Milwaukee Community Journal » WISCONSIN'S LARGEST AFRICAN AMERICAN NEWSPAPER

‘We’ are the power of Christ today

Written by admin // December 21, 2012 // 0 Comments

To all our brothers and sisters who read this message, peace and all goodness be yours.
During this holy season our hearts and minds are drawn to the infant Jesus, the embodiment of the loving God we claim as our Father.
Our ancestors longed for this one who would “bring glad tidings, announcing peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation and saying to Zion, ‘Your God is King!’”
We know that for centuries our ancestors longed for a savior to save them from slavery, poverty, injustice, and every form of violence.
And finally, their prayers were answered, but not as they wanted. The savior would not come to impose his will or use violence to achieve his kingdom.
The Savior came and simply re-iterated what the prophets said; that justice and peace were to be achieved by love and total self-giving, not by force or fear.
We were to look at Jesus and find there the person we were to become–loving, kind, gentle, forgiving and non-violent. We are to bring that peace!
So, the Savior was not to come to bring hell fire to achieve his goals, but humility and total giving without any trace of vengeance, violence or loud shouts.
Can that loving, peace-filled Christ be born again in us? If not, then the prophetic voice of Jesus will be muted and the world will continue to be a place of vengeance, violence, hate, fear, and selfishness. His death will be for many a worthless effort in self-giving.
It doesn’t need to be that way. The way we live and act, they way we care and share, the way we reach out to others and bring healing where there is pain, the way we search out those who are in need, all of this helps make Christ real and present for people.
The powerful reality that we are the power of Christ today ought to give excitement to our lives. Being a Christian is not boring, if we live as our baptism calls us to live–for others.
May the loving, peace-filled Christ be born again in your hearts. Again, we get to thank God for loving us so much that He sent his only Son to be our Savior, our guide and mentor. May we put on the mind and heart of Jesus.
On behalf of all the staff and Parish Council of All Saints, I wish you a blessed Christmas and a Peace-filled New Year.
Come worship with us at 8:00 or 10:30 any Sunday. We are located at 4051 N. 25th Street, in the heart of the city.