Afterthoughts on today's discussion on drugs and altered consciousness. . .

At the heart of the mystical experience is profound love. We do not need drugs for that; only a longing for the presence of God.

For Lent

We can see that in the past, in the life of the church, that the period of Lent was taken very seriously indeed but in the passing of time it seems we've reached a point where we hardly notice it, except that perhaps the supermarkets might have a special offer on for the sale of ready made pancakes or that already the chocolate Easter eggs are already displayed in their shopping aisles. It seems a pity really because this period of time, the six weeks before Easter could actually provide us with a real opportunity for reflection, for renewal and for spiritual growth.

The real story of Lent of course finds it's origins in the temptations that confronted Jesus in the wilderness where he fasted and prayed alone for a period of forty days and forty nights. We might remember that before he entered the wilderness we have this wonderful scene where John the Baptist who is preaching and baptising others at the river Jordan is also commanded by Jesus to baptise him also and it is in this context that we now hear these words:

Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

The story of Jesus' baptism at the river Jordan is an essential part of the story of the forty days and forty nights in the wilderness, and actually shows us why he was able to resist the temptations. The end of the baptism scene in fact describes a subjective, transcendent moment in which Jesus sees an acknowledgement of his worthiness in the eyes of God. He is the Beloved. However, this status of being loved by God of being of worthy of God's love is as true for everyone as it is for Jesus. A close reading of the scriptures show us this to be so, in for example, the parables of the lost sheep, the prodigal son and the lost coin. We are told also that even the hairs on our heads are numbered. In other words we are here because we are loved by God because there is, here and now, a time, a place and a purpose for us. It is Jesus' knowledge of this, and his own special relationship with God that gives him spiritual sustenance in such arduous conditions.

And we too can have that assurance to know that even in the bleakest of conditions, where we might feel like Jesus did in the wilderness alone, and in want, we can know ultimately that we have not been abandoned and that if we allow ourselves this space to come into the presence of God we might discover that we need not despair. Another definition of coming into the presence of God, borrowing from Eckhart Tolle, we might say that, in a moment of stillness, silence and surrender to the present moment we can experience a felt oneness with Being. Tolle says of Being that, "It is a state of connectedness with something immeasurable and indestructible; some thing that almost paradoxically, is you and yet is much greater than you." A felt oneness; and we can hear an echo of this in the Psalm 46: 'Be still and know that I am God.'

The Epiphany

The Christ child is revealed to the Gentiles, for the first time, to the Wise Men who travelled from the East to see and worship him. The Epiphany therefore, was seen as a sign that this manifestation, the good news, the message of Christ was born, universally for all people, for all time.

And we have this beautiful image later in the story of these wise, wealthy, if not powerful men, kneeling to worship the Christ child with such joy and humility.  "And when they had opened their treasures they presented unto him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh".  Gold, frankincense and myrrh, gold the gift of Kings and the emblem of royalty "Hark the herald angels sing" - "Glory to the new born king" - a familiar line from a favourite Christmas carol. 

But this king is the subversion of earthly authority, his kingship is the end of egotistic power seeking, the end of worshiping glamour and wealth, it is the proclamation of God's Kingdom on Earth, the gift of grace. This king is the teacher who tells us that the Kingdom of Heaven lies within ourselves.

Lifted On The Wings of Angels

We who have been brought up and educated in a culture so heavily influenced by Christianity know that Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus, the arrival of the Christ child into the world. For many of us in childhood, if this event wasn’t a reality, it was almost a reality. And even now if we let go a little and let our imaginations leap into one cold dark starlit night in December, can we not believe just for a moment, that not too far away, this special child, this wonderful gift from God lies cradled in her mother’s arms? Is this not a scene of such joy and tranquility? As we gaze upon mother and child enveloped in that radiant light of pure love. A light that illuminates the whole scene as the rich and powerful, the poor and mean kneel together and worship in such humility.

The Christ child is born as she is born in our hearts, the hope of the world, the light of our lives. We ourselves come face to face with him as we approach him, coming in from the darkness, into the light of his presence where all our strivings, our greed and anger our hatreds, our small mindedness, prejudice, jealousies and fears have been supplanted by an apparition of such purity that our very hearts are smitten as we resonate with a divine love with the wonder and beauty of it all. In this moment we know who we really are and we know that this child is every child the universal child, the child in every person we meet. As we meet his gaze through the radiance of his presence, we feel his vulnerability and a powerful sense of his trusting innocent love and we are deeply touched. We are deeply touched because we are not observers, in fact we have become at one with him, we are lifted on the wings of angels and know ourselves to be the children of God as we merge with the power of the eternal, the divine love that permeates the universe the essence that is at the very core of our beings.

This transcendent reality, the Christmas message is the one reality for now and forever, so that in the bleak episodes of our lives when we are far away from home in the cold solitude of despair of pain and self-pity we have only to remember the light that shines in the darkness a light transcendent and immanent, a light deep within ourselves the power of love to transform ourselves and the world.

Advent Prayer by Bob Pounder

Advent Prayer

O God we give thanks for the richness of life

A tapestry of constant change that drifts through the seasons of our lives

Milestones of our earthly existence

Already Autumn’s gold has given way to winter’s frost, snow and ice

Short days and long nights where the joy of spring and the rich fullness of summer seem almost a distant memory

But here in our special hour of gathering together, in worship we reach out to the eternal, that inner light that shines through the darkness of winter

A light that shine through the very depths our soul reminding us of our unity with God and of the Christ Child who is constantly amongst us waiting to be recognised and to be born.

And as we recall the beautiful mystery of countless nativity scenes, real and symbolic, let us reclaim the innocence of the child through the joy and wonder of Advent and the anticipation of Christmas in this special time of preparation and giving

So that love and compassion may be made manifest in a world of human injustice and want.

Lord, we give thanks for all you have bestowed upon us, forgive us if we fail in our gratitude or forget that your loving presence is always with us.

In the darkest of these winter months let us anticipate the midnight hour filled with light and love and life, the birth of a child, let us carry this joy within our hearts; now and forever more. Amen