What carries us over

Dearly Beloved,

Grace and Peace to you.



Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
— Revelation 21.1

I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.
— John 13.34


The problem with a new heaven and a new earth is that sometimes it doesn't feel so good. When old ways pass away and new things come we sometimes feel displaced, disoriented or even threatened by the new ways. We yearn for the way things used to be. When change comes, what can carry us over into the new world? What can help us to adapt to a new reality, to embrace change, to live with and even live for transformation?

Love will carry us over. To live in a new reality, a new haven and earth, Jesus gives us a new commandment: to love others as Christ has loved us. Jesus teaches us to set our hearts on the blessing and well-being of others rather than on our attachment to things being the way we want them. When we commit to such unconditional, self-giving love, “the way it used to be” is no longer our concern. Love sets us free. This new birth is not just an emergency procedure in the case of dramatic change; it happens with every moment. Every breath is an opportunity to let go of the past and enter into the new heaven and new earth of the present moment.

When things change and we feel lost or displaced, Jesus' call to love can carry us over the abyss of our anxiety and into the new world—the new, living, present, vibrant heaven of this very life.


Deep Blessings,
Pastor Steve


_______________________________
Copyright © Steve Garnaas-Holmes
unfoldinglight(at)hotmail.com

Full circle

Dearly Beloved,

Grace and Peace to you.

“You will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."
— Luke 1. 31-33

As we approach Holy Week we stumble upon one of those quirks of a literalistic interpretation of scripture: today, March 25, is exactly nine months before December 25, and therefore celebrated in the Roman tradition as the day of the Annunciation, when Gabriel announced the coming of the miraculous child to Mary. Never mind that the Bible says nothing of when Jesus was born; let's take it as it is.

This week Jesus' life comes full circle, and we see the fulfillment of Gabriel's promise: not that Jesus came to die, but that he came to love. Now we see Jesus on the cross, his throne, reigning in love, his compassion supreme over all forces, even the greatest powers of evil and violence, even the power of death itself. None of these puny forces can stand up to his gentleness; even the most crushing blows evil can think of do not budge Jesus in the least, or begin to dent his tender forgiveness. It's as if Caesar is trying to stomp on a little flower, and it won't even bend. Love is invincible. Christ's forgiveness is absolute. He reigns forever, and of his realm of healing, forgiveness and grace there will be no end.

As you stand here and contemplate the cross, under the reign of the Son of the Most High, I wonder if the promise comes full circle again? I wonder if I hear the voice of Gabriel. Is such sovereign compassion conceived in you today?



Deep Blessings,
Pastor Steve


_______________________________
Copyright © Steve Garnaas-Holmes
unfoldinglight(at)hotmail.com

Suffering

Dearly Beloved,

Grace and Peace to you.


The devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, 'He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you.'”
— Luke 4. 9-10


Yeah, God I want that one:
not to get hurt.
Not to get hurt if I fall or fail,
never to have to lose anything.
Which means, of course, never to love.

To love is to abandon myself
to another's well being: to open my heart,
to give myself without repayment,
to feel with another, to renounce control.

To love is to suffer.

So I do not ask that you protect me from suffering,
but protect me from selfishness,
not that you hold suffering away from me,
but that you hold me through it.
Hold my heart open, willing to suffer,
unafraid, for the sake of love.



Deep Blessings,
Pastor Steve


_______________________________
Copyright © Steve Garnaas-Holmes
unfoldinglight@hotmail.com

Epiphany Day

Dearly Beloved,

Grace and Peace to you.

Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star at its rising and have come to worship him."

— Matthew 2.1

Epiphany. Mysterious strangers follow a star to Jesus,
strangers from another country, culture, religion.
They follow a small twinkling light among millions.
They ask among people who pose danger.
They travel far, by unknown roads.
And with joy they follow that star, for that child.
They give their gifts gratefully.
And going home by yet another route,
they shine for us, little lights in the dark mystery:
those who follow unceasingly.

The star was not an idea, not even a religion.
It was the light of God's love enfleshed.
It was God's love for them.
What light do you follow?
How closely do you seek your Beloved?
How easily do you forget the journey you're on?
What gifts do you bring?
And with abandon, do you give them?

The child you seek is your Divine Lover.
How steadfastly do you follow the star of your belovedness?


Deep Blessings,
Pastor Steve


_______________________________

Copyright (c) 2010
Steve Garnaas-Holmes
unfoldinglight(at)hotmail.com

We have come to worship

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."
Matthew 2.1-2

When the Magi kneel before the Christ child
this is no mere display of sentiment or devotion:
this is Wisdom kneeling at the feet if its master, Love.
All power, all rulers and their armies,
and all knowledge, all learning and understanding,
and all riches and beauty,
all kneel before the power, wisdom and beauty of love.
Secretly Herod and all the tyrants of this world know this,
which is why they are afraid, so desperate and ruthless:
they know Love is the one true power greater than they.
They have already bowed to their one true sovereign.

And all powers, all kings and wise men,
all with beauty and regal mien,
bow to the Christ child, the embodiment of love
that is born in you each morning.
Let your life itself be such a bowing,
such an extravagant opening of gifts.
Even tyrants secretly bow to the great love
that has been poured into you.
Live in deep trust of this, and take courage.



_______________________________
Copyright c 2009
Steve Garnaas-Holmes
unfoldinglight@hotmail.com