The call of John the Baptist

If you were to spend a moment daydreaming about your idea for a perfect Christmas, what images would you conjure? Gorgeous music and candlelight? A family gathering without quarrels and instead filled by a sense of Christmas good cheer? Healing for a loved one who is ill? Time with someone you miss? What? 

This week in our readings we meet John the Baptist who calls people to repent. Repentance is rarely an easy sell as it is so often associated with feelings of guilt, of not doing enough or not measuring up. However, repentance isn’t about feeling bad or saying, “I’m sorry.”  Rather, it’s about a re-orientation, a change of perspective and direction, a commitment to turn and live differently.

Advent can be a time to put things in perspective, to channel our energy and resources to those things that matter most … to us, to our families and communities, and to God.

Have a blessed Advent.

Be the Light of Christ

This Sunday is the last one of the church year. It is called Christ the King Sunday.  But he is not the kind of king we might expect. This king calls for our commitment to solidarity with and in suffering of all kind in this world.

As Leonard Cohen wrote, “There is a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.”  We are called to be the light of Christ. The light that sheds light on that which justifies and validates hatred and violence to expose it for what it is. The light that sheds light on those who have been ignored, overlooked, and silenced to disavow ignorance for good. The desperately needed ray of light that shines as a glimmer of hope for all and especially today.

Real love...

"God loves human beings. God loves the world. Not an ideal human, but human beings as they are; not an ideal world, but the real world. What we find repulsive in their opposition to God, what we shrink back from with pain and hostility, namely, real human beings, the real world—this is for God the ground of unfathomable love."

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

How much do you like a good argument?

Quick poll: How much do you love a good argument?

Maybe a little or maybe a whole lot… perhaps not at all.

Whatever your preferences, there’s no doubt that arguing – and conflict – is a normal part of human relationships. Especially, perhaps, in Spirit-filled, alive communities like St. Philip’s. Engaged people naturally bring their perspectives, opinions, experiences, ideas, and it only makes sense that these won’t all match or fit together in an obvious way all the time.

Sometimes when I hear the gospel read aloud in church on Sundays, I get all worked up about how often Jesus gets challenged by people around him. Everyone’s always trying to test him and catch him on some bit of wisdom or biblical knowledge. From the lens of my current social context, it seems almost rude – why can’t they give him a break and CALM DOWN??

Then I think of the ancient, Jewish practice of Talmudic debate, and I remember that I’m the one who needs to calm down. For millennia, rabbis and students have come together to analyze, discuss and debate scripture, to challenge each other, to sharpen their thinking, to search for truth. They don’t do it to be rude. They don’t do it to be disrespectful. Debate and conflict is often how we grow. And growth is an undeniable outcome of Jesus’ story.

I find this reassuring and instructive. It’s a worthy if sometimes uncomfortable practice; creating debate and disagreement to sharpen my thinking and search for truth.

Spirit be with you,

Victoria

Finding God through Gratitude

When I am unsure about my faith or how to pray, I start with giving thanks.  Regardless of how difficult my life is, there is always something to be thankful for.

I am thankful for the coloured leaves, the last flowers, the first snow, the stars, and all the beauty of nature.

I am thankful for my church, the people that walk with me while demonstrating their faith. Being in the presence of such faithful people allows my own faith to stay strong.

I am thankful for the congregation that supported my children as they grew up, developing their faith and their skills in this special community.

I am thankful for the outreach activities that let our neighbors know that we are here; ready to embrace them as human beings.

And just as I appreciate everybody, I feel appreciated as well.  We are here for each other and thankful for each other.

And just like this a prayer becomes action, big or small.  I can be a steward of the environment and act responsibly, recycle, protect and support.  I can demonstrate my faith to others in actions or with my presence.  I can support the children of the congregation with praise, and engage with them and support their initiatives.  I can sew, I can greet, I can bring items for the food bank and I can support financially and spiritually those who initiate and maintain activities.  I can do many things even when I think I can do nothing.  My prayer of gratitude inspires action and encourages me to engage with others.  And in them I can see the face of God.  

Sabine George