Sunday December 20,2015
Advent week 4
The Scripture ~ ” in the Lord, I beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Creator of all, who is above all and through all and in all.” Ephesians 4:1-6
The Spiritual Focus ~ ” Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” Martin Luther King Jr.
The Devotion ~ This week we pause to consider a kaleidoscope of faith events. Almost all faith traditions are celebrating a connection with the Sacred this month of December. Jewish Hanukkah concluded December 14th, a celebration of the miracle of light being restored in the Holy Temple of Jerusalem. In pre-Christian Scandinavia, the Feast of Juul or Yule, lasted for 12 days celebrating the rebirth of the sun god and giving rise to the custom of burning a Yule log. With Emperor Constantine’s conversion to Christianity, many customs were later absorbed into Christmas celebrations.
Some yogis participate in special classes on the first day of winter that celebrates the winter solstice, the longest night of the year in the northern hemisphere. After this date on the calendar, light returns and days grow longer.
All traditions pause to acknowledge that there is something greater than the self, there is something sacred, and many experience the Sacred in the light that surrounds us.
The Christian faith stands alone in a narrative that celebrates God choosing to become human. The Christian story does not worship a distant, unknown god. The Christian story that is told every Christmas, is a story of love coming out of the heavens to dwell among us. Love coming down.
Pastor John Hogenson in his first Christmas sermon at St. Andrews reframed the Christmas narrative for many when he spoke one word in describing God, “Love.” Love came down. Love came down to show us the way of love; to show us the way of God. The way of Love is wrapped in bands of cloth, kept warm by hay and animals’ breath. The way of Love that came down continues to bring hope, peace, and joy, for all people wherever they are on their faith and spiritual journey.
When we light the final Advent candle of love, we pause to celebrate Love coming down and driving out hate. We pause to join in unity with all humanity to celebrate One God, for all, in all, who is above all, and chose to come down to show us a new way to life.
We pause at Christmas, on our mats and in the world to celebrate the day Love came down, showing us all a new way to live and love.
Breath Prayer
Inhale ~ I AM
Exhale ~ Love
Inhale ~ I
Exhale ~ Share Love
