“Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.” 1Timothy 3:16
It’s Thursday, December first and it seems like yesterday was Labor Day and the football season was about to start. Dear North America; the season of Advent is so much more than Black Friday; colored strings of lights on houses and trees, snow, presents, catalogues, fruitcakes and mistletoe hung in doorways. Advent is so much more than what this fallen world has to offer. The Apostle Paul writes that godliness is a mystery and it is because we mortal North Americans can seldom comprehend just how awesome Advent truly is; only our Heavenly Father and Creator can do that.
The minds of our sinful world cannot begin to wrap their man made ‘knowledge’ around the truth of our Savior being born to a virgin in Bethlehem; doesn’t make any sense to us how this could possibly happen. This ‘mystery’ is the answer to the problems in this world. This ‘mystery’ is what is truly important to this world Charley Brown.
The importance of feeding these children who attend the Lutheran School in Dondon is also a ‘mystery’ to many living in North America. Seeking and saving the lost was the message and direction our Savior, the Christ child, left with us. As you go about your family tradition during Advent, please consider sharing of your blessings to bring a meal of hope to these children that are being prepared to be His missionaries in Haiti. They will be taking the true message of our Savior to the lost, still living in fear of the vodou priest in Haiti and to those hopeless souls who are members of violent gangs in Haiti. I close today with the hymn ‘A Great and Mighty Wonder’ that was attributed to have been written by St. Germanus in 1734.
“A great and mighty wonder. A full and holy cure: the Virgin bears the Infant with virgin honor pure. Repeat the hymn again: to God on high be glory and peace on earth to men! The Word becomes incarnate and yet remains on high, and cherubim sing anthems to shepherds from the sky. Repeat the hymn again: to God on high be glory and peace on earth to men! While thus they sing your Monarch, those bright angelic bands, rejoice, ye vales and mountains, ye oceans, clap your hands. Repeat the hymn again: to God on high be glory and peace on earth to men! Since all He comes to ransom. By all be He adored, the Infant born in Bethl'em, the Savior and the Lord. Repeat the hymn again: to God on high be glory and peace on earth to men. And idol forms shall perish, and error shall decay, and Christ shall wield His scepter, our Lord and God for aye. Repeat the hymn again:
to God on high be glory and peace on earth to men!"
Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you,
Jay