God Says Yes to Humankind
He once tried to wipe it out and start over. That possibility is the idea behind the story of the Flood. However, that is not a satisfactory solution to the complexity of the human being; starting over just restarts the whole awful process.
So he created a nation out of one man, a nation that would have a special relationship with him, a nation through which all the peoples of the world would be blessed.
And we come now to the annual remembrance of the culmination of that project of his, that New Way he inaugurated with Abraham. The New Way culminates, even as it begins anew, with the child of Abraham who is also the child of God. His desire is to bless every people through this child, his only Son. He could have said No. But it is his choice to say Yes. He could have abandoned us. But he chose to stick with us.
Saint Paul seems to have understood this quickly. He wrote that in Christ it is all Yes. “The Son of God, Jesus Christ, . . . was not yea and nay, but in him was yea” (2 Cor. 1:19).
Yes! Merry Christmas.
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This is my last email until the first full week of January. But if you want to spend more time on the web, here are three links.
My sermon at St. John’s Savannah, “God’s Word Remains,” on hope in Jesus’ word which will not pass away. “Jesus’ word is the foundation of the universe, and it will remain even when the universe itself passes away.” https://youtu.be/aXtPAQUVnO8?si=7nEbYktSwXClmU5r
My talk at the Sunday Night Sessions of St. John’s Savannah, on what’s good about marriage, and why we should be able to give an account of marriage’s goodness. https://youtu.be/DV-to8w9hGg?si=aW5Zlevt1GQKKr91
I participated in a podcast (if that’s the word) co-sponsored by the Living Church and the Episcopal Parish Network. The program was called “Being Human and Pastoring Toward the Good Life.” Matthew Olver of the Living Church led our discussion, which was rich and various, as good conversations can be. Other speakers were Elisabeth Kincaid, Michael Cover, and Amy Peeler (all of them brilliant and bright—and younger than Yours Truly). We talked about friendship, economics, euthanasia, and such questions as, do we have worth only when we are able to “contribute” to society? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Df6lJa4M-Vo&t=34s
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Out & About. On Sunday evening, January 5 (the eve of Epiphany), at 6 p.m., I am offering three short meditations as part of the Trio of Creches program at St. Matthew’s Cathedral. This is a ticket event; info: https://cathedralartsdallas.org/event/special-event-a-trio-of-creches/
News this week: The “Good Books & Good Talk” seminars for the first half of 2025 have been set, each being on a Sunday at 5 p.m. at St. Matthew’s. Anyone who reads the book of the evening is invited to join the 90-minute conversation.
Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” on January 26,
Bessie Head’s Where Rain Clouds Gather on February 23,
Parts of a World by A. G. Motjabai on March 23,
The Loved One by Evelyn Waugh on April 27, and
The Dolls’ House by Rumer Godden on May 18.
Mark your calendars and enjoy reading!