Fr. Jacob's December 2014 Newsletter Message

"Word"

'and the Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us and we have seen his glory"

Have you ever noticed this? In Scripture the first question exchanged between God and humanity is not, as we might take for granted, our questioning of God but instead God's questioning of us. Back in the beginning, at the start of the story, in the Garden, the Lord God walked in the cool of the day looking for Adam and Eve and they tried to hide from him because they were frightened. "And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?"

The child who was born to be Savior, came into the world just as inarticulate and gurgling as any child there ever has been. Don't get it wrong, he really was flesh our our flesh and bone of our bone but unlike every other child he was the fullness of God in flesh that is ours.

So his life dwells amongst us as that first question posed again not in the Garden but condensed into a life, the incarnate Son of God. His life alone is like a Word addressed to us - a Word which embodies all the fullness of God's grace and truth, the very condensation of God's life into human flesh.

And because the child embodies God's question - the birth of this child - born to be the Savior - divides. In the life of Christ, the living God has uniquely revealed who he is and uniquely spoken to you. His Word demands a response. Perhaps you'll be like Adam and Eve back in the old, old story overwhelmed by fear or pride. Or maybe questioned by God you'll begin looking for the old, old hammer and nails. I know I've been there and I'm not the first, "He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him."

But there's an astonishing lesson to learn - not even our fear, our hurt, our pride can silence the Word of God. You can try to hide, you can try to hammer the nails, you can try to flee but once spoken he can never be silenced. "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it."

So hear again this Christmastime the Lord's first question "Where art thou" embodied in the incarnate Christ born for your salvation. And just perhaps, gathered with the church, worshipping the living God on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day you'll find yourself saying, "Here I an, Lord" and know there is nothing else on earth you would rather be doing and no words are more important to say.

to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or the will of man, but of God.

I warmly invite you to say "Here I am", worship the living God and celebrate the birth of the incarnate Lord, Jesus Christ, this Christmas at St. Stephen's.

The most joyful of Christmases to you and to your loved ones,

Fr. Jacob