The Reason He Came, the postscript

    Early this week, I wrote about some of the struggles that can come when we humans interact and navigate relationship, and as part of that blog, I talked about how we are the reason Christ came.  The tone of those musing were hopeful in the midst of struggle, and as the week has progressed the hope has turned to Joy, and it came about through a group of diverse and amazing youth.  But let me back up...
    You see, this Sunday is Confirmation Sunday, and 14 weeks ago, I began a journey with a group of 18 Confirmands, a handful of youth mentors, and my youth pastor.  Over the course of the Confirmation

experience we’ve shared discussions, insights, and even some mundane, and at times frustrating, evenings together, but over those 14 weeks, we’ve been blessed.  Put more specifically, I have been blessed, for as happens year after year, I have been reminded that indeed, we are the reason He came.
    This past Wednesday was our final session together.  It began with a dinner for the Confirmands and their mentors, where we shared time simply talking about the Confirmation experience.  After dinner we joined the families of the Confirmands in the Sanctuary for our closing worship.  During that time...He came.  Christ was present in the songs we sang, prayers we prayed, even a little bit in the words I shared, but the Spirit of God descended during Communion and in our closing.
    For communion we had the Confirmands each serve their mentors and families, and I was blessed with a front row seat, because my youth pastor and I are helping to coordinate and prompt the Confirmands to switch the communion elements as their families come forward.  Communion always touches me, but it is powerful to experience parents, siblings, grandparents, and siblings coming forward with hands opened up and eyes wide opened ready to receive to the gifts of God’s grace.  In the eyes of some, I saw pride, in others tears, in others even a bit of haziness, as if the minds was trying to put the pieces together that this was all really happening.  At the table we were fed.
    But the Spirit’s movement was most powerfully felt in the opportunity to share a simple Word.  We made a circle around the Sanctuary, then all were invited to share, as they felt led, a word of thanksgiving for God and/or where they saw God at work through Confirmation.
    If you’ve ever taught or worked with youth, you know what an amazing experience this can be, but you also know that it can be frustrating and at times feel a bit pointless, because you wonder if they’re really getting it.  But then when you think that they don’t, they blow you away.

    Well that’s what we felt there in that room that night, for as each parent spoke with pride of their child or shared words of thanks for God and those around the room, the Spirit descended and simply opened up these kids who either had a difficult time staying on task in class and/or simply remained silent week after week.  Instead of such reactions, they spoke and shared.  Eloquently and emotionally, they shared how God has changed them, and in their eyes, hearts, and voices, we saw, and see, this to be true.  It was an overwhelming evening, for which I am truly thankful.

    St. John was not just a disciple, but he was the author of a few of the books of the Bible, most notably, the Gospel titled with his name.  In the very first paragraph John speaks of Christ, God’s Word, being with the Father at the beginning.  Then he goes on to discuss how Christ came to earth and how John the Baptist would pave the way for Christ to come.  Then John says a peculiar thing: “The Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory...full of grace and truth.”
    When I read or pray about this story, I remember and give thanks for the experiences like I did two nights ago.  Experiences from mission trips or in times spent counseling people or in worship through which the Spirit comes and transforms the situation and the people involved.  The Word, Jesus Christ, becomes flesh and lives among us, and WE see his glory full of grace and truth.

    In that worship, through these amazing youth, the Word has become flesh and indeed dwells among us full of grace and truth, and this Sunday as they are Confirmed as full members of the Church, that flesh takes shape and form and becomes a part of the Body already alive. I can’t wait to see how God is going to use this Word...these youth...to make a difference for the Kingdom of God.

Do you believe this statement?: “The Word becomes flesh through us.”
It is true, and it has great power, if and when we believe it and live it.