4th Sunday of Advent December 21, 2014
Children are you ready to listen with your whole body and spirit? Take a moment and place your hand over your heart. Can you feel your heart beating? Monday I had an echo cardiogram. There was a computer screen right next to where I laid. I could look into my heart and watch the chambers of my heart beating as it was sending life sustaining blood to every part of my body.
God wanted me to learn something about today’s scriptures. Lay your hand upon your spirit and listen. Paul spoke to the Romans, Brothers and sisters: To him who can strengthen you, according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ.
Paul became the message he was sent to deliver:
What did Paul just say? Did I hear it right? Paul said “My Gospel” and the proclamation of Jesus Christ. How could Paul call it “My Gospel”? What can this mean? How can we interpret Paul’s message. Paul did something unusual and we need to understand how deeply the Gospel had penetrated Paul to the heart. It had entered his blood stream and he had surrendered to the Gospel to the degree he had become the message he was sent to deliver. Paul took ownership and became one with the Gospel proclaimed by Jesus Christ. Paul had become the spirit of the Gospel and taken ownership for it.
Think about yourself. Have you accepted the story? Has the story penetrated your heart and entered your blood stream? Maybe more than you think?
Children Someone is Coming – Make Haste
It’s almost here! Children, do you know what I am talking about? Someone is coming and wants you to let its spirit into your heart. This special someone comes as an infant so we will not be afraid. This baby wants to enter your blood stream and bring you new spiritual life to your whole body and soul. Are we ready to let Him in?
I remember when I was about five. We had decorated a real Christmas tree. I can still remember the lights and the tinsel. We had carefully set out the nativity manger under the tree and placed the three kings all the way across the room. My dad set a star on the top of the tree – we knew — so the kings could find their way to the manger in the dark.
There was a chill in the air and snow falling outside the window. Though, it was early in the evening, it was dark outside. My older brother and I, where so anxious, we wanted to go to bed early. We knew it was the night of all nights. The night the angels would sing when our savior was born. It was the night love would penetrate the darkness of human tragedy. It was the night a Saint would fly around the world in the form of Santa Clause and his sleigh with gifts full of love.
Once in bed I tossed and turned. Then unexpectedly, my brother said – I hear him! Can’t you hear him! My hands and my feet began to sweat. Could he really be in the house while I was awake? Can’t you sense it? Love is on it’s way!
Does anyone Love me?
No matter how crusty, cantankerous or dubious we have become we all seek to be loved. Christmas eve and Christmas day people will pour out of homes and attend Church. The dream and story are real and they know it some where in their spirit. This is a day of rebirth of hope and love.
Do not be afraid!
The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary.
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”. We know the story – the Gospel became one with Mary and its blood flowed through her heart to her son and they became as one with the spirit of love.
Set yourself free to embrace the story so all who encounter you encounter Christ. Hurry Up – Merry Christmas.