The child and the man; the innocent and the one held guilty; the joy of new life, the agony of life’s pain and suffering; this disparate experiences meet in the one human person of Jesus. Life’s dark side and life’s bliss, Jesus embraces them both, and is there for us in both.
The coming days are undoubtedly a time of celebration, of pleasure, of laughter and love and the affirmation of life in the darkest days of the year. It is also, at the same time, an occasion of sadness and loneliness – a time when ill-health or financial difficulty seems all the worse, a time especially when a loss of a loved one seems all the harder to bear.
The child of Bethlehem, the man on the Cross, Jesus – he embraces the whole of our human experiences – God with us, not just for good times, but for all times. This is the message of the angels – God with us, in times of darkness and cold, sorrow and uncertainty; God with us in the sunshine of contentment and satisfaction. The good news is God is with us, God with us to strengthen, uphold, and renew.
The coming days are undoubtedly a time of celebration, of pleasure, of laughter and love and the affirmation of life in the darkest days of the year. It is also, at the same time, an occasion of sadness and loneliness – a time when ill-health or financial difficulty seems all the worse, a time especially when a loss of a loved one seems all the harder to bear.
The child of Bethlehem, the man on the Cross, Jesus – he embraces the whole of our human experiences – God with us, not just for good times, but for all times. This is the message of the angels – God with us, in times of darkness and cold, sorrow and uncertainty; God with us in the sunshine of contentment and satisfaction. The good news is God is with us, God with us to strengthen, uphold, and renew.
From Three Poems of Incarnation – Kathleen Raine
Who stands at my door in the storm and rain
On the threshold of being?
One who waits till you call him in
From the empty night
Are you a stranger, out in the storm,
Are you a stranger, out in the storm,
Or has my enemy found me out
On the edge of being?
I am no stranger who stands at the door
I am no stranger who stands at the door
Nor enemy come in the secret night,
I am your child, in darkness and fear
On the verge of being.
Go back, my child, to the rain and storm,
Go back, my child, to the rain and storm,
For in this house there is sorrow and pain
In the lonely night.
I will not go back for sorrow or pain,
I will not go back for sorrow or pain,
For my true love weeps within
And waits for my coming.
Go back, my babe, to the vacant night
Go back, my babe, to the vacant night
For in this house dwell sin and hate
On the verge of being.
I will not go back for hate or sin,
I will not go back for hate or sin,
I will not go back for sorrow or pain,
For my true love mourns within
On the threshold of night.
~
Reach out during this 'holy-day' season; to those whom might need comfort, clothes, food, shelter, money, healing, or an encouragement to go on --the holidays are upon us, and tough for some and less bearable by others-- reach out with your fortune of heart to help thy with less...
