Those who know me (and love me) often give the same advice when I need something to do: write something. So, here it is. Here is my something:
For Christmas this year I am staying at a friend's house so that she and her family can visit their relatives in California. (I'm still close enough to Seabeck to celebrate with my own family.) This also entails a lot of time with an emotionally needy dog.
As Advent draws to a close, though, I continue to be confronted by my own selfishness. I see the magnitude of my own emotional needs in better perspective this month: by yet another separation from my boyfriend, a week learning how two-year-olds proccess life, and now with the care and keeping of aforementioned dog. Today, at Mass, I was further made aware of how lightly I carry the reality of God's Spirit dwelling within me. As Christians, we carry Christ to the world. Our lives (imperfect as they are) reflect the only Hope our world has.
Recognizing my selfishness is only a step in the solution.
Praise God that the end of Advent is the arrival of Christ. A beautiful reminder of new life beginning. Hope! Hope! Christ is our hope!
Christmas is celebration of life. Forever life. A beautiful gift given to humankind.
Life with God is the opposite of sin. As vessels of God's Spirit, we are filled with grace. We are filled with hope. This is why Christmas is such a big deal.
Those who love me know that I write for a very specific audience. I write to persuade myself what I know to be true. I hope that you are also blessed this Christmas, for Truth only comes from God.
Sunday, December 23, 2012
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Ephesians 5
Therefore, be imitators of God as dearly loved children and live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. But among you there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints. Neither should there be vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting – all of which are out of character – but rather thanksgiving. For you can be confident of this one thing: that no person who is immoral, impure, or greedy (such a person is an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Let nobody deceive you with empty words, for because of these things God’s wrath comes on the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them, for you were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light – for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth – and find out what pleases the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For the things they do in secret are shameful even to mention. But all things being exposed by the light are made evident. For everything made evident is light, and for this reason it says:
“Awake, O sleeper!
Rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you!”
Therefore be very careful how you live – not as unwise but as wise, taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil. For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise by understanding what the Lord’s will is. And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for each other in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, because the husband is the head of the wife as also Christ is the head of the church – he himself being the savior of the body. But as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her to sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of the water by the word, so that he may present the church to himself as glorious – not having a stain or wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. In the same way husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one has ever hated his own body but he feeds it and takes care of it, just as Christ also does the church, for we are members of his body. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This mystery is great – but I am actually speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless, each one of you must also love his own wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
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