Advent 4
December 18th, 2011
Dear St. George’s,
Christmas, more than any other time in the year, is a time for reflection on God’s amazing grace. Mary’s baby in the manger; God in human flesh, is the embodiment of God’s goodness inclined toward His people. This goodness is wholly unmerited. Could we ever presume to deserve this gift of seismic humility?
St. Paul turns our attention to the God’s grace manifest in the incarnation in the manger in Bethlehem on Christmas morning.
First in Philippians 2:5-7,
“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.”
Here Paul set Jesus’ humility as the pattern for our Christian lives. The One who had every right to claim divine distance from sinful people chose to ‘empty’ himself of his divine prerogative, being born into the fray of our human mess. He was born as a servant, giving his life as a ransom for many. What grace. What humility.
Second in 2 Corinthians 8:9
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.”
Again Paul points us to Jesus’ incarnation. In Philippians Paul links God’s grace in the incarnation with our humility, in 2 Corinthians Paul links God’s grace in the incarnation with generosity.
I pray that during the coming Christmas Season you will consider the great grace of God in the incarnation. I pray that you will look to Jesus as your example and that His humility and generosity would bestow such grace on you and on your family. I pray that your life will look more and more like his; marked by grace that produces humility and generosity.
Set aside your preferences and rights. Prefer others. Make generosity the governing principle in your life, not miserliness.
Glory to the New-born King,
The Rev’d Ray David Glenn
