November 30, 2016
“For he himself is
our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing
wall of hostility… Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but
fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the
foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief
cornerstone.”
our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing
wall of hostility… Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but
fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the
foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief
cornerstone.”
(Ephesians 2:14, 19-20)
“Accept one another,
then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God…. And
again, Isaiah says, “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise
to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in him.” May the God of
hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in God, so that you may
overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God…. And
again, Isaiah says, “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise
to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in him.” May the God of
hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in God, so that you may
overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
(Romans 15:7, 12 & 13)
Dear
Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
Grace
to you in the name of Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace, Healer of our Brokenness,
and Hope of the World.
to you in the name of Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace, Healer of our Brokenness,
and Hope of the World.
Each
Advent Season is different and special, because its context is ever changing.
However, it is always a God-given opportunity to celebrate its promise and
embrace its gift: a future filled with hope.
Advent Season is different and special, because its context is ever changing.
However, it is always a God-given opportunity to celebrate its promise and
embrace its gift: a future filled with hope.
The
hope of Advent is not only an ardent aspiration for, but also an unwavering
faith in, a promised future that is surely coming. “Faith is being sure of
what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1) Hope
is alive because of confident faith. Faith and hope go together.
hope of Advent is not only an ardent aspiration for, but also an unwavering
faith in, a promised future that is surely coming. “Faith is being sure of
what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1) Hope
is alive because of confident faith. Faith and hope go together.
To
us, the people of faith, hope is never confused with an empty promise or
wishful thinking. Our hope has a firm foundation: Jesus the Christ. Advent is
all about the Christ who was promised to come, has come, and will come again.
us, the people of faith, hope is never confused with an empty promise or
wishful thinking. Our hope has a firm foundation: Jesus the Christ. Advent is
all about the Christ who was promised to come, has come, and will come again.
Jesus
Christ is the hope of the world, because he is the herald of the reign of God
on earth as it is in heaven. His birth, life, death, and resurrection are God’s
unequivocal affirmation of the vision of the future filled with hope that Jesus
lived for, died for, and was raised for. It is the vision of the beloved
community embodied by Jesus, where love rules supreme, righteousness is
prevalent, and peace with justice prevails. Advent is about the living hope of
the Beloved Community of Christ to which our ultimate loyalty belongs.
Christ is the hope of the world, because he is the herald of the reign of God
on earth as it is in heaven. His birth, life, death, and resurrection are God’s
unequivocal affirmation of the vision of the future filled with hope that Jesus
lived for, died for, and was raised for. It is the vision of the beloved
community embodied by Jesus, where love rules supreme, righteousness is
prevalent, and peace with justice prevails. Advent is about the living hope of
the Beloved Community of Christ to which our ultimate loyalty belongs.
As
a nation and as a church, we recognize a heightened presence of fissures and an
acute sense of division. However, let’s be reminded that, no matter where we
may come from, “We are one out of many.” That’s our destiny as a nation
and the destination as God’s people. We are “no longer foreigners and
aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s
household.” Jesus Christ invites and receives all to the Kingdom of God,
the Beloved Community of Christ, where each and every one is accepted and
affirmed as God’s beloved child of sacred worth. “Accept one another,
then, just as Christ accepted you.” That’s the mandate from the Great
Commandment (“Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one
another.” John 13:34) and the Great Commission (“Therefore, go and
make disciples of all nations.” Matthew 28:19).
a nation and as a church, we recognize a heightened presence of fissures and an
acute sense of division. However, let’s be reminded that, no matter where we
may come from, “We are one out of many.” That’s our destiny as a nation
and the destination as God’s people. We are “no longer foreigners and
aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s
household.” Jesus Christ invites and receives all to the Kingdom of God,
the Beloved Community of Christ, where each and every one is accepted and
affirmed as God’s beloved child of sacred worth. “Accept one another,
then, just as Christ accepted you.” That’s the mandate from the Great
Commandment (“Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one
another.” John 13:34) and the Great Commission (“Therefore, go and
make disciples of all nations.” Matthew 28:19).
Fred
Kaan, in 1974, penned the words to the hymn, “Help Us Accept Each
Other.” Let me offer them for your personal reflection and as a prayer for
our life and witness together as we follow the vision of the Beloved Community
of Christ.
Kaan, in 1974, penned the words to the hymn, “Help Us Accept Each
Other.” Let me offer them for your personal reflection and as a prayer for
our life and witness together as we follow the vision of the Beloved Community
of Christ.
“Help us accept each other as Christ accepted us; teach us as
sister, brother, each person to embrace. Be present, Lord, among us, and bring
us to believe, we are ourselves accepted and meant to love and live.
sister, brother, each person to embrace. Be present, Lord, among us, and bring
us to believe, we are ourselves accepted and meant to love and live.
Teach us, O Lord, our lessons, as in our daily life we struggle to
be human and search for hope and faith. Teach us to care for people, for all,
not just for some, to love them as we find them, or as they may become.
be human and search for hope and faith. Teach us to care for people, for all,
not just for some, to love them as we find them, or as they may become.
Let your acceptance change us, so that we may be moved in living
situations to do the truth in love; to practice your acceptance, until we know
by heart the table of forgiveness and laughter’s healing art.
situations to do the truth in love; to practice your acceptance, until we know
by heart the table of forgiveness and laughter’s healing art.
Lord, for today’s encounters with all who are in need, who hunger
for acceptance, for righteousness and bread, we need new eyes for seeing, new
hands for holding on; renew us with your Spirit; Lord, free us, make us
one!”
(The hymn, Help Us Accept Each Other, the United Methodist Hymnal #560.)
for acceptance, for righteousness and bread, we need new eyes for seeing, new
hands for holding on; renew us with your Spirit; Lord, free us, make us
one!”
(The hymn, Help Us Accept Each Other, the United Methodist Hymnal #560.)
Yes,
Lord, we pray this prayer in your name for the good of the church, the nation
and the world – renew us with Your Spirit; Lord, free us, make us one!
Lord, we pray this prayer in your name for the good of the church, the nation
and the world – renew us with Your Spirit; Lord, free us, make us one!
May
God’s rich blessings of Advent be with you, your loved ones, our nation and the
world.
God’s rich blessings of Advent be with you, your loved ones, our nation and the
world.
With
You in Christ’s Ministry,
You in Christ’s Ministry,
Jeremiah
J. Park
J. Park
