The afternoon sunlight
was coming through the corridor windows as our Director of Children’s
Ministries, Alex Lamb, was putting away boxes of supplies and costumes used in
the Christmas Pageant. I looked at stacks of angel wings being put into
cardboard boxes and destined for a nearby closet. My heart took a
dip.
There seemed to be something particularly sad about putting the angels’ gear away. Almost as if we are headed back to normal. And there is something sad about a world where angel wings are no longer needed. I don’t really want to go back to normal…if that means a world without angels and songs and grace.
Because the Bible tells us angels always show up with the message, “Don’t be afraid!” Not only do angels share that message, but they share grace. “Good tidings,” the Bible says. “He will save his people from their sins.” It seems to me grace is in short supply.
So I saw the angels’ wings being put away and then headed off, last night, to see the film version of Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables. There, through the film, there are those two candlesticks that keep showing up as a reminder of grace. Of a thief being forgiven by a parish priest and having a chance to live a new life.
One scene shows Jean Valjean working his way through the sewers of Paris as he works to save the life of a young revolutionary.
Loving, forgiving, being obedient to the call of Jesus to live grace-fully, is not easy. We’ll have all sorts of reasons to turn back, get mean, give people what they deserve. I see that too often. People who have been in Bible study or worship or know the story of Jesus lash out when they have been hurt. Loving when the one before you doesn’t deserve love is like dragging a wounded wreck of a man through a sewer full of dirt!
Javert, the police officer who cannot swallow the unfairness of grace, whose universe is based on the assumption we only receive what we earn, has a great deal of company!
Again and again the film’s director places the two candlesticks, symbols of the grace offered Valjean, in the center of scenes. So we will remember that grace is at the center of the story…the drama…the lives… the songs.
The church is a community where we come together with a cross in the room. So we will remember our story is a story of grace. The cross is like those candlesticks which remind Jean Valjean that he has a reason to sing. Grace defines his life and it is to this love he is faithful.
We live in a world starving for grace. Maybe we should take the wings out of the closet…out of the boxes.
Paul, in Ephesians 3, prays his friends will be rooted and grounded in love. We may not have wings, but if we are rooted and grounded in love we can do the work of God’s angels. Like loving… forgiving… offering grace… maybe even showing up on January 21st to bless others during our MLK Jr DAY ON.
Let’s get our wings back out!
In Christ and for Christ,
There seemed to be something particularly sad about putting the angels’ gear away. Almost as if we are headed back to normal. And there is something sad about a world where angel wings are no longer needed. I don’t really want to go back to normal…if that means a world without angels and songs and grace.
Because the Bible tells us angels always show up with the message, “Don’t be afraid!” Not only do angels share that message, but they share grace. “Good tidings,” the Bible says. “He will save his people from their sins.” It seems to me grace is in short supply.
So I saw the angels’ wings being put away and then headed off, last night, to see the film version of Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables. There, through the film, there are those two candlesticks that keep showing up as a reminder of grace. Of a thief being forgiven by a parish priest and having a chance to live a new life.
One scene shows Jean Valjean working his way through the sewers of Paris as he works to save the life of a young revolutionary.
Loving, forgiving, being obedient to the call of Jesus to live grace-fully, is not easy. We’ll have all sorts of reasons to turn back, get mean, give people what they deserve. I see that too often. People who have been in Bible study or worship or know the story of Jesus lash out when they have been hurt. Loving when the one before you doesn’t deserve love is like dragging a wounded wreck of a man through a sewer full of dirt!
Javert, the police officer who cannot swallow the unfairness of grace, whose universe is based on the assumption we only receive what we earn, has a great deal of company!
Again and again the film’s director places the two candlesticks, symbols of the grace offered Valjean, in the center of scenes. So we will remember that grace is at the center of the story…the drama…the lives… the songs.
The church is a community where we come together with a cross in the room. So we will remember our story is a story of grace. The cross is like those candlesticks which remind Jean Valjean that he has a reason to sing. Grace defines his life and it is to this love he is faithful.
We live in a world starving for grace. Maybe we should take the wings out of the closet…out of the boxes.
Paul, in Ephesians 3, prays his friends will be rooted and grounded in love. We may not have wings, but if we are rooted and grounded in love we can do the work of God’s angels. Like loving… forgiving… offering grace… maybe even showing up on January 21st to bless others during our MLK Jr DAY ON.
Let’s get our wings back out!
In Christ and for Christ,
Mark
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