For-To-(nate)-Us

With songs of praise still ringing in our hearts we dig into dessert. On Christmas Eve we begin to taste the full sweetness of our celebration. We are fortunate. Not because we earned a place at the table but because for us, to us, among us – a child is born. The celebration of this birth includes the news that we are received.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.

He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.

The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. (Isaiah 9:6,7)

          The light of truth pushes away the darkness and gathers us into one family, a joy that cannot be contained. This is a taste – the entire feast of living – exploring, adventuring, creating, finding and being found – of the eternal banquet to come.

Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!

For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.

Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.”

Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.” (Revelation 19:6-9)

          We are feasting at a never-ending table of joy and satisfaction because we have been provided with the endless resources of God’s grace. Because they are endless, because we anticipate Christ’s coming again, establishing the new earth, with a new heaven – we have no fear of not having enough to share. We welcome all in. All that we’ve taken in during Advent — the songs, the stories, the Scriptures, the silence

It has prepared us for this. For the moment when heaven touches earth.

The moment when we realize that the riches of God’s grace are not just for us to receive — is when we realize that this miracle of Christmas is our invitation to extend the table. So, we rejoice, we pass the dessert, we eat together, hold hands, sing together because:

Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. (John 1:16)

          It is through Jesus that we learn the deeper truth that was found within prophecies and stories and wanderings that came before him. We learn that God was always seeking after us, God was always loving us – all God’s creatures – and he wants us with him forever. Grace is unending and the table is still growing.