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Advent is a time where light and darkness co-mingle in a redemptive dance. John's gospel announces the mystery this way:
In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. -John 1: 4-5
St. Paul continues the theme:
"For it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair;" -2 Corinthians 4: 6-8
Earthen vessels we are; chipped, cracked and imperfect. Yet it is the light that shines through our brokenness that reflects the redemptive dance of Advent.
The great singer-writer Leonard Cohen offered these lyrics in his song Anthem that reflects this truth:
"Forget your perfect offering. There is a crack, a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in."
The story of Emmanuel, God with us, is the incarnational story of Jesus being God incarnate and entering into our brokenness in order to heal us. Strange mystery this incarnation, it isn't the perfect offering we bring to God, but rather God's light shining through our cracks, our human brokenness.
This coming Sunday, December 15, 2019 in our Great Hall at 5:00 p.m. we will worship God as earthen vessels through whom God's love light shines brightly. Our Stephen Ministry is hosting a Blue Christmas service where we pray for healing and wholeness in the light of the one born in Bethlehem. Please join us and bring a friend. The light of the world is the love of God. Come all ye faithful and experience God's love.
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