Epiphany: Seeking The Glory of Christmas

Epiphany, the 12 days on the other side of Christmas, commemorates the visit of the three wise men to worship the “newborn king,” Jesus. It is the time we reflect upon the glory of the promised savior now fulfilled; “…we behold his glory, the glory as of the only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14).

All the lessons of this Epiphany season illustrate that glory; Jesus with the doctors in the Temple, Jesus turning water into wine at the wedding feast at Cana, and Jesus healing the leper and the Centurion’s servant. These are the signs of the glory of God manifest in Jesus Christ. But, for each of us, the vision of that glory is life altering; our personal “Epiphany” transforms our life into one of service to Christ.

Os Guinness, in his book “The Call,” makes the point that it is Christ who calls us to find him. Like the magi, we too are called to worship the King. He calls us to seek His word; that we may fulfill His call whether we are called as magi, shepherd, carpenter, banker, priest, or housewife -- you get the idea. No matter what we believe is our fulfillment in life, the truth is we can have no real fulfillment unless we are called to that manger; unless we seek the caller Himself.

Jesus begins by calling the very least of us. If we heed His call, like the magi in Bethlehem, there is an Epiphany for all where his glory shines, and there we make our gifts of adoration.

I didn’t bring up resolutions, but I will say this; if you are going to make any this year, make your own winter journey to Christ. Answer the call of God incarnate laying in a manger in Bethlehem. Adore him there. Seek the Glory of Christmas in your life. I assure you, you will not return unchanged!

Be One Whom Is Called,

Bishop Ian

My Best Christmas - Ever

The best Christmas I ever had wasn’t about the presents. It was the first time I sat in St. James Cathedral singing the great carols and hearing the account of Jesus’ birth in the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 2. I realized that Luke gave no description of anything remotely glorious going on in that stable. Humbly, Jesus was born in a barn, swaddled in a very rough blanket, not a birth that seemed to trumpet God’s glory.

Yet, in that manger lies the glory of the Lord; an event that today is so easily ignored; a story that has become too familiar for most to take seriously. Images of that birth in the stable are sometimes still around us; here in church, in our homes, maybe on the lawns of our public buildings. If we are not careful however, we may begin to ask, "What does this have to do with me?" We might be tempted to say, "This all happened so long ago, what difference can it make?"

But the birth of that infant in the manger has everything to do with us, at least everything that is good. That infant made us. That infant redeemed us. That infant is the fullest revelation of God that we will ever have. And because that infant is God Incarnate, God born as a man of the Virgin Mary, this is not just a story or event from long ago. Jesus Christ is still with us and he will always be with us, if we remain faithful to him.

So this Christmas look again at the babe that God has given us. And stop for a moment to celebrate the greatest birthday of all, and give glory to God for his mercy and love. Sing the carols, listen to the account in Luke, and maybe, like me, this might become the greatest Christmas present you’ll ever receive… Jesus Christ, born in Bethlehem.

The story of Christ’s birth is very much a part of our ordinary lives, and in those baby’s hands, God placed the fate of the world.

Robin and I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas.

In Love and Peace…

Bishop Ian

The Difference

In the Christian tradition that I grew up in, Advent was not a profound time of year; it was overshadowed by Christmas. However, when I began going to an Episcopal Church as a 13 year old, I began to look at Advent in the light of Christmas and I began to experience something remarkable. When we sang advent hymns like “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus” and “O come, O come, Emmanuel,” for me came the realization that from a small obscure beginning came the King of the Universe. Advent made all the difference in the world to me from that time forward. I longed for that in my life; the small beginning that transformed the world.

We live in a world in which bigger and better defines much of life. We are overshadowed by super size, super stars, and high definition. We view life through a lens that so magnifies what we expect out of the world that we tend not to see the miracles that come from small, seemingly obscure beginnings.

It never ceases to amaze me that God often begins with small things and inadequate people. In the Gospel of John, Chapter 1, beginning in verse 19, appointed for Advent 4, we see John the Baptist being questioned by the Pharisees; a rag tag man whom many thought was crazy; a homeless man who lived off bugs and wild honey proclaiming the coming of the Christ. It certainly seems that God could have chosen "bigger" things and "better" people to do His work in the world. John was proclaiming the coming of the Lord. He yearned for Jesus’ coming, even in the midst of crisis he found joy in that small beginning, and made a difference in the world at that time.

God can do anything with the smallest of things, with the most unlikely of people, and in the most hopeless of circumstances. I think that is part of the wonder of the Advent Season. He does it with us.

I am convinced that one of the main purposes of Advent is to provide hope, to give us cause to rejoice, to proclaim once again that the Savior of the world is coming.

As Advent comes to a close, look to the incarnation, look for the longing of Christ in your life, and invite someone to Church to share this special season with. Maybe they too will experience the same yearning of Advent as I did so many years ago…

Be the Difference

+Ian

For Want of a Trailer

I remember an old Seinfeld episode, the one where we were introduced to “Festivus,” an invention of George Costanza’s father. The dilemma for George wasn’t so much his eccentric father, but that he was working for a firm that gave gifts at Christmas. George decides to pull a fast on each of his co-workers, giving them a Christmas card that read, “A donation has been made in your name to the Human Fund.” There was a lot of groaning once they opened their cards. Of course no such organization existed and George gets caught.

At the end of each year, my wife Robin and I give to several truly wonderful organizations that provide food and shelter to the disadvantaged, as well as a sustainable way to make a living - “don’t give a boy a cup of milk, give him a cow.” For a full rundown of those groups see her blog at http://www.robinmcquayandersonphotography.wordpress.com/

It’s Christmas; a time of reflection and celebration for the life perfected in us by Christ. A chance, even for a brief moment, to promote peace and goodwill in a world that often rejects such notions.

Feeding Bodies Feeding Souls, Resurrection Protestant Episcopal Church’s (St. Augustine, FL) outreach ministry to the homeless, has added tremendous value to the lives of many people in this community, not just to those being served, but to the servers as well.

Lon Barfield, Resurrection’s Senior Warden, is continuing his ministry to the homeless and is fundraising to purchase a trailer to be used for collection and distribution of food, clothing, and other items for the disadvantaged. It will also be used as a mobile kitchen to provide hot meals in and around St. Johns County, FL during the week.

Lon has raised over $2000.00 for the cooking equipment and needs another $4000.00 to buy the trailer. It’s a worthy cause, and it’s a gift that will impact the lives of many for years to come.

Pray about it; if you’re looking to make a difference beyond Christmas, make your tax deductible donation payable to Resurrection PEC

MEMO: Trailer Fund
Send to: Diocesan Center, 163 Palencia Village Drive, Suite 104, St. Augustine, FL 32095

Unlike the Seinfeld character George, are you adding real value to the lives of others? Are people growing because of your impact?

“A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.” (Proverbs 11:25 NIV)

Be Generous,

+Ian

Advent 3 - Be Prepared

As original Anglicans, we celebrate all the seasons of the church year with each season corresponding to the life of Christ. We now find ourselves in week 3 of Advent. It is the week to be prepared.

The 1928 Book of Common Prayer gives us three looks, if you will, in the birth of Jesus the Messiah. First, we look back to the incarnation, the birth of King Jesus. Looking back provides us with the opportunity to be thankful for what Jesus has done. Next, we also look with great expectation to the return of King Jesus. As we look ahead we have the opportunity to ask God to make us ready for Jesus’ return.

Between these bookends of first and second comings our prayer book admonishes us to take a look at our lives, to be prepared. Are we ready for Christ’s second coming? Are we faithful? Are we living according to His purposes? Are we ourselves showing a reflection of Christ to the world?

Advent literally means “coming.” When we enter into this joyous season we look to the prayer book lectionary. It has scriptures which describe to us the coming of Jesus as Messiah. The days that precede Christmas provide us an opportunity to reflect and ponder the promises of God from beginning to end.

“Behold I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.”
Gospel for the Third Sunday in Advent, 1928 BCP pg. 94

The Christmas Season can easily become a fast paced blur of parties, school functions, and endless shopping. We are bombarded by retail “XMAS” madness everywhere we turn. Advent, and especially Advent 3, is God’s invitation to shut the door on the busy world, to quiet our hearts and rediscover the meaning and the wonder of the coming of God’s Messiah.

Be Quiet, Be Listening, Be Ready,


+Ian

Advent 2 - "Bible Sunday"

Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant that we may in such wise hear, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience, and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Collect for Advent 2, 1928 BCP Pg. 91

The Second Sunday in Advent is traditionally known as "Bible Sunday". The collect, which dates from the Reformation, asks for God's grace that we might "...read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest..." the sacred scriptures. Thomas Cranmer (First Archbishop of Canterbury under Henry the VIII) issued a decree that an English Bible should be placed in every church. One of the great things about the Reformation was that its leaders wanted to give the Bible to the people. The problem was most of the people couldn’t read…. so the bible became the reading primer of the day. Imagine that in today’s modern public schools.

Cranmer also made sure scripture would be the foundation of our prayer book. From its beginning in 1552 the prayer book was and is still two-thirds direct scripture, while the remaining third is scripture put into a devotional form. That means that all the prayers, collects, thanksgivings, invocations, litanies etc., as well as the responses of the people are biblically based.

So there you have it - Bible Sunday but there’s more to the story! (Cue the scary music and dim the lights.) The Gospel of St. Luke 21:25 has Jesus talking about the end of the world; the prophesy of destruction, and the end of all things. But it is not just about end times - all that scary passing away of stuff and the final judgment of this and that. It’s also about Christ coming in power and glory! The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand, now all earthly things are passing… But Jesus is forever. His words will never pass.

The Epistle appointed for Advent 2 is also perfect for the Christmas season. Romans 15:4-13 also tells us that Advent is a season of hope, faith, and expectation to both Jews and Gentiles. Paul speaks of the promises of God, referring to Isaiah's prophecy:

There shall be a root of Jesse,
And he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles,
In him shall the Gentiles hope.

Advent 2 is indeed Bible Sunday; a book full of promises fulfilled, and some yet to come. What a joy to know that we are heirs of those universal promises, that by patience, and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen
Collect for Advent 2, 1928 BCP Pg. 91

Be hearing, be marking, be learning…

+Ian