He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. John 1:11
“In Advent, the Christian community sees the beloved arrive at the window…He came to His own, and His own received Him not. Well, again He comes. And again. He is all around to be seen, to be welcomed, to be fed and clothed, to be cared for and protected…
What good news have we for the poor in our society who cry out in their misery or boredom? If the coming of Christ brings a message for the bereaved, the jobless, the discarded and retarded, is the Christian church announcing a message to them? Is the company of His disciples incarnate, as the Lord was?
…The spirit of Advent is one of generosity, of giving in return for, in thanksgiving for, the gift we have joyfully received, and that is the Lord God of hosts in physical shape. God is as close to the world as a handshake is. Truly Emmanuel. The Lord has wished to offer humanity a sign of peace.”
Thomas McCarthy in “The Spirit of Advent” in Celebrating the Season of Advent, edited by Eltin Griffin (Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 1986) 4-5.
My challenge to the church this Advent, to readers everywhere, is to incarnate or take the physical shape of Jesus. We celebrate the incarnation of the Christ of Christmas with thanksgiving and joy, but do we demonstrate our love and obedience by being His hands and feet to minster to those around us?
I scheduled a phone meeting with an Aussie yesterday afternoon because he could not meet on Tuesday morning as He serves the homeless every Tuesday morning. That convicted me to schedule time to serve others who cannot help themselves. What would it look like for you to take physical shape among the broken?
Over the next three days, Jenni and I will lead a retreat for the staff of Christian Super. This staff works diligently to serve about 25,000 followers of Christ. As we take physical shape among them, pray that the spiritual exercises we have planned will result in staff enrichment that launches them to live, give, serve, and love like Jesus.