December 21, 2010
Tuesday
Peter sings,
“haven’t made sense of the mystery
but it makes sense of me”
On Sunday night, Peter Mayer along with Maggie Estes and R. Scott Bryan presented a concert at our congregation. It was such a day and evening full of wonder and joy that I had to dip into the archives to do an encore performance for a devo on Monday. But, now I’m back and thinking about mystery.
On Sunday at each one our three worship services we sang “OF THE FATHER’S LOVE BEGOTTEN.” The name of the tune is Divinum Mysterium. I just love that song. The words are 1600 years old and the tune is about 700 years old. It touches my heart and soul in ways that are deep and profound.
In the story of Christmas there are some pages of mystery. I think back a long time ago to the name of a group called “? and the Mysterians.”
When the word “mystery” is spoken we often think about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, or Nancy Drew, or Ellery Queen and even Dashiell Hammett. The birth narratives reported in the gospels don’t have any
characters like Columbo or Quincy M.D. wondering around the C.S.I (Christmas Scene Incarnation). But, in thinking about the holy nativity questions like “who, what, where, why and when?” come to my mind. We’d naturally like to know why God chose Mary and Joseph to be the ones to raise the child. Was there an application and interview process? Why was that particular time and place selected for the birth to take place?
How come when angels appear to people their first words are “don’t be afraid?” Who thought it was a good idea to have the shepherds come into the labor and delivery room?
Have you ever thought of giving a newborn baby, Gold, Frankincense or myrrh? Where do you register for that? I find the following verse to be very refreshing and liberating. For it seems to just acknowledge there are things we just don’t know and won’t know until that time when it is revealed to us. But what has been revealed to us is simple and profound, God is LOVE!
St. Paul wrote to Timothy in 1 Timothy 3:16,
Without any doubt, the mystery of our religion is great:
He was revealed in flesh,
vindicated in spirit, seen by angels,
proclaimed among Gentiles,
believed in throughout the world, taken up in glory.
Peter sings,
“haven’t made sense of the mystery
but it makes sense of me”
There’s not doubt or question about it!
joyfully,
rtg
Of the Father's Love Begotten
1 Of the Father's love begotten
ere the worlds began to be,
he is Alpha and Omega,
he the source, the ending he,
of the things that are, that have been,
and that future years shall see,
evermore and evermore.
2 Oh, that birth forever blessed,
when the virgin, full of grace,
by the Holy Ghost conceiving,
bore the Savior of our race,
and the babe, the world's redeemer,
first revealed his sacred face,
evermore and evermore.
3 This is he whom seers in old time
chanted of with one accord,
whom the voices of the prophets
promised in their faithful word;
now he shines, the long-expected;
let creation praise its Lord
evermore and evermore.
4 Let the heights of heav'n adore him;
angel hosts, his praises sing;
pow'rs, dominions, bow before him
and extol our God and King;
let no tongue on earth be silent,
ev'ry voice in concert ring
evermore and evermore.
5 Christ, to thee, with God the Father,
and, O Holy Ghost, to thee,
hymn and chant and high thanksgiving
and unwearied praises be:
honor, glory, and dominion,
and eternal victory
evermore and evermore! Amen.
Text: Marcus Aurelius Clemens Prudentius, 348-413; tr. composite
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