St. Timothy Lutheran Church

I was blessed to have parents, people, and baptismal sponsors, who loved me. They loved me in everyday exchanges, and in secret sacrifices. They loved me through their mistakes and giftedness, their brokenness and successes. They poured love into me like the good Samaritan who used what resources he had to restore life to the man beaten and left for dead by the side of the road. (Luke 10:29-37) At the time I didn’t recognize this as love, anymore than the recovering man knew what was done for him as he came to consciousness at the Inn. All his needs had been provided for by the grace of another. When you are surrounded by love and grace you may be as unaware of it as a fish is that they are wet.

These agents of God loved me by bringing me to a group of imperfect people living in God’s word and placing in my hands and heart, the Holy scriptures. Through this I learned what love is, Jesus! And my heart sang a new ancient song of love, Oh now I know that tune. Epiphany. Thank You!
It wasn’t until the world and sin had beaten me up leading me to death that I came to know this love that had been given to me. Every time I would return to God’s word and his imperfect people, it was like the Innkeeper telling me the true story of this unexpected man who gave himself to heal and save me.

I wonder how the man with restored health left the Inn? Probably longing to greet this merciful stranger. I would imagine he must have been humbled and grateful for this new life he was experiencing when he should be dead. And I would think he was more generous and merciful to those in need he encountered.
At Christmas, “the Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)
In that historical truth God loved us while we were yet dead in our sin. Even though the world was unaware of how God was loving us. O Merry Christmas!

And the Holy Spirit has been at work through the grateful response of others who have loved us and pointed us to God’s word to make it known, real, manifest, in our lives that our hearts might sing a new ancient song. Time’s when we awaken to know love, Jesus, Messiah, Savior. This is epiphany! This is grace! Thank you!

And now I have children of my own, who I love because I was first loved. I love themthrough daily exchanges, and secret sacrifices, through all my gifts and weaknesses. These children are immersed in love, brought regularly to a group of imperfect people living in God’s word, and the Holy scriptures are being placed in their hands and hearts.

You see church, if Christ has been made known to us, through the gracious incarnate love of others, then it is our time. Our time to give mercy and love to the broken and spiritually dead, that they might know Christmas. It is our time to give of ourselves and our resources that others, who are beaten up by sin and the world, may know healing and new life that only God can bring, that the Holy Spirit might bring epiphany. It is our time to be the servant church, God’s word incarnate in us providing hope in a fearful world, that all may come to know love, Jesus!

May the Love of Christ be born from above and made known in our hearts again!
Pastor Curt