Bethlehem Bound

 

Yesterday, we began the season of Advent, preparing for God’s love to be born anew in the flesh and breath of Jesus as a vulnerable baby and laid in a feed trough (manger).  Between now and Christmas Eve, I invite you to find a word to carry with you to the manger.  You may choose a word from the list I published last week, or maybe you want to select a word from the reading below from the Gospel of John.  John lets loose his poetic side and sings out about a Word (or Logos or Wisdom or Truth) that becomes human.  John chapter 1 is a wonderful invitation for us to dwell in Word/God’s wisdom, but God’s Word comes to dwell with us as well as in us.  Today, I want to read the passage from the Inclusive Version of the New Testament.  Slow savor these words:

 

In the beginning, there was the Word; the Word was in God’s presence, and the Word was God.  The Word was present to God from the beginning.  Through the Word all things came into being, and apart from the Word nothing came into being that has come into being.  In the Word was life, and that life was humanity’s light – a Light that shines in the darkness, a Light that the darkness has never overtaken.  Then came one named John, set as an envoy from God, who came as a witness to testify about the Light, so that through his testimony everyone might believe.  He himself wasn’t the Light; he only came to testify about the Light that illumines all humankind.  The Word was coming into the world – was in the world – and though the world was made through the Word.  The world didn’t recognize it.  Through the Word came to its own realm, the Word’s own people didn’t accept it.  Yet, any who did accept the Word, who believed in that Name were empowered to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor urge of flesh, nor human will, but born of God.  And the Word became flesh and stayed for a little while among us; we saw the Word’s glory – the favor and position a parent gives an only child – filled with grace, filled with truth. (Inclusive Version of the New Testament)

 

Which word from the reading sang to your soul?  Did any words surprise you in this translation?  Did any words feel like sandpaper to your soul?  Which word(s) would you like to remember today?  Pick one word today from the above reading as a light to your path to the stable this year.  Or you can select a word from a favorite carol.  Or a word that expresses where you are at or would like to be by the time we reach Bethlehem.  We will continue to let John guide us to the One with eternity dancing in his eyes as we prepare a manger-shaped place in our hearts this Advent season.  With God’s hope to enfold and hold you this week.  Amen.