~ by the Pastor and guest writers ~
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Gifts of the Household (December 12, 2003) In our society the Christmas season is primarily celebrated as a time for gift-giving among families and friends. It’s a wonderful tradition of sharing that we observe in our households. This custom led me to reflect on the household of God where gift-giving is also celebrated. A great generosity awaits us in the household of God, and not just over the Christmas season. St. Paul can serve in this Advent season as he awaits us at the door, and ushers us into the presence of God, the Gift-giver. Paul tells us there are a variety of gifts—but the same gift-giver, and there are varieties of ways in which these gifts will serve their purpose—but under the guidance of the same Lord. These gifts are alive with God’s presence and work! No need for batteries to be purchased and installed. If we are looking for a pile of packages or a Christmas tree we are disappointed. But there are people here, a multitude of people. And it is in these people that the gifts reside. And the good news is this is not some exclusive party to which only a few are given an invitation. The door of God’s household welcomes all children of the kingdom to the gift-giving. St. Paul, waiting at the door, directs our attention to the presence of the Holy Spirit within and behind each gift: “to each is given the manifestation of the Sprit for the common good.” In case we miss Paul’s guidance—because we do want to clutch at our gifts and hold to them tenaciously—he continues to draw our sometimes reluctant attention to the presence and intent of the Spirit: To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of wisdom by the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit… all these are activated by one and the same Spirit. I have come to appreciate the Holy Spirit as one of the best gifts in the household of God. The Holy Spirit is a faithful and steady worker, serving us, companioning us, helping us, guiding us, teaching us, and opening the eyes of our soul to God and what God is up to in the world. Paul is offering us some spiritual discernment in his writings—a gift we have long neglected in the church. The spiritual discipline here is to ask the Holy Spirit to open the eyes of our soul to see the presence of God, and what God is doing. My prayer is that these are the gifts you will treasure this year—gifts for all in the household of God. If you have not been in God’s household for a while I hope you will worship at one of our services in December. Inside the newsletter is a schedule of services for the remainder of December. Come Christmas Eve at 6:00 PM or 10:00 PM (or both times!) to be with our community as we worship. May God richly bless each of you and may you know the joy of God’s presence in your lives. Happy Advent and Merry Christmas!
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