A new birth into a living hope!

1 Peter 1:3-9

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith-- being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire-- may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Disappointed on the day of judgment

photo credit-Richard Perry-NYTimes

There are lots of apocalyptic references in the readings for Advent, it can be hard to get your head around them, whether or not you are a fan of the Left Behind series!  So, I was amused to find the following quote at the start of a New York Times article yesterday on the Grand Canyon.


“I HAVE heard rumors of visitors who were disappointed,” J. B. Priestley once said of the Grand Canyon. “The same people will be disappointed at the Day of Judgment.”


Do check out the article - a fine one.  And, it is indeed true that the wonders of nature are wonders that we are to behold, and they do reveal a bit of the glory of God.  Do we have eyes to see them?  Are we so busy with our cares and occupations that we fail to see the brilliant sunrise, the gliding hawk above, the gray trees standing guard over a silent wood?


It is Advent, and we live into this time of expectation, of anticipation, of longing by taking time to notice, taking time to ponder the ways that God created the world, came into the world, and is still coming into the world.


May we not be so crazy-busy that we are disappointed at the wonders all around us!


~The Rev. Peter M. Carey

photo credit - Richard Perry - New York Times