Topic: Grace

Advent is a time of joyful expectation. Sometimes, we have to look a little harder and wait a little longer to find joy in our lives. The prophets remind us that our waiting is not dreary—it is filled with joy because God is near. And Advent reminds us of who we each truly are: A beloved child of God. God knows us intimately—our fears, hopes, and dreams. Our identity is not found in success or failure, but in being a beloved child of God. That identity fills us with joy, and that joy spurs us to action: to bring light to the darkness, to comfort the afflicted, to share the Good News that the true Light has come into the world. Emmanuel—God with us.

We know that God’s grace and love are given freely to everyone, but sometimes we might wonder if everybody really deserves it. In the lost and found parables of Luke 15, Jesus makes it clear that there is great joy in God’s kingdom when anyone comes home to God–no matter what. That is cause for all of us to give praise and thanks to God for them, for our salvation and for the all-inclusive love of Jesus.

From the Garden of Eden to the Rose Garden, there’s ample evidence that human beings are far from perfect. We tend to inflate our self-worth but amplify the shortcomings of others. But recognizing our own faults helps us more easily accept the imperfections of others. God, through the working of the Spirit, helps us grow in acceptance, forgiveness and love of others—and ourselves.

God’s love for us is wild, boundless and — well — just plain crazy. Despite our brokenness, recalcitrance and just plain bad behavior, God loves us whole-heartedly and unreservedly. God loves us so much that he lived, died and rose for us. And God loves us so much that he wants to be together with us forever.

From before the world began, God’s logos–God’s Word–has been with us. The Word became flesh so that we might begin to know the mind of God, the will of God, the love of God from the Son of God. ~ Sermon for the First Sunday after Christmas

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