Cyber Gleanings, January, 2006:

Dear People of St. John’s,

     Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany are bound together by the eternal love of God.  Advent requires a commitment to preparation, Christmas is the celebration of the reality for which we prepared, and Epiphany asks that we do something with this thing that God has done in the world.

     Some are guided by faith alone, others are visited by a special heavenly messenger, still others arrive by following the light of a new star, and many continue to wander and wonder at it all as they take down the “holiday tree.”  Finding a babe wrapped in borrowed bands of cloth is not an easy task.  My opinion is that it is not supposed to be easy.

     For those who kept watch over sheep herds the announcement of the good news was prefaced by “don’t be afraid.”  Then they were simply told that somewhere over in the city of David the Messiah had arrived.  Finding the stable cave took some searching, asking questions, and risking being thought foolish or crazy.  The shepherds had to get beyond their individual and collective fear before they could move in the right direction.  It was only as they put their fear aside that they could journey over to Bethlehem to “see this thing that the Lord has done.”  When we understand that shepherds were not exactly held in very high esteem, we begin to see how shocked they might have been.  People didn’t speak to them; how could God?  This experience of having something of the eternal revealed to them made them want more.  The soul-changing experience of actually seeing this babe made them want to do more than just see.  They couldn’t keep this news for themselves.  They couldn’t sit on it.  They went out sharing what they had seen and heard.  As the shepherds told the story to others two things happened: one, those who heard the shepherd’s story were filled with awe and wonder and two, the telling of the story allowed the shepherds to relive it again as if it had just happened.  In spiritual matters, seeing and sharing are cut from the same cloth.

     The wise men saw a new star that announced the birth of a new king somewhere west of them.  The star rose brightly and then disappeared.  They would not see it again until they arrived in the holy land.  The distance between the first sighting and the second is what we call faith.  It was not, and is not now, an easy journey.  Having seen the newborn king, it is a safe bet that the wise men told about the hardships endured in getting to see him with their own eyes.  They may well have had other Herod types with whom they had to contend in sharing what their eyes beheld.

     Those who have had deeply spiritual experiences can learn much from the shepherds and wise men.  Many make the terrible mistake of thinking the experience was provided just for their benefit.  The fact is, in order to be consistent with the whole of scripture, reason, and tradition, that God provides spiritual experiences for people in order for others to see and share, too.

     Like the shepherds, we must move beyond fear so that we can move in the proper direction in our journey.  Like the wise men, we may spend a great deal of time walking by faith.  Both groups moved in the right direction.  God would have us walk bravely in the revealed truth of the Christ who came so that all that is hidden in shadows and darkness might be exposed and that which is whispered behind closed doors might be shouted from the rooftops.  God expects us to be brave Christians. 

     Remember the Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany cycle.  It is in giving the story to others and sharing the news with those who do not yet believe that we are moved to glorifying and praising God for all we have seen and heard.  We get to keep this news and enjoy it only in proportion to what we are willing to give away.

     No doubt you will make a resolution or two for 2006.  I invite you to resolve that this is the year you will move beyond fear and share the faith that is in you.  Remember as you do so that you never walk alone.  The God who has revealed the Way to each of us, has also hacked out the way in the wilderness of darkness, doubt, and fear and will be present each step of the journey.  The heavenly messenger has again spoken to each one of us, “Don’t be afraid!”  Listen and believe.  See and share.

     I pray 2006 will be the year of personal evangelism for each one of us. 

                                                                      Peace,

                                                                              Tom