SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2007

THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

________________________________________________

Dear Friends in Our Lord Jesus:

An old story is told about a great king who fell in love -- from a distance -- with a beautiful young woman. It should have been the age-old story of how love conquers all barriers of class, family origins, and nationalities. But it wasn’t, mainly because the king was hesitant to declare his love.

Late one night, he summoned his wisest counselors and asked for advice.

With a united voice, they answered: “Your majesty, nothing could be easier. You must simply appear before her humble abode in all your radiance and glory, and she will instantly fall at your feet and be yours forever.”

But the king wanted the young woman’s love, not her sense of duty mixed with fear. He wanted her to share his glory, not to be afraid of it. He wanted her to love him, not to be in total submission to him. Night after night, he paced the hallways of his palace. How could he share his love in such a way that the young woman would freely and willingly return her love to him?

Finally, late one night -- long after his advisors, counselors, guards, and assistants had gone to sleep -- the king came to a wonderful decision. He removed his royal garments, his crown, his divine jewelry, and set aside his scepter, sword, and royal armaments. And then he dressed in humble servant’s clothing and quietly walked all alone to the door of the maiden’s humble home. He came to her home as one just like her.

On this Sunday before Christmas, let us remember that God came to us as one of us. The Lord Jesus “did not count His equality with God as something to be hoarded, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave, and coming (to us) in human likeness” (Philippians 2:6-7). He came in total humility. Total vulnerability. Total openness. Total love.

Let us make room in our hearts for His heavenly visitation.

-- The Very Rev. Dr. Steve Sellers +