Wednesday’s Thoughts on the sermon
The sermon title, “What Do You Expect?”
One of the most interesting aspects of what we know as the Christmas season is what we have done with Matthew’s story about the Magi. These are astrologers, or kings. They are three people whose faith is not the faith of Israel and that is the point Matthew is trying to make. He is saying that Jesus brought forward a religion that wasn’t limited to the faith of Israel. Jesus is the “new Moses” who is bringing something that is faithful to God but is beyond the limits of Judaism.
It is an interesting part of the story to reflect upon the gifts of the Wise Men. They brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The symbolism of those gifts is powerful. What was brought to the Christ Child was material wealth(gold), intellectual alertness(frankincense), and the power over death(myrrh). When you look at what Jesus did with his life you can see how those gifts were transformed. He preached about true wealth is found in the way we establish our values, and intellect must lead to spiritual awareness, and the power over death is the power of the resurrection of the human spirit.
As we think about what is to happen to us in the coming year it is significant to know that part of what the new year will bring is THE GIVEN. The most important part is what we do with THE GIVEN we, by our GUMPTION, do with it.
Is it fair to say that the most important part of 2007 is not what comes to us but what we do with what comes to us? If so, we must be ready to:
1. See all glasses that are half empty as half full
2. See every challenge as an opportunity
3. See every disappointment as a prelude to a new appointment
4. See low points as the way to launch ourselves to the next high point
How we face what will happen to us is the key to answering the question, “What Do You Expect?”
How do you plan to face what will happen in the year to come? What will enable you to move forward when things seem to be taking you backward?
I’d like to hear from you.
If you have a response you want others to read click on the “comments” box below. If you have suggestions for me alone write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles
