The Goal of Baptist-Catholic Dialogue

The Associated Baptist Press published an essay written by Steven Harmon.  Harmon recently returned from Regent's Park College, where he participated in the BWA Commission on Doctrine and Christian Unity. This forum encourages dialogue between Baptists and Catholics. 

http://www.abpnews.com/content/view/5983/9/

I encourage readers to listen to Harmon.  I share his reading of Jesus' prayer for unity in John 17.  It is important that Baptists continue to pursue conversations with Catholics in a spirit of prayer and worship.

Prayer for the Fourth Sunday of Advent

Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming,may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

taken from the Book of Common Prayer

Lectionary Reflection: 4th Sunday of Advent

Matthew 1:18-25

1:18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.

1:19 Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly.

1:20 But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

1:21 She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."

1:22 All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:

1:23 "Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means, "God is with us."

1:24 When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife,

1:25 but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.

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As a teenager, I remember hearing this passage read during a Christmas pageant and puzzling over the mention of the name "Emmanuel."  If the prophet said his name would be Emmanuel, then why did Mary name her son Jesus? Was there some etymological connection between Emmanuel and Jesus of which I was not aware?

This same question must have been asked of John Chrysostom, because he addresses it in one of his homilies on the gospel of Matthew.  The fourth century bishop observes from the text that the son will not be called Emmanuel, but that he will be named Emmanuel. The distinction here is that one only receives the name of Emmanuel once the multitude of events comes to pass that will lead people to say that God was with us.  In other words, "to say 'they shall name him Emmanuel' means nothing else than that they shall see God among us."

-- John Chrysostom, The Gospel of Matthew homily 5.2-3

Prayer of Thomas Merton

O Lord God,
I have no idea where I am going,
I do not see the road ahead of me,
I cannot know for certain where it will end.

Nor do I really know myself,
And that fact that I think
I am following Your will
Does not mean that I am actually doing so.

But I believe
That the desire to please You
Does in fact please You.
And I hope I have that desire
In all that I am doing.

I hope that I will never do anything
Apart from that desire to please You.
And I know that if I do this
You will lead me by the right road,
Though I may know nothing about it.

Therefore I will trust You always
Though I may seem to be lost
And in the shadow of death.
I will not fear,
For You are ever with me,
And You will never leave me
To make my journey alone.

Source: Thomas Merton, Pax Christi

Lectionary Reflection: 3rd Sunday of Advent

Luke 1:46b-55

1:46b My soul magnifies the Lord,

1:47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

1:48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

1:49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
1:50 His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.

1:51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.

1:52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly;

1:53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.

1:54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,

1:55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever."

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 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPbV_HTpyx0