Incarnation - putting it to life - violence or love

John 1:1-14

What’s the Word? Huh.

What word was with God?

In John’s storytelling — it was God.

It was — ‘gratuitous self-donation.’

It was self-giving.

It was what was 

before there was

rejection - violence - prejudice

accusation - condemnation.

The utter brilliance of 

John’s prologue

is that it does not let 

any power — speak first

any culture — set the norm

any ruler — dictate what is to be

any gods of the day — tickle our fancy.

It is as though John

will let — no other story own the day 

among those who say they 

follow Jesus.

It is as though John 

is setting us up — with this word 

that has no place to abide among us

and yet it does.

This Word becomes vitally alive

even though 

we want nothing to do with it

even though

we will not accept it or receive it

John is writing in a day

when violence was — the word. 

Some might even say it was — the way.

Some might say — the necessary evil.

Some might say — the rule.

In other words

it is like every other day - even today.

It is how we — become us 

and they — become them.

 John’s storytelling right from the beginning

sets before us 

a word that had been

the word of the day -  violence.

Think of it this way.

One child is in a room full of toys.

She is loving it — all is well.

Then, child #2 enters this room 

that is completely full of toys.

Where does child #2 head?

You got it — that one toy in the hands of child #1.

Ahhh, the desire — to have 

what is in the hands of another.

and then it meets

the desire — to keep what is in hand.

As a parent and a grandparent

I have seen it happen again and again.

The little buggers explode into 

 acts of violence - screaming - tantrums 

that I would never have expected 

from my child - my grandchild,

It may be a bit much to call it warfare.

It may be a bit much to call it violence.

I may be a bit much to give it any

consideration at all - they’re just kids, right?

But then again, 

Cain and Abel were brothers.

That - didn’t end well.

And the whole story line 

that makes up

 humanities storytelling since then

hasn’t gone well.

I would suggest that the gospel writer John

is handing everyone who reads

his version of the Christ story

an opening 

into a whole new life

that really has no witness 

since

God’s gratuitous self-donation - in the beginning.

In the beginning

was a love meant to be

the substance — the character

of God’s creative masterpiece — Humanity.

Hmmm.

But that love…that 

gratuitous self-donation

that 

light that shines in the darkness

that 

Word that became flesh

was…well…it was

voted off the island.

The gospel writer John follows up this 

Prelude to his Gospel 

with a storyline

in which self-giving love

has no place

in a world

that is always trying to preserve

a fundamental principle

of human society:

us verses them.

Within the vision of John’s gospel

that he received 

through coming to grips with the life and death of Jesus

he finds there is a love 

that will never abide by

us verses them

no matter who the US is 

no matter who the THEM is.

Therefore, we will see in John’s writing

the story of Jesus

[ presented also by Matthew, Mark, and Luke ]

that the world ( now - get this )

did not know — did not accept.

We look back at this Word of Love

and wonder 

how could they not see it - know it - accept it.

Well, that goes back to who

the Creator is:

gratuitous self-giving

A love that gives

without condition

without meeting goals

without being nice or when we are naughty.

Yikes - that’s sheer foolishness.

Isn’t it?

As we sit in the season of the birth 

of the Christ of God - the Word of God

the love of God translated into everyday human life,

I have a suggestion.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness ( NAMI )

has put out a commercial this year.

It shows a reflective Santa

sitting on the roof of a house

distraught and embarrassed and ashamed

about his participation in over a 1000 years of 

labeling people as either

naughty or nice.

Well, consider this — was

Jesus the — son of God

Jesus the — incarnation of God

Jesus the — Word of Love made flesh

who lived

within — the daily likes of the world

within — the cultural norms of the world

within — the values of his people

within — the fundamental principles of society 

considered naughty?

Was he?

Well…it all depends on the lens you wear.

If he is seen as one who would dare to

unveil the violence of the world

violence that is too often covered over - 

violence that is even condoned

with words like:

kids will be kids

family before others

those folk are not like us

they are all to be avoided

we have to think of ourselves first

then

yes, Jesus was as naughty 

as one can be.

If — he is seen as one led by

the Holy Spirit - the Spirit of Truth

the Paraclete 

(that is translated as the Defender of the Accused )

who

always placed himself among and alongside 

the rejected - the expelled - the convicted

the ones society counts as less or no one

then

yes, Jesus was as naughty 

as one can be.

AND YET,

 for us — he is the Savior

for us — he is God in the flesh

for us — he is the life of God’s eternal Reign

walking around 

as though

it was — and is — and will be

the life that is meant for us all.  

And yes, 

according to the four gospels,

Jesus was naughty

for he did not - would not

go along with 

the word of violence

that works so well in the world

but has no place

in the life of Jesus

and 

the life of Jesus’ followers.

Let me end with this story.

There was a King - a powerful King.

His ego was big. His heart was small.

He was ruled by fear - He ruled by violence.

In what is designated as the gospel for 

this First Sunday after Christmas,

this King 

( we know him as Herod )

was so afraid 

that one day 

his family would lose their place

as the power and authority of the day

this King became for us

the incarnation - the embodiment

of the violence of our fear-filled world.

And the Word of Love

had to flee into exile until it would grow into 

the Jesus

who as one person notes

becomes the love that 

puts up no resistance to violence

in order that 

this Word of Love - this God in the flesh

becomes another way for us

to live in a broken and violent world.

And the Word became flesh and lived among us,

and we have seen his glory the glory of a father’s only son, 

full of grace and truth.  

AMEN

Hope holds the whole world in its arms

The Nativity of our Lord. If you are not a follower of Jesus, this may mean nothing - that's fine. And yet, what I will say about that bit of storytelling may still resonate.

Hope holds the whole world in its arms. The nativity of our Lord is about incarnation. It is about an inclusive embrace that extends beyond anything I would consider embracing. If and when you see someone and you make up the notion that they do not fit in or belong or look they way you look or act the way you act - you have no connection to the hope of the incarnation. Oh, there is still hope. The incarnation is a hope-filled creation in which even a rejection of its creativity cannot prevail over the hopefulness intended in its earthy and cosmic expression. We cannot diminish hope. It will carry us, without partiality, into a life where people open doors, invite others in, and share their bounty or their scarcity. In many of my days, I am not hope-filled. I am self- absorbed. It is easy to be when all I need do to have things my way is to simple turn my back - walk away - make judgements. Oh how I long to be filled with the hopefulness of the vision of our faithful storytelling that enters into poverty and violent systems and homelessness and fear in order to touch us no matter where we find ourselves.

Hope holds the whole world in its arms. Those are not big strong arms. Those are the arms of a mother who takes a risk and then continues to risk her life and her babe's life by raising him within that embrace of hope - even when it will be bring about what appears to be the end of him. Such hope is life offered to the least and shines in front of those who appear to be the biggest and best. To be born into the stream of the hopefulness of creation is not something out of the ordinary. In fact, within the storytelling of the incarnation, we are handed nothing more than the ordinary. This is where hope springs eternal - makes itself know - gives vision - lasts beyond our own lives - demonstrates the ongoing nature of creation. In the arms of that peasant woman and that man who would become her husband there is promise that cannot be realized without being realized in each and every ordinary day.

Hope holds the whole world in its arms. When we see the incarnation in such a light - a light that bids us to come into the unfolding glory of the hopefulness of creation - the crazy notion of making these days at the end of December and the beginning of January into a place of a warfare of words is strange. When we live in this hope, those folks become our folks. The differences we long to keep in place lose their glitter and we begin to see those differences as odd and unnecessary. The lines we are usually able to draw so well and make so definitive - hold no power - have no control. Hope lifts up our eyes to see the glorious mountaintops and drops our eyes to see the rich valleys. In the meantime, we do not miss the amazing splendor of the ordinary of the day that is too often that which we look past. Hope sees and holds the baby. Hope sees and hold the wounded. Hope sees and holds the forgotten. Hope sees and holds the abused. Hope sees and holds those previously overlooked and ignored. And then, hope uses all those lives as the palate of hope's creativity in order to paint us into a new world.

Hope hold the whole world in its arms. Celebrate the hopefulness of the ordinary that challenges us to be utterly creative for the well-being of all. Hope is looking for a manger into which the future might take shape. We are invited to hold that wonder-filled life as if it is our own.
TRRR

Imagine That

Imagine a powerful person being frightened of the most vulnerable. Imagine people so full of themselves they are unable to feel the plight of others - especially those of meager estate. Imagine people so wealthy they get anything they want - whatever it is - no matter what it may cost - even if the cost comes at the expense of others. Imagine someone whose pronouncements, whether they dribble from their mouth or are placed upon a page, were enough to ruin the lives of individuals or malign - to the point of complete rejection - a group in their disfavor. Imagine people so afraid of the power of these people that they would do anything to stay within the good graces of their daily whims. Imagine that

Imagination need not be about that which is not. Imagination is not about fantasy. Fantasy is fantasy. Imagination is not magic. Magic is magic. Imagination invites us to live with eyes wide open to that which is and thus, that which may come to be. Unfortunately, imagination can be a part of the most evil acts of our humanity. Imagination is also the springboard into great benevolence. Imagination provides vision for acts of destruction. Imagination ignites wonderful creativity. Imagination is able to raise the dead. Imagination is able to drag people to the grave. Imagination takes us beyond the events of the day that attempt to keep us just as we are. Imagination creates and shapes how our days will unfold. Imagine that.

Imagine Mary, who becomes the mother of Jesus. In one gospel she is approached by Gabriel - an angel. Imagine that. Imagine a peasant young woman whose life will be that of a peasant - whose family and friends will never be more than the peasants they are. Imagine this peasant girl being told by this angel that she was to be the mother of a new king - whose reign will be anointed by the Most High God who was at the very heart of the life of her community. Imagine this peasant girl as she pauses to take in this extraordinary event. Now, imagine if she said to Gabriel - I think not. Imagine the power of choice in that moment. Imagination helps us make choices - it is how we take ourselves into a new place. And yet, no matter what the choice, life comes out of that choice. What will that life be - how will it be shaped - what will come of it? Imagine Mary attempting to imagine something other than the world of poverty as she knew it. Imagine that.

Imagine the poor being lifted up. Imagine the rich bending down to lift up the poor. Imagine terror that drives powerless people to foreign places- even places known for oppression - yet they go. Imagine mercy extended within a world that is so easily ruled by mercilessness. Imagine strength appearing as a bended knee that positions people to serve even though they were once raised to break the backs of others. Imagine a vile world encountering the imaginative life of unbounded reconciliation and healing. Imagine enough - enough food for the hungry - enough room for those without a room at the inn - enough compassion to let no one go. Imagine those without - being considered and treated as guests to a dinner. Imagine parents like Mary and Joseph who see the world as it is and yet they nurture the imagination of their child so this one will risk losing life to make life new. Imagine that.

Imagine being more afraid of today than open to what might be.  Imagine having enough - maybe even a little extra - yet feeling the need to gripe about not having more. Imagine what it might be like to be someone who is nurtured to live in fear of others. Imagine a child who has seen parents and elders point at and speak about and put down those people over there. Imagine not being able to see the power of privilege that comes with the color of ones skin, the neighborhood one was raised in, the schools one attended, the access to generational wealth - and therefore casting down the lowly. Imagine having the power to shape the world as you want it and walking past the rest of it. Imagine the luxury of not caring what happens over there. Imagine that.

I find the incarnation to be all about imagination. I find the incarnation to be a wake up call. I find the incarnation to be that statement - that phrase - that joke - that voice - that cry - that plea - that light - that turns my head to see beyond my own world. I find the incarnation in a stable of any kind in any place to be how I am pulled out of my place and must imagine life within the simplicity of the ordinary. Within the ordinary, being there - taking time to see it - being graced to feel it - marveling at its texture - stumbling over its mess, comes the gift of peace that promises to wrap us up as a gift to the world that tyrants and evil powers and foolish people cannot  dismantle. Imagination that knows not the bounds of a creativity for the well-being of all, unveils a life in which death in all its many shapes and sounds does not rule us.  Imagine that.
TRRR

Tis the Season - upper case or lower case G

This is not merely a seasonally specific rant. It just so happens that this season tends to tickle me a bit more than other seasons. That tickle becomes more and more like an annoying itch when folks attempt to dress themselves in a perverse piety that longs for God to be present and yet there is an unwillingness to allow that presence to be manifest among us. From what I hear, the only way God is to be present is in the way folks want - or shall I say demand - that presence.

For me we are no different from many of the biblical stories in which faithful people had to deal with their own unfaithfulness as they attempted to make something divine out of their own likes and loves and wants and desires. I irreverently call this the g-spot. It is and eternal conundrum among those who call themselves faithful. We convince ourselves that we are faithful to the one, true God only to turn to that which we can own and use to promote or bring pleasure to our lives as we want them. Thus, we turn our backs to this God we say we praise and trust and make for ourselves gods whose image we create. Being created in God's image is thus lost among us.

So, the story for me is one of upper and lower case images. One is the God whose image is to become the shape of our lives. The other is the god whose image is one we shape to fit our lives. This is no new insight. Read the book of Judges. It is a comedy of Oh God we long for you to save us - they are rescued - they fall for the gods of the day - they get betrayed by their gods - they cry out Oh God...again and again and again.  Faithfulness becomes tribal - faithfulness becomes convenient - faithfulness becomes the pull to be nothing more than who we want. Therefore, all of us have to be on the watch for the gods that we long to have lead us and guide us. Unfortunately, too often we are all suckers for the sweet taste of self-love - a golden calf - a partisan promise - a time in the past - a stock market surge - a magical ride to a better place. Falling in love with the gods of our lives makes for both great comedy and tragedy. When we see they are only gods and then laugh at ourselves for falling for them, we understand the power and wisdom of comedy. When we long to keep them as our gods it is a bitter tragedy that will drive folks to destroy those who are able to laugh at the gods we make.

More and more when I hear folks take about putting God back into - schools or Christmas or the country or those folks over there - all I see and hear is the little g - the lower case g. Part of that has to do with my understanding of the eternal presence of God - always present - always with us - always bidding us to come and reflect the joy of God's eternal Reign. This God has never been removed from any place or time. But, the gods-of-the-day that we work so hard to keep in place often fall to the side and fail us. So, what are we looking for.

Are we sure we want the God of the Scriptures to be present among us so as to come alive in that image or are we simply so consumed by our personal wants we will settle for any god that ultimately will make us die from our self-consumption. Do you want God back in Christmas? Then for Christ's sake look again at the character of God in the flesh. Christ is not missing - we are missing the Christ. Do you want God in the schools? Then we must stay aware of the gods of the day that will teach us to love ourselves - our kind - our own - more than those others. Do you want God in politics/government? Then get ready to let go of the systems that let so many of God's beloved be dismissed and disenfranchised and devoured so that we can establish our own gods to rule our lives. Do you want God in your heart? Then learn how to spot how slavishly folks run after the gods of their liking and laugh. Yes, learn to laugh at the foolishness of our self-concern and self-consumption. When we can see those gods among us, our hearts will be filled with that promised joy. Joy of our God - for every season.
TRRR