It is always there

Recognition: the identification of something as having been previously seen, heard, or known. Usually when we recognize something, we refer to a person, place or thing that we have experienced in our own life time. The people of God, however, are invited to recognize that which has been going on throughout the ages.

Scripture tells us about recognition of the extraordinary plan of God breaking into human existence. We are told that John the Baptist recognized the presence of Jesus even while he was unborn, dwelling in the womb of Elizabeth. We hear also, in Luke 1:47-55 of Mary’s recognition of the Lord’s power to deliver people from oppression by unleashing justice and mercy. Her words echo throughout time to glorify and magnify the action taking place and to help us recognize what is going on even today.

Her song is not about the baby stirring in her womb…or is it? Can we see, even this morning, how the stirring of Christ beneath the surface of reality is always upending situations in the name of healing, wholeness and the ultimate peace and abundance the Lord provides?

Read Isaiah 35:1-10 and Matthew 11:2-11 (see the link to the revised common lectionary to the left) The rich are sent away empty, the lame walk, the poor are filled to overflowing, the deaf hear, the desert blooms. One image after the other reveals clearly that when God in Christ is born and rules, nothing can ever, ever be the same as before – and today we are standing at the threshold of new creation.

There is a stirring, even a groaning as new life in Christ is born. Throughout the season of Advent the children of God read and pray with the scriptures which teach us what is REALLY going on when the Son of God reigns. We are opening ourselves to much more than mere intellectual awareness, or some new historical perspective regarding the time of John the Baptist, Joseph, Mary, Herod (and any of the other Advent characters.) We are gazing at a cosmic, revolutionary event!

Can we ever fully grasp the power that perpetuates beneath the readings, the prayers, the songs…the silence of the still, still, nights? Probably not. But we hope for the courage to try. We yearn for the courage to see and live in new life. It is new life we have not experienced in our temporal, worldly existence...yet we can recognize it because God spoke about it through the prophets of old and in the new man, Jesus.

Let the stirring grow in the regions of your own heart, in your household, in your extended family. Life is being made new, for the good of ALL! Do you recognize it?