Church reflections this morning at First and Franklin Presbyterian Church, Baltimore, MD: Christmas in a season of mourning. Grieving for beloved sister Pam Byers, and mentor/friend Dick Roszel, and speaking just before the service with one church friend mourning her mother and another his father, I wondered for a minute what were to make of joyous Advent hymns, Scripture, and anthems. My Christian faith, like many other paths to the transcendent, lifts up a conviction which is beautiful in all seasons of our lives: that the Divine chooses freely to mingle in all the lowly, messy, heart-breaking complexities of humanity. To put it in church terms, this time of year reminds us of how God becomes incarnate: a baby born into poverty, with no free pass, no exemption from sorrow, vulnerability, loss, or disillusionment - acquainted with grief, as the prophet said. When we mourn, we are in the company of someone mysterious, both mighty and dear, someone who truly understands. In its own way, a joyous thought. Now I guess we get to work on that whole peace on Earth thing. Love to you all.
Posted on: Mon, 22 Dec 2014 00:34:36 +0000
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