CHRISTMAS MEDITATION

 

 

Christmas Meditation

Christmas was always about presents, fire trucks, toy guns, sleds etc. Of course, it was about the birth of Jesus in a manger. From the earliest age Christmas music made magic in my ear.

My father, the priest, late in his life hated the commercialism of Christmas. He pointed out that Christmas carols were folk tunes played on a guitar or piano. Symphony orchestras, choruses of a thousand voices and be-bop ditties about Santa and drummer boys were abominations. I find myself agreeing with him now that I am of riper years.

The story is that the baby Jesus was God in the flesh. “God incarnate, man divine.” “The word was made flesh and dwelt among us.” God did this because he loved us human beings so much that he became one of us. This is the essence of the Christmas story.

But the story goes on to say that God in Jesus came into the world to save us from the evil that we do, does not result in our death or damnation. Jesus lived the fullness of  life, was condemned, crucified and then rose from the dead.

The life Jesus lived was full of healing the sick, feeding the hungry and seeking justice.

By this God incarnate, man divine, we all will be  resurrected and will live with God.

Christmas presents are reminders that the birth of Jesus was the greatest present of all.  This is our story. 

CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS.

………………

FOR FURTHER THOUGHT

Is our story an actual historical event?

Is it based on historical events?

Who wrote this story?

How does this story affect our personal lives?

                                                    -Robert Warren Cromey

WARNING IT'S ADVENT

Advent Joys

Death, Judgement, Heaven and Hell.

In Advent we think of the last things. To the above list we add the end of history.

We all know that we have the capacity to destroy the earth with the nuclear bomb. That is quite possible.

The kingdom of God means that God will be in charge at the end of history, whether human made or not. I am comforted by that. But what of the other last things?

Death. We all will die. The darts and bullets of pain I have already felt by the death of my daughter Jessica last year. I am ready to die, but I don’t want to. I am not afraid of death.

Judgement. I no longer believe that I will be judged by God for my many sins. God is not standing at pearly gates dispensing judgement. I am forgiven already by the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

Heaven. I have the “the sure and certain hope” of some life after I die. I have no idea what heaven looks like. I hope it is some life with a loving God.

Hell. Hell is the but of many jokes and cartoons, showing our anxiety and worry that our sins are counted up and that we will live in everlasting torment. I do not believe in the cliche, life on earth is our hell. I don’t believe in hell.

I live by the Christian story. It makes no difference whether or not it is historical or based on true events. It is a way of looking at life and living my life. I have lived with the story all of my life.

-Robert Warren Cromey