Happy Christmas Dear Reader,
Sitting in a diner this week, I overheard a couple talking
about Christmas dinner. One of them was adamant
that a certain close relative not be invited.
The other was asking that the relative be welcomed in the spirit of the
season. The first speaker said angrily,
pridefully, “Well I suppose I can be the bigger person and show some mercy but
only for dinner.”
Immediately the line from Hark the Herald Angels came
to mind; “Peace on earth and mercy mild.”
It occurred to me that mercy must be mild, meek, and humble. When we “show mercy” out of pride, we are
serving our own self-interest and not love.
True mercy is vital to the entire idea of Christmas.
Were the Father not wishing to show mercy, there would have
been no incarnation. It is mercy that leads
to the star, the stable stall, and the cross.
It is mild mercy. It is the kind
of mercy where the King of Kings allows himself to be humiliated to redeem us
even as we beat and murdered him. The
entire idea of mercy requires that we humble our hearts, forgive, and redeem
others. It is not easy but it is right.
If we are going to move through this season with love and
joy, then there must be mercy Dear Reader.
We all need it. We all must show mild
mercy to anyone who needs it whether we believe they deserve it or not. We do not merit mercy and receiving it
requires that we show it in turn with all the humility we possess.
We can be merciful, kind, and loving if we choose to be
so. It is always a choice. It is why God and sinners can be
reconciled. It is one of the ways that
we know God is with us. Have a listen to
the song and ponder a bit, Dear Reader.
Hark
the Herald Angels Sing – Amy Grant
Hark the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn king
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With angelic host proclaim
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
With angelic host proclaim
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with men to dwell
Jesus, our Immanuel
Pleased as man with men to dwell
Jesus, our Immanuel
Hail the Heaven-born Prince of Peace
Hail the Sun of Righteousness
Light and life to all He brings
Risen with healing in His wings
Christ the highest Heaven adored
Christ the everlasting Lord
Come desire of nations come
Fix in us Thy humble home
Come desire of nations come
Fix in us Thy humble home
Wishing you joy in the journey,
Aramis Thorn
Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every
writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a
homeowner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure
store.”
(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
Contacts for Aramis Thorn:
Bookings: aramisthorn@aramisthorn.com
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