SUGGESTED
READING: PHIL: 1:4-11
In the Scripture reading today Paul
gives us hope and encouragement that the one who began the good work in us will
continue to complete it. When did this good work begin? Is there a specific
time that can be marked as to when we started to be transformed by Jesus
Christ? We can all probably recall specific times and specific instances where
we were touched by God, but is there one specific moment of alteration that we
can pinpoint? Depending on where we are in our lives, this moment of
enlightenment can and will change, so we must look beyond influential events
and go back further to the arguably the most important event in our existence:
our birth. This was when God gave us life; an act of pure, unselfish love that
can never be duplicated. This was where God’s work in us began. We were
introduced into His creation; sent forth to enjoy our life through Him and in
Him. Our Salvation Story began there at that precious moment.
After being introduced into the world,
we are then called forth to experience this life in union with Him. This
becomes the difficult part because of our own will which we tend to exercise
above His. Temptations and sin tend to cloud our judgment, preventing us to
experience the perfection which is God. This happens to everyone, starting
early on when we start to develop our own reason and make decisions for
ourselves. A selfishness develops, influenced by all that is evil in this world
which we are attracted to. So, the good work that was started becomes defective
not because of God but because of the lack of an awareness of God. Just like a
child looks up to its father and mother throughout their lives; wanting in many
ways, consciously and subconsciously to be like them, we wanted to become like
God. We ignored Him and tried to seize control of everything. We made decisions
without His input or guidance. Yet, He still loved us and called to us. He
wanted to and still wants to guide us back to a perfect unison with Him.
This is why the Son is revealed to us.
Jesus Christ is presented as the pathway to salvation and God’s Love. The Word
made flesh entered the world for us: to bring us back to Him. Through the Holy
Spirit we experience God’s Love and Jesus stands ready to welcome us back into
perfection with God. It is the most selfless, beautiful act where our creator,
our God, has given us everything that is so undeserved and unearned. That is
what a father does: he gives everything for his children. Whatever mistakes we
have made, whatever missteps we have brought about through our selfish deeds,
they are forgiven and we are afforded the opportunity to reestablish our
relationship with Him. The only thing we need to do is acknowledge our sins,
ask for forgiveness, and change our ways. It is a transformative experience and
one that can lift us up to new heights of greatness with God through Jesus
Christ.
During this Advent Season, we now focus
on Hope, for we are creatures of hope. We hope that Jesus Christ will come
again soon. We hope for a better life through Jesus Christ, We hope to
experience God’s love continuously. This is all linked to faith and what we
believe. We are asked to live what we believe and this is through walking with
Jesus our Savior. The light of Christ shines within all of us. We need to
recognize this and embrace it. Hope dismisses the past and focuses on that
which is now and that which is to come. That which is to come can be
transformed through our relationship with Jesus Christ today.
Deacon Tom
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