Tuesday, December 24, 2002

...and the Word was God John 1:1c

The older I get, the clearer it becomes that more and more of life is Mystery. At least, it is mystery to me, a human being, limited by the physicality of my eyes, my heart, and my mind. Words often appear more like limitations than answers. The ways in which my mind can stretch to embrace concepts that I glimpse at the outer fringes of reality seem few and frustratingly inadequate. So I am left surrounded with an awareness of great Mystery, and I am humbled by it. Can I learn to love the Mystery? I wonder. I'm working on it, for therein lie wholeness and peace.

In the beginning, when there was only formless void, and a Spirit moved over the face of the waters, and there was no light nor any darkness to contrast with light, God who already IS created the heavens and the earth. What is this but Mystery? Celestial bodies collide and life is formed, chemical components interact and a world begins to appear. What is this but Mystery?

The Word stands with God before the void no, the Word IS God and through this Word light is commanded and appears, and life is given to all of creation. The light of the Word shines always in all darkness, never extinguished, whether it can be seen or not. What do these words bespeak but Mystery?

We are born, uniquely our one self, unaware of who that is for so much of our journey, only revealed as who we are in God's mind in moments of grace, love, and self-giving. Then, at journey's end, we await the great Unknown. The questions no longer matter, the answers are irrelevant, the Presence is everything. We may say, "It's in God's hands" or "This is the greatest adventure of all" or "Having come from God, I am going home," but who's to know. The end of life is the greatest Mystery of all.

The day before Christmas is one we live through with anticipation and suspense. Christmas Eve,
caught in haiku, might read

If we live into Christmas; if we surrender to it; if we abandon the questions and the conditions, by God's grace tomorrow we may be able to feel the Presence all around us and be brushed by angel's wings. The Mystery is our home.

Reflection: On this busy day, take a few minutes to come to silence and feel the Mystery all around you. Love the unknowing, feel the freedom of it. Embrace the Mystery and trust it.

Prayer: Holy Mystery, we would come home to you this Christmas. Thank you for welcoming us with open arms. Amen

Hazelyn McComas

All contents copyright 2002 by the Wisconsin Chapter of the Methodist Federation for Social Action. Permission is granted to United Methodist congregations, individuals and groups to reproduce and distribute this devotional without charge. All other use requires the advance permission of the editor.