January 6th, 2021

by | Jan 6, 2021 | PS from PS | 0 comments

ps from ps…
We’re on our ninth straight day of mostly cloudy and no sunshine in WNY.  Boo!  (Good news though – 37% of Biegner Winter is over!)  But that lack of sunshine wears on you, right?

So how do we power through it?  What can we hold on to that will get us through the tougher winter times?  Some people try sunlamps – but that fades away after awhile.  Some people try fake tans – but that washes off and generally isn’t very good for you.  Some people try diets – but as with New Year’s Resolutions, they usually fall apart.  

If only we had something that went deeper than all those things?!  Somewhere there is a child raising their hand in the Children’s Sermon and yelling out: “Jesus!!”  Ah, yes.  Sort of.  More accurately in this case, his side kick the Holy Spirit.  (It’s like Batman and Robin, but super different)

“In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” – Mark 1

Except that isn’t translated correctly.  I read this week again that “descending like a dove ON him” should actually be more accurately translated “descending like a dove INTO him.”  

Into – part of forever, not wash-off-able, DNA changing, life altering and God claiming.

In our baptism, God’s Spirit pours INTO us and not just ON us.  On us falls away.  On us doesn’t last.  On us washes off.  On us gets beaten down by cloudy winter days.  

But into us changes everything!  Into us means that God’s always with us.  Into us creates a new being.  Into us invites us to rise above.  Into us reminds us there is something more and something bigger and something after.  Into us.

As we head into the New Year that will be filled and populated with cloudy days and cloudy moments, may you remember that water that poured out over you!  That Spirit that poured into you.  That claimed you.  That changed you.  That never washes off or fades away.  

God’s love.  Into you.

Lord, thank you for pouring into us. Amen


Still in One Peace,
ps

ps on the ps from ps – Go Bills!!!!