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| O Key of David Opening the gates of God's eternal kingdom Come and free the prisoners of darkness. |
Ask for a sign from the LORD, your God;
let it be deep as the nether world, or high as the sky!
The Gospels describe many signs of God's sovereign and benevolent presence. I think of several in the New Testament that are as deep as the nether world and high as the sky: the Virgin birth of Jesus, the return of Lazarus to his family, the passion and death of Jesus, his Resurrection, and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Two more restorations -- the young man of Naim to his widowed mother, and his daughter to Jairus and her mother -- make seven! But we could add even more, like the Transfiguration and the Last Supper.
But God's mighty works are never like those which the Pharisees demanded of Jesus. They wanted to see spectacles -- Skyrockets in flight! Bombs bursting air! -- or something equally inane. God's mighty works are saving works. We experience them in our own lives when we confess our sins, admit we were wrong, apologize, and atone for our wrongdoing. We feel them moving within us when we speak the truth to a hostile audience. In those moments we often feel a rush of freedom in knowing, believing, and speaking the truth about God. Even old folks will know that The Lord has restored our youth!
With Advent and Christmas we celebrate the rebirth of hope as we hear again, "Turn away from sin and live by the Gospel."
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.