ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHING
December 22, 2021
I guess I missed the announcement prior to the first Sunday of Advent. The Regional Ministers of our Denomination, including our General Minister and President, put together a devotional (https://cdn.disciplesmissionfund.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/19104910/College-of-Regional-Ministers-Advent-Devotional-2021.pdf). I have been playing catch-up since last week when I first came across these writing. In one devotional written by our General Minister and President, Rev. Terri Hord Owens, I was drawn to these words:
In every parable, Jesus invited us to consider the God whose love is limitless by asking us to think about those things that could be grasped in concrete ways, be it a story about sowing seeds, forgiving a prodigal son, or searching for a sheep that was lost. While we revel in and enjoy theological arguments and engagement with often lofty and scholarly language, Jesus knew that we could get to that understanding that was beyond us through the window of the familiar. He understood that language is simply our best attempt to explore and explain the love of God, God who is beyond our understanding, and whose love is not only limitless, but overwhelming to our senses and even to our intellects.
Her words resonate with me today as I think about my inability to fathom God and the workings of God, yet very simple and tangible words and images meet me in this season – a mother and her child; Emmanuel: God is with us; shepherds hearing a call; the making of a way when there did not appear to be a way; fear that is overcome with joy; family supporting one another; hope when there was no rational reason for hope. I may not fathom the fullness of God or even come close, but God seems to be using language and simple images I can understand and embrace. I may not discover an explanation for the mystery of God, but I find myself drawn into that mystery and overwhelmed with the love found there.
These devotionals written by Regional Ministers and others were part of the Christmas Special Day Offering. I hope you will consider a gift this year.
