The gifts under the tree: anticipation's role in hope

For those of us who exchange gifts at Christmas, you may already have presents under the tree. We take some trouble to hide the specifics of the gifts. They may be covered in wrapping paper. They may be placed in gift bags. They may be hidden in a stocking or an envelope. They're definitely hidden. 

But if we're so keen to hide them -- if hiding them were the whole point -- why would we make such an effort so everyone knows they're there? The stockings are hung in plain sight. The gifts are on open display, "concealed" by very-visible wrappings. What is the point of displaying the fact that we're hiding something? 

There's a tension about Christmas between waiting for the "right time" to receive the gifts and the anticipation of knowing the time is close and that it includes good things for us. We see that there are gifts, not knowing the contents. Seeing them is an encouragement to know that someone has thought of us and planned good for us. It builds hope to know that there is a set day, not too far in the future, when a good thing will happen. It's a human connection, to see the evidence of someone's loving thought, something specially for us. 

God has done that with us in the times we have to wait. For the ancient Israelites, there were prophecies -- promises -- of a King to come, with a herald before him calling in the desert. For Elizabeth and Zechariah, there was the promise of a child who would fulfill the prophecy of the forerunner. For Mary, there was the the promise of a son. For us, we remember that first Christmas, as our Christmas celebration approaches each year. And as the long years pass, we remember there is another Day to come where we will see him face to face. 

It's important to have something we can see here and now, while we wait. 

The Holy Spirit and the bedrock virtues: faith, hope, and love

In Scripture, we hear less about the Holy Spirit than we hear through the Holy Spirit. If we consider the Father as the God we cannot see, and Christ as God with us, then the Spirit can be considered God within us. There we see Christ most clearly, and through Christ we see the Father; but the Spirit is scarcely seen. At times in the New Testament when someone is said to be filled with the Holy Spirit, the Spirit-filled person is generally not speaking about the Spirit, but about Christ. The Spirit is less of a focus, and we often learn of the Spirit only by pausing on verses where the Spirit is pointing us toward God, or a presence in our lives. 

We learn that the Spirit knows the mind of God, reveals the things of God, and speaks through the prophets. And we learn that the greatest gifts of the Spirit are faith, hope, and love: the great life-affirming virtues, the virtues fullest of joy and wisdom. 

I'm beginning to see the "gifts of the Spirit" in a different light. I had for many years supposed that "gifts of the Spirit" are things that the Spirit gives us in some sort of relay, where the Father gives us the Spirit, then the Spirit in good time may give us gifts of faith. I wonder now if those gifts are simply an aspect of the Spirit of God. As for faith: if the Spirit of God knows the mind of God, then the Spirit has no doubt about God's goodness or his intentions, so understanding the mind of God gives faith. As for hope: If the Spirit of God knows what God will accomplish, then the Spirit of God is unwavering in hope, so confidence in the knowledge of God gives hope. As for love: if God is love and the Spirit of God knows the heart and mind of God, then of course the Spirit of God is full of love, so sharing the Spirit of God gives us love. 

It seems that the gifts of the Spirit are not a separate thing from the Spirit. If I look for the gifts apart from the Spirit I will come up empty. If I look for the Spirit, there are the gifts too. 

What the Armor of God Tells Us about the Attacks of Evil

Most Christians are familiar with Paul's call to put on the "armor of God" to stand against evil: 

Therefore put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, with the belt of truth around your waist, and having on the breastplate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Above all, take up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:13-17)

Anyone who is preparing for battle is preparing for the expected attacks. Each preparation shows what type of attacks Paul expected in our spiritual battle. So the things we need prepare us for certain attacks: 

• Truth: because we expect attacks in the form of lies and half-truths, omissions and distortions
• Righteousness: not just because we expect wickedness from our enemy, but because we expect a temptation to resort to evil things for a good cause, or expect temptation because of our own weakness
• Good news of peace: because spiritual attacks will disturb our peace and confidence, and can take the form of opening our spirits to look somewhere besides Christ. This leads to Paul's next point
• Faith: because spiritual attacks will sow doubt, especially doubt in the Lord or his compassion or his goodness
• Salvation: because the confidence that God has us in his hands will make many spiritual attacks fail against us
• The Word of God: Jesus showed the Word was sufficient for turning back the attacks of evil. 

Except for the last item, everything Paul lists is general preparation or defensive: belts and shoes, helmets and shields and armor. Only the last, the "Word of God", is the "weapon", the thing that touches our foes. May it change our human foes into allies. Because, as Paul said, "we do not fight against flesh and blood" that is, humans; the real battle is a spiritual one. 

King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and broader horizons

Today we celebrate Christ the King Sunday, and our readings included recognizing Jesus as "ruler of the kings of the earth" (Revelation 1:5). It is always a comfort to me that earthly rulers are not the ultimate authority; it may even be a comfort to the earthly leaders that they have a leader of their own (see David and Solomon). 

Momentarily, I felt left behind that the kings and rulers have someone as a backstop, someone who fulfills their tasks at a level above them. Then I reflected how often Jesus is compared to people in other roles. He is named Good Shepherd -- over the shepherds and all the rest of us. He was first "Fisher of men" over his disciples who were fishermen, who in turn become like him as fishers of men. He was Master of the Banquet in Cana. Physician over the physicians, and for us all. He is Great high priest over the priests, even over the high priest. He is Judge over the judges. He is Teacher over the teachers -- and himself the truth that they seek. And along those lines, whenever any of us need a father figure, God is our Father. 

When any of us is out of our depth, we have someone to turn to. And whenever we have a worthy job, we are in some ways like him. May his kingdom come, his will be done on earth as in heaven. 

Essential Bible Verses for Dealing with Difficult People

I have been struggling with my attitude towards someone lately, and wanted to collect some scriptures to help me with that. 

1. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live at peace with all. (Romans 12:18)
2. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, for this is the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:12)
3. Judge not, so that you will not be judged.  (Matthew 7:1)
4. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. (Colossians 4:6)
5. See that no one repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. (1 Thessalonians 5:15)
6. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, for love covers a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8)
7. Do not repay evil for evil or slander for slander, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. (1 Peter 3:9)
8. Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; knowing that they breed quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not quarrel but be kind to everyone, able to teach, patient. (2 Timothy 2:23-24)
9.  Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32)
10. Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness without which no one will see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:14)

   So many good candidates for this list. 

The temptation to measure God's love by personal convenience

I find a temptation to measure God's love by personal convenience. The thought tends to lurk unspoken, since when said out loud it's clearly an ungrounded thought. And yet it's a real one, so I'll take a moment to look at it. 

There's that quiet assumption in my mind: I measure temperature with a thermometer, weight with a scale, and God's love by whether my life is going to my plan, or by my comfort and convenience, or by prosperity. When I look at "How much do my plans meet with success?", does that really measure God's love more than my planning ability? Or does it measure events I could not foresee? 

The Bible relates the life journeys of those that I am sure God loved, and they were not easy lives. We see Abraham called to leave his homeland, Joseph in prison, Moses on the run, the Hebrews wandering in the wilderness for a generation, Daniel imprisoned, Paul shipwrecked. Even Christ, executed. And so many others I haven't named. 

So I have to remember that comfort is not a measure of God's love. Desiring an easy life may say more about me than about God, and what it says is not necessarily flattering. 

How do I recognize love? Love listens. Love hears. Love is present. Love is there for us. And especially that presence: when I think of God's omnipresence, I might remember why it matters. Omnipresence is part of the fabric of God's love: Nothing can separate us from the love of God. In scripture, Paul named a long series of things that cannot separate us from the love of God, and he would know: he had experienced many of those hardships that he named. 

On this day, may I stop trying to measure God's love against my smallness, and choose to trust God's love. 

All Saints: Clouds of witnesses and role models

Today at church we celebrated the festival of All Saints. I see those who have gone before us as an encouragement. In the letter to the Hebrews, we're urged to be mindful of the "great cloud of witnesses" as we complete our earthly tasks. And I draw encouragement from the example of what is possible, as lived in the lives of many who have gone before. So in honor of God's people throughout history, here are some who have inspired me: 

1. Naomi - Mother-in-law of Ruth, who was an ancestor of King David. Naomi's love, kindness, and warmth created a home and converted a soul. 
2. Solomon - King of Israel, son of David and Bathsheba .When he dreamed that God offered him anything he might ask, he asked for the wisdom to be a good ruler of such a great people. 
3. Mary of Bethany - Sister of Martha and Lazarus. She famously sat at Jesus' feet and listened rather than busying herself; Jesus stood by her decision and said she had chosen what is better. 
4. Athanasius - Author of several books including On the Incarnation of the Word of God. His clarity in explaining Christ's work, and his passion for showing why it is good news, make his masterpiece writing nearly as inspiring as the canonical gospels. 
5. Eusebius the Historian - Following in the footsteps of Luke, he aimed to be careful in record-keeping and so preserved many fascinating references and faith-building connections. He is an inspiration for me in carrying history by the use of primary sources. 
6. Saint Francis - This man had an innocence so fresh that it would be easy to dismiss as naive, though his spirit had a beauty and generosity that continues in enduring appeal. 
7. Saint Clare - Her single-minded devotion to loving and serving God first earned her the respect of St Francis, and later earned her place among those who led their generation in serving God. 
8. J.S. Bach - an evangelist with a keyboard, he was a prolific composer who is well-known for his beautiful and powerful songs. He would often close his compositions with the initials SDG (Soli Deo Gloria): to God alone be the glory. 
9. G.F. Handel - Another prolific composer, he is most famous for his powerful, electrifying, and hauntingly beautiful composition Messiah, with its well-known finale Hallelujah Chorus. As I've mentioned before, I would rate his Hallelujah as the best Bible study ever written on the Book of Revelation. 
10. Therese of Lisieux - a nun who died young, she attracted many with her humble, accessible humility and her warm, generous spirituality. Her autobiography, recorded in obedience to her mother superior while she was dying, is one of my inspirations. 
11. Theresa of Calcutta - a modern saint whose intense love and devotion shined a light of compassion into the devastatingly poor slums of Calcutta. 
12. J.R.R. Tolkien - not officially a saint on anyone's list except possibly my own, Tolkien's imagination re-envisioned a world in which culture, beauty, and the natural world thrive side-by-side. His work is layered deeply with Christian themes such as the wisdom of hope, the necessity of forgiveness, and the desirability of good.