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In 2022, the time period “Phrases” was Googled extra instances than every other phrase or phrase, together with these of Queen Elizabeth, FIFA World Cup and Ukraine. Why this fascination with a sport that challenges gamers to find a easy five-letter English phrase in six guesses or much less? Possibly it is as a result of it appears straightforward; the reply is a phrase we all know and perceive; it is normally a phrase we have repeated 1000’s of instances again and again; and, it’s a phrase that wants no clarification.
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As a theologian, I’m intrigued with phrases, their which means and etymology. At Christmas time we learn and examine the story of Jesus’ delivery as recorded by Matthew and Luke within the Gospels of the Bible. Curiously, Mark omits the story and John makes use of image and metaphor to inform the bigger cosmic story of the which means of Jesus’ life. For him, Jesus is the divine face of God, who connects again to Creation to start with.
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Christmas celebrates what the gospel author John calls, “the Phrase turning into flesh”. On the floor it appears to signify the delivery of Jesus, however maybe it’s the reverse – Jesus turns into the voice of God. John didn’t write a conventional Christmas nativity story. He used symbolic phrases, akin to “Jesus, the Phrase made flesh,” to level to the which means of Jesus. John stated, “Take a look at this particular person and also you see the divine face of God.” Christmas celebrates God’s humble and susceptible delivery as a toddler in an unusual and messy secure. For John it was a name to motion and the “Phrase” and phrases had been the means. For John, the phrases that embodied the mature Jesus remind us of who and what issues.
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Likewise, after we hear him say, “Blessed are the peacemakers,” we expertise each an affirmation of those that hold the peace and in addition a person name to work for peace. Is it so simple as that? Maybe the peacemakers are the Ukrainians who refused to reside in a fight zone, though it meant abandoning their homeland, their houses, their households, their jobs and their lifestyle with a purpose to reside in peace – to be peacemakers.
One other quote from John’s gospel is: “I’ve come that you could have life and life extra abundantly.” We rejoice on this excellent news of hope, however is there a deeper which means? Maybe it is a reminder that private abundance challenges a shortage mannequin primarily based on worry. Right here Jesus invitations generosity and “sufficiency”. We’re referred to as to a wider perspective so that each one have plentiful lives.
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After we hear Jesus say: “Don’t be afraid” – which was one among his most typical phrases – we’re calmed and inspired. After we see how he touches the lepers and includes the outcasts, we’re invited to like and take care of our neighbor. We collect braveness to protest injustice and stand with the marginalized in order that love banishes hate from our world. It reminds us that we’d like not be afraid to assist essentially the most susceptible in our communities at Christmas time and at all times.
The phrase “the Phrase made flesh” embodies a God current in human type. On this method we see what God appears like and we see a glimpse of how we’re referred to as to reside. In brief, the phrases tackle flesh and invite us to make use of our our bodies to be the phrases, voice, arms and toes of Christ on the planet.
Christmas is a season – not a day – and it invitations us to see the delivery of Jesus as God’s love embodied. We additionally uncover our alternative to make good use of our lives. Christmas is in fact a time to have fun Jesus’ delivery, nevertheless it additionally supplies a possibility for all of us to refocus, or re-center ourselves in how we’ll reside our lives. Jesus is born, one thing in every of us can also be born anew.
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Jesus actually gave us his physique each in delivery and in dying; we should additionally use our our bodies as a car to specific what issues most, together with love, compassion, justice and kindness on the planet. We tackle the flesh of God with our phrases and actions.
Christmas just isn’t merely a sentimental have a look at a delivery way back; moderately, it invitations us to think about what will also be born in us. That is the reward of Christmas — it is a chance to see and listen to phrases of hope, peace, pleasure and love, after which enable them to be born inside us.
So, could the phrases we communicate at Christmas time to have fun “the Phrase made flesh” develop into as simple and customary sense as these easy five-letter phrases we seek for each day.
Rev John Pentland is the lead minister of Hillhurst United Church.
