Our Destiny Is To Go Beyond Everything (Advent #4)
The Bigger Picture
I’m writing this as my family sits on the floor playing a card game after a big Christmas meal. I should be playing too but I’m deep in heady thoughts about Advent—the last one in this Advent cycle. (How many have I been through?)
Typically Advent is seen as a celebration of Christ coming into the world as the expression of the face of God. Abba breaking into our world so that he is seen as a near God and not as a distant God. Merton helps us expand our view of Advent to see the cosmic dimensions of Christ’s coming. To see it as a Beginning and Ending of all things.
Our Catholic friend speaks with an enlightening voice as he reflects on Advent as a time of both Beginning and Ending:
“Our destiny is to go on beyond everything, to leave everything, to press forward to the End and find in the End our Beginning, the ever-new Beginning that has no end.”
The challenge we face is to be fuelled by the bigger picture of Advent—to be awakened by the reality that our Creator God travels with us as “Emmanuel” in our everyday.
My everyday: a big turkey, my family, a game of dice, a glass of brandy that my daughter has just poured.
And Emmanuel with each one.
Thanks for your thoughtfulness Alan. It is much appreciated.
Happy Holidays to you and family.
Bob
Indeed a bigger picture Pastor Alan I see it too as beginning and end once that is grasp we walk humbly in love knowing that Emmanuel is for us. I give a joke...after work I went into a store to buy yam. I was on my phone, the place packed, so I hurriedly cut my yam and walk away...so my call end a lady walk up....she said I know what you did. I said what? She said I pointed a knife at her and she rebuke it and curse me....I said I do not understand...etc she said she do not understand but overstand
I guess she didn't know who I am.... I immediately tell her about Jesus and the Holy Spirit and that this season is about God love and let her know you cannot go around with evil thought against others based on your doctrine or interpretation....God is love, a Creator and His mercies are new every day. So I said you are.....But I'm a Christian. Firstly she shouldn't be out shopping at 5pm Saturday etc.. I just laugh and told her my sister I pray the Holy Spirit reveal light unto you. Secondly the Holy Spirit gives Understanding and reverence to God is the beginning of Understanding (a gift of the Spirit)
It's about Abba Love, Jesus the Light that shines in our darkness and the Holy Spirit that made manifestation.....etc That's why the passion of the cross means so much to me as it all begins at Christmas.
Have blessed day Pastor Alan♥️♥️♥️