John 1:1-14
Nativity - Proper (3) - Years A, B, C
G*D has done marvelous things.
G*D is expressing steadfast love and faithfulness.
G*D will act with righteousness and equity.
These three can be present simultaneously and yet be experienced sequentially. These can mark stages of faith in G*D, as well as in ourselves. It is not contradictory or heresy to either conflate or sequence these qualities.
A child is born! Every child born bears G*D’s imprint. How various is G*D! How versatile is G*D! Of course a manger holds G*D. Of course both shepherd and magi can see G*D in a manger. Of course you are an imprint of G*D. Of course we can see G*D in each other.
- - - - - - -
in the beginning was a word
today word becomes flesh
tomorrow flesh becomes a new beginning
every word, flesh, beginning
is a celebration and a mourning
as each opens new worlds
and closes others
our call from long ago
and unto eons
through birthing and birthing
is to ascend
to enflesh word
to begin with flesh
to speak a new beginning
is to move on
past past words
past current flesh passing away
past even a new beginning
is to be between
a lens for ancestors and descendants
to better see one another
and be at peace
G*D is expressing steadfast love and faithfulness.
G*D will act with righteousness and equity.
A child is born! Every child born bears G*D’s imprint. How various is G*D! How versatile is G*D! Of course a manger holds G*D. Of course both shepherd and magi can see G*D in a manger. Of course you are an imprint of G*D. Of course we can see G*D in each other.
today word becomes flesh
tomorrow flesh becomes a new beginning
every word, flesh, beginning
is a celebration and a mourning
as each opens new worlds
and closes others
our call from long ago
and unto eons
through birthing and birthing
is to ascend
to enflesh word
to begin with flesh
to speak a new beginning
is to move on
past past words
past current flesh passing away
past even a new beginning
is to be between
a lens for ancestors and descendants
to better see one another
and be at peace
As found in Wrestling Year A: Connecting Sunday Readings with Lived Experience
The Word became Flesh: May your Flesh become Word.
And around and around we go.
From light to meconium
From creator to suckler
From honored to exiled
Now we live out the difference made by moving from potential to actuality. Live well.
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2004/december2004.html
What an exciting heritage we have.
Poor old Jesus was born of the will of G*D into a human context.
We are born of blood and flesh through the will of both humans and G*D.
There is no less mystery in the biologic becoming of flesh than John's high poetry of light to flesh.
So as you arise to a new day (whether physically blind or not) may the light of this day make your flesh glow with new purpose to be full of grace and truth.
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2004/december2004.html
Whether we look at the presence of Jesus Christ as being grounded in the nastiest of political/military situations or the grandest of creation settings, there is a basic mystery to be encountered -- the reality of glory among us, of stars and shepherds, of angels singing peace to all and Baptist John announcing light for all, of going ahead anyway, whether in an untenable geopolitical setting or a family that refuses to see who you are.
We again wait for the surprise of life being filled with more than that for which we can account. It may come on the eve or the morning of our next day. It may not. To be sure of one or the other takes us out of the arena of surprise and mystery. May we find ourselves alert to the possibility of surprise and open to receive it, however it may show itself, without forcing it to come on our terms or otherwise discount or miss it.
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2005/december2005.html
Christmas Eve Day comes as a witness to testify to the light. On this night there will be larger crowds in churches than tomorrow morning. So what light is being testified to? It apparently isn't regular, congregational worship. Might it be spectacle that is being looked to? Something creation-wide, huge? Completed?
If this something is to be recognizable, does it have to be on our scale, lived among us? Is that what a child is about, filled with all the expectations of the generations and the parents that this will be the one to do what we have not yet been able to do? And yet we carefully teach each little one to expect to be perfect but to do so within the limitations of our fears, and so not to be able to make a difference. It is amazing that any progress is made unless this is somehow tied up with such a fragile thing as light not being overcome by darkness.
Witnesses are needed because when we go to look for the announced difference-maker (in some manger hereabout) one hardly knows where to begin to look, particularly if an on-again, off-again star is not your guide, just some song. Were the shepherds ready to give up when they finally found Joseph and Mary or did they have beginners luck and stumble upon them right away? Was there a relative among the shepherds (another descendant of David's) who had the skinny, the low-down, the right data base to search?
John calls out, the angels call out, the shepherds call out, the manger calls out, the light of creation calls out, but we still need to journey to find. May this Christmas Eve set your journey aright and energize you to hear, "Peace to all" and know that "all" means "all". May this Christmas Eve be treasured in your heart and see you through the trials of this next year. May this Christmas Eve help you return to your usual life, rejoicing, glorifying and praising for all you have experienced and been opened to new experiences.
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2005/december2005.html
Sing! Rejoice!
G*D has done marvelous things
G*D is expressing steadfast love and faithfulness
G*D will act with righteousness and equity
These three can be present simultaneously and yet be experienced sequentially. These can mark stages of faith in G*D, as well as in ourselves. It is not contradictory or heresy to either conflate or sequence these qualities.
For this day we conflate. We see peace running over the mountains, already accomplished. We see the feet of peace in the footprints of prophets - imprints of G*D's very being. This word of peace (grace and truth) yet stands against every attempt at diminishment.
We see the persistence of light, of memory of good creation, of anticipation of transformation of packets of light into waves of light and from that energy to the matter of our lives. We see the dynamism of the present between "in the beginning" and "they all wear out" as selection and being selected work on each other.
We see the long-ago speaking of G*D shine above and in darkened streets of potential. Creation is seen in re-creation.
A child is born! Every child born, bears G*D's imprint. How various is G*D! How versatile is G*D! Of course a manger holds G*D. Of course both shepherd and magi can see G*D in a manger. Of course you are an imprint of G*D. Of course we can see G*D in each other.
- - -
in the beginning was a word
today word becomes flesh
tomorrow flesh becomes a new beginning
every word, flesh, beginning
is a celebration and a mourning
as each opens new worlds
and closes others
our call from long ago
and unto eons
through birthing and birthing
is to ascend
to enflesh word
to begin with flesh
to speak a new beginning
is to move on
past past words
past current flesh passing away
past even a new beginning
is to be between
a lens for ancestors and descendants
to better see one another
and be at peace
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2006_12_01_archive.html
Going through a long line of prophets, G*D addressed our ancestors in different ways in different times. Recently G*D spoke directly to us through You. [Hebrews 1:1-2]
You have sung a new song of wonder: wonder that righteousness and fairness are still possible. [Psalm 98:1, 9]
This beautiful song of yours scampers across mountain ranges, echoing from friend to friend. Nothing can hold it back. Peace/Salvation/Wholeness are the comfort, the strength, you offer. [Isaiah 52:7-10]
So it has been from the beginning. Word and G*D and G*D and Word dance new beginnings through a present You. This Word and G*D and You brighten every darkness for in You is Life and this Life is Light. Witness. [John 1:1-7]
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2009/12/christmas-day.html
The light of a sign continues to radiate. Neither time nor distance dims its packets of waves. Our time and space asks of us to be conscious of a ray of light and a willingness to point it out, to pass it on.
A light here, a light there. Pretty soon all are enlightened. Children of G*D here, children of G*D there. Pretty soon our common experience of grace and truth opens us to one another. Everyone sees G*D and Neighbor (one does not stand alone). We all become everyday children of G*D and Neighbors of one another.
May the people who have received Jesus rejoice in their reception and equally rejoice with those who have received other signs of G*D. Every child of G*D shines glory on creation, becomes a Light unto the nations. Thank you for releasing your light.
May this day of rejoicing in Jesus soon be a day of rejoicing, period.
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2010/12/christmas-day.html
The universal is always becomeing the particular, and vice versa. This interpenetration of life with life is one in which we are participants. So it is, we are to identify with being light to one another - love your N**ghb*r as you love Y**rs*lf and one another and especially enemies.
Believe it or not, the universal Word has become your Flesh. While Brother Ass, our flesh, gets us around, we are to be more than asses. From before and after, we are smack dab in the middle of transformation of energy to matter and matter to energy (Word to Flesh and Flesh to Word).
There is trouble brewing when this is not acknowledged. There is blessing aplenty when it is.
Merry Christmas to you and Merry You-mas to all.
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2011/12/john-11-18.html
How do you translate verse 5?
What doesn’t darkness do in relationship to light?
doesn’t overcome it?
doesn’t extinguish it?
doesn’t understand it?
doesn’t comprehend it?
doesn’t put it out?
doesn’t perceive it?
Now, what does darkness do in relationship to light?
revel in it?
revile it?
reveal it?
...?
Does it feel like you are as far removed from importance as a manger? Perhaps you forgot to see the light that is continuing where you are. To be a holder of food, a place of feasting, is to be light. Look again.