Following last week's pattern, I will be adding to each day - God's love as the beginning - the end - now.
Tuesday
I wasn't sure how to start this look at the now of God's love. When we talk about God's love as the foundation from which we enter the day and then talk about God's love as the power pulling us into the future unveiling of God's Reign, what about now? Yesterday I watched the last half of the Lord of The Rings (#3). During one of the endings, the new king is crowned with masses of characters (all types and all sizes) looking on. They all bow as the king walks toward them. Then in front of the king are the four Hobbits. They begin to bow but the king stops them and says, "You do not need to bow to anyone." Then - then - the king all the characters turn toward the Hobbits and bow to them. It is a blow you head off kind of moment. That's it. The moment. Those Hobbits were always in the moment. There against all odds and at what appeared to be a great disadvantage (they are only Hobbits you know) they take on the day and live boldly. They are on a quest - an adventure - a journey. They have purpose and substance to their lives. I would contend that as followers of Jesus who have been invited into a life that is wrapped up in the beginning and the end of the God whose love is everlasting, now is the time for that love to materialize. In religious circles we may use language like incarnation. That is a good word to use in the week before Advent and the coming of the Lord. Incarnation.
Wednesday
"Now the Silence" is a hymn by Jaroslav Vajda (text) and it is a verse full of "now." I love the repetition and the addition. The repetition of Now and the addition of all the aspects of God's Reign that are present here and Now. This is the way of God's love. It is not something stored up or put away for a rainy day or remembered as part of another day and time. Rather, the beginning and the end join hands in the present - this moment - to make a people whose love will be the reflection of God's love. That is the hope of all Scripture. That is the coming of the Messiah. That is the "Yes!" to the way of God coming among us in the flesh so that we will know the importance of a "now" that walks on the love has the power to create and the power to put all things to rest forevermore. Now.
We are about to start a new year in the Church. It begins with the season of Advent. It is all about the coming of the Lord. It is all about the fullness of God that has been and will be and is even now cracking open the day. Just look to the east - it is like the sun beginning to make itself known. This morning it is also like the moon in the west - full, bright, reminding us of what it is to fully reflect the brightness of the sun. That is what it is to live within the everlasting embrace of God's love - we reflect the brightness of God. God's love as a present reality is a power that pulls at us. It never stops. It is always tapping us on the shoulder and attempting to turn us to the way of this love that is able to take hold of us and move us beyond ourselves into a new adventure within a life is constantly taking its shape from the ever-expanding love of God. This is why there is always a bit of mystery to the power of the love of God. We are not able to control where it will take us. God's love as a part of this moment is full of surprise. I may know what love is to me, but love to me is a love that has me quite at the center of things. Love is viewed through my eyes and with my desires and within my framework. God's love is known for tripping up people like me and opening up another way to move through the now that is always approaching.
O God of love and new life, make this day a time of love that expressed through the body of your beloved Son so that we may be for the world a bit of hope when the time at hand seems hopeless. Amen.
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