.  This first blood shedding is a time to remember martyrs and others who have died for us.

And so, on this occasion, He was formally given the name Jesus, which the Archangel Gabriel had announced to the Virgin Mary. On this day where we remember the first incidence of God bleeding for us, we might consider all who have died, defending the Faith. 

Eternal Father, Who gave to Your Incarnate Son the holy Name of Jesus to be the sign of our salvation: Plant in every heart, we pray, the love of Him Who is the Savior of the world, our Lord Jesus Christ; Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.