The glory of God is a living person

Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons in the 2nd century, once wrote, "The glory of God is a living person and the life of each living person is the vision of God." It's often hard for me to believe that the glory of God is a living person. With all of our brokenness, our fears, our acts of injustice and prejudice, how could a living person be the glory of God? How could the life of each living person be the vision of God?

In this season, we are reminded that we are made beautifully in the image of God and God became enfleshed in human form in Jesus Christ. God took on the form of a living person to give us an enfleshed vision of God's glory. For in and through God's transforming love, we are called to live into the fullness of who God created us to be and the fullness of God's vision for us.

What would your life be like, what would the world be like if we began to embrace the truth that we are created in the image of God? In spite of our sins, our imperfections, our brokenness we are beautifully and wonderfully created. In Christ and through Christ, we are the glory of God. In Christ and through Christ, we are the vision of God.

May we indeed live into the fullness of God's glory. May we truly enflesh the vision of God in our world.

Peace and Blessings on this most holy journey.
Paul+

The beginning of the end...

Thomas Merton once wrote, "The Advent mystery is the beginning of the end of all in us that is not yet Christ." Advent offers us a new beginning, in what might be a most unusual way, the beginning of the end. The end of those things that stand between us and God. Those things that stand between us and the Holy Spirit. Those things that stand between us and our fellow sojourners. The end of those things that stand between us and our Lord and our ability to live more fully into the mystery and gift of our faith.

There is still so much that is "not yet Christ" in my life. So much that needs to be brought to an end. So much that needs a new beginning in Christ. By opening ourselves to the great mystery of Advent and the coming of our Lord, may we find an end to our fears and the beginning of new confidence and courage in Christ. May we find an end to our hardness and suspicions and find new compassion and understanding. May we find an end to our self-centered ways and find a new way of selflessness and openness to others in the name of our Lord.

In this season, let us give thanks and rejoice for the end, the end of all that is not yet Christ and in doing so cross the threshold of a new and glorious beginning.

Peace and Blessings on this most holy journey.
Paul+

Behold I am coming soon. (Rev. 22:7) Advent I

This past Sunday we took our first step on a wonderful journey of expectation and joy. For we see on a not so distant horizon the image of the Christ Child, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

What a wonderful journey indeed for the Lord will soon be here and hope will be born anew. The Word made flesh. The Light that the darkness will not overcome.

As I right this meditation and reflect upon the prophetic words from the book of Revelation, I am reminded of a song by Andre Couch, "Soon and very soon we are going to see the King."

Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! We're going to see the King.

No more crying there, we are going to see the King
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! We're going to see the King.

No more dying there, we are going to see the King
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! We're going to see the King.

Indeed my friends, soon and very soon we are going to see the King! Soon our Lord will be born. Prepare your hearts and souls for a joyful and transformative encounter with the Holy One, Immanuel, God with us, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

Peace and Blessings on this most holy journey.
Paul+