Dear friends,
During the month of December I have been posting
a four part meditation on the life of Christ.
This is part three of four.
May this Advent season be a time when we are changed, ever more deeply,
as we reflect on the extraordinary gift of Immanuel, God-with-us.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given…
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end. Isaiah 9:6-7
Part III
So boundless, generous, inclusive,
so powerful and tender was your love and life,
you were attacked and accused
of being heretic and devil,
becoming fugitive, plotted against,
falsely accused criminal.
Eventually arrested, beaten,
condemned, crucified,
by powers of darkness who
believed they were taking your life,
never dreaming that it was you
who was giving your life that day.
Not knowing that your public,
brutal execution,
was a gift given to fully upend
the brittle power of oppression and violence
with the enduring power of
God’s self-giving love.
You gave your flesh and blood
to become love laid down,
opened up, poured out,
rescuing the world from the powers
of hate and greed and fear.
You took on our shame, carried our sorrows,
experienced the punishing impact
of our sin on others,
and of others’ sins against us,
bearing even our great terror
of separation from our Maker.
You entered into all our suffering,
with the healing power of love.
Seeking us in every dark corner,
restoring our silver souls
to their true value.
God was in you, we read,
reconciling the world, restoring us all,
drawing us all back
to our hearts’ true Home.
from Grace Rises, Juanita Ryan
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