A Wonder
One of the books I am reading for devotins this season is Watch for the Light: Readings for Advent and Christmas. There are some wonderful writers in the book, and it is a stimulating read. One of the early authors quoted is J. B. Phillips, a noted English biblical scholar of the middle part of the 2oth century. I became acquanted with his work in the 60's, first through his translation of the New Testament into modern English. It remains a translation that I keep near on my shelf and consult regularly. Another book of his that influenced me heavily was called Your God Is Too Small. He is worth reading.
His piece in the devotional book is called "The Dangers of Advent." (Side note: many authors speak of the challenge in this season of getting ready for the arrival of God. One book on my shelf refers to Advent in the title as The Unsettling Season.) I want to share with yo one part of this article.
The particular danger which faces us as Christmas approaches is unlikely to be contempt for the sacred season, but nevertheless our familiarity with it may easily produce in us a kind of indifference. The true wonder and mystery may leave us unmoved; familiarity may easily blind is to the shining fact that lies at the heart of Christmastide..... we may not always see clearly that so much decoration and celebration has been heaped upon th efestival that the historic fact upon which all the rejoicing is founded has been almost smothered out of existence. What we are in fact celebrating is the awe-inspiring humility of God, and no amount of familiarty with the trappings of Christmas should ever blind us to its quiet but explosive significance For Christians believe that so great is God's love and concern for humanity that he himself became a man. .....That is why, behind all of our fun and games at Christmastime we should not try to escape a sense of awe, almost of fright, at what God has done..... Nothing can alter the fact that we live on a visited planet.
Phillips wrote before some of us began to worry about inclusive language, but his writing continues to have depth and power. May you sense some of teh awe-inspiring mnature of the season in the days to come.
Jimmy
His piece in the devotional book is called "The Dangers of Advent." (Side note: many authors speak of the challenge in this season of getting ready for the arrival of God. One book on my shelf refers to Advent in the title as The Unsettling Season.) I want to share with yo one part of this article.
The particular danger which faces us as Christmas approaches is unlikely to be contempt for the sacred season, but nevertheless our familiarity with it may easily produce in us a kind of indifference. The true wonder and mystery may leave us unmoved; familiarity may easily blind is to the shining fact that lies at the heart of Christmastide..... we may not always see clearly that so much decoration and celebration has been heaped upon th efestival that the historic fact upon which all the rejoicing is founded has been almost smothered out of existence. What we are in fact celebrating is the awe-inspiring humility of God, and no amount of familiarty with the trappings of Christmas should ever blind us to its quiet but explosive significance For Christians believe that so great is God's love and concern for humanity that he himself became a man. .....That is why, behind all of our fun and games at Christmastime we should not try to escape a sense of awe, almost of fright, at what God has done..... Nothing can alter the fact that we live on a visited planet.
Phillips wrote before some of us began to worry about inclusive language, but his writing continues to have depth and power. May you sense some of teh awe-inspiring mnature of the season in the days to come.
Jimmy
posted by Jimmy at 2:28 PM
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