Christmas 2014

Is 52:7-10; Heb 1:1-6; John 1:1-18
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/122514-day-mass.cfm

A few weeks back on this blog I suggested we each reflect upon how we are different at present in comparison to past Advents. Now is the time to reflect upon how my thoughts, perceptions, activities and experiences of this Advent affect my relationship with the Lord.

I did several things differently this Advent, but I will only tell you about ‘the door.’

I was invited to decorate a door for one of the much-loved sisters at a nursing home I sometimes work at; I put my little heart into it because I regarded it as a visual prayer of thanksgiving and petition. I wrote “Prince of Peace Incarnate” on ribbon, the names of each sister on little embossed doves and petitions for peace and help for those in need on green and blue circles. Many of the sisters were upset by the conflict, war, violence, disease, hatred, poverty, etc particularly rampant in the world today. I wanted them to visually see that because their response to these troubles is prayer they too are answering the call to be the Prince of Peace Incarnate who dwells within each of us in the world. The connection between those praying and the petitions for the needs of others was tightly forged to the Prince of Peace Incarnate through their community. I hoped the door communicated some of those perceptions.

The Gospel of John is very clear; Jesus is the Word incarnate. Thereby, whatever words I have for Him, He is incarnated into that specific role. To use my example from above, I characterized Jesus as “Prince of Peace”, so Jesus brought peace to anyone who prayed my door. Maybe he brought them a bit of hope and love, too, as these feelings also over-flowed in my heart as I carried on with the taping.

In what other characterizations has the Word become Incarnate? The Bread of Life, Light of the World, the Vine, Gatekeeper, Good Shepherd, Resurrection and the Life, the Way, the Truth, the Life; Friend, Brother, Spouse, Son?

Rereading the opening to John’s gospel reminded me, when John talks about the Word as reigning with the Lord God from the beginning of time, he talks simultaneously about that Word bringing life. Indeed all life only has life by His will. The cause-and-effect might be a bit of a puzzle; we are alive only because of His will, but we will never truly know how our alive-ness effects His alive-ness. But, it bears repeating, we only have life if He desires so. This is true of all beings, whether or not they are aware of this dependence.

In addition to an awareness of our need upon Him for life, we may experience a new layer of gratitude, joy and hope in our relationship with Him. The idea that my soul and spirit are so valuable to Him as to be willed into existence by Him should also inspire a deeper sense of self-value and self-worth within each of us.

Reflection Questions: Which of the above terms from Jesus’ I Am statements might be most applicable in the past year for you, which might you explore in the upcoming year? Which expression provokes the most emotion, whether comfortable or not?

Writing Exercise: What changes might you make as you remember that it is Christ’s will that you are alive? Do you feel alive, or only as if you are going through the motions of life? What would need to change to be “more” alive, assuming we can consciously become “more alive.”

Art Exercise: Decorate a large space such as a door or wall using as your theme one of Jesus’ I AM statements or descriptions of Him.

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