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PotOnWheel
Registered Member

Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 9890

Posted 1/5/2003 7:02 PM (GMT -6)

Interests me--"Far as the curse is found"

Celebrating Christ's baptism in Jordain (he himself did not need forgiveness of sins) includes mention in scripture of how he did it so that "all righteousness" would be "fulfilled." That's interesting. How are we to understand this. He bore our own flesh. Should scripture be suggesting that something was happening to that flesh of ours. I have reason to think not--the confession is that he was like us in every way except sin. But I am wondering whether the light might be seen in the direction of how all that he did was a suffering of bearing our life, and in doing that redeeming us. Some Egyptian theologians early on had wondered whether Christ bore a back-to-Eden body. What's missing with that line of thought is the Cross. So what was eventually focused on, and repeated over the ages is that God in Christ became man--like us in every way except sin--that we humans might become deified ('god') by grace as he is God by nature.

The title of this thread quotes one of my all time favorite Christmas hymns. Do you recognize "Far as the curse is found?" The next verse goes: "He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove the glories of His righteousness and wonders of His love." "Joy to the world."

The extent of the curse is mentioned. Salvation is mentioned with respect to the vast extent of what feels its need -- and 'groans' as scripture says. Creation, in need as much as we are. And into the world that God loves, born in a cave comes Jesus.

We wonder why the "Ox and Ass" that extracanonical texts tell make it into the School Christmas play. From the start Christmas was known having its focus in our salvation. Originally together with Easter. Then moved a third of a year away, Nativity was part of Theophany, in January. Then with a slight move Advent had its own date. But the WHOLISTIC emphasis of Advent was there from the early days.

Which leads us to tomorrow -- January 6th. Theophany.

Here's its "icon."

Those who consider icons to be 'theology in color' regard the celebration of tomorrow to be, well... in their words:

quote:
The Feast of Theophany celebrates the Baptism of Jesus the Anointed in the Jordan by John the Forerunner. It is the festival of the manifestation to humanity of Jesus' Godhead and of the revelation of the Holy Trinity, as the voice of the Father declares him The "Beloved Son" and the Spirit in the form of a dove hovers above his Anointed.

In his baptism in the Jordan it is not Jesus who is purified and sanctified: he is God Incarnate, utterly without sin, the Holy One who makes others holy. He descends into the living water of the river and his presence sanctifies the waters.

Far as the curse is found....

Remember, Advent and Theophay were the SAME celebration once.

far as the curse is found

Those that consider icons to be 'theology in color' consider ALL of the salvific wok of Christ to not be limited to just the issolated time in history in which they happened. They proclaim "TODAY CHRIST IS BORN" in existential realization that the economy of salvation is not limited by the slow downward drift of time...towards death. "TODAY CHRIST IS BORN"

So, it would be no surprised to hear them proclaim "Today Christ is Baptized in Jordan. Right?

Someone wrote:

quote:
Theophany celebrates the salvation and sanctification of matter.

The entire Universe is God's creation. His Wisdom underlies its form and design, his Word brings it into being, his Breath sustains and enlivens it.

So long and so far as matter and energy remain what God makes them they are good.

But the created order has been disrupted by the malignant choices of the rebel powers and of a misguided humanity. The sin of the rebel angels and of a rebel humanity made the world a haunted place, reeking of death and decay. We are not born into a world that simply embodies and manifest's the Creator's loving wisdom; far from it, we find ourselves - or flee ourselves - in a world where matter and energy are exploited to evil ends, material forces are bent to twisted purposes, the mistakes and the follies of past ages have rendered the world damaged and dangerous. The mountains still declare the glory of God and the sublime dance of the heavens proclaims His presence, but matter has also been made to serve demonic purposes.

And

quote:
Descending into Jordan's flowing waters, Jesus, God the Son of God, who now shares our humanity, makes that living water a sign of his presence his mercy and his power. The Creator who called the primordial waters into being steps down into the waters in which John's disciples sought repentance. The Prophet is astounded. Here is the one whose coming he proclaims, seeking baptism at his hands. But John obeys, and as he immerses Jesus in the waters of repentance the Father's voice reveals to him Who it is he has baptised. The Baptizer who baptizes in water has baptized the Paraclete, the Anointed Advocate of humanity, who baptizes with Spirit and fire.

The Spirit of Life hovered over the primordial waters. Now the Word incarnate, the One Anointed with the Holy Spirit descends into the Jordan's living waters, living but tainted as all this world has become, to restore, to renew, to revivify and sanctify, making the element water once more a sign and vehicle of God's presence. Christ's descent into the Jordan begins the re-creation of matter.

"may your Kingdom come, may your will be accomplished on earth as in heaven ..."

At the voice of the one crying in the desert, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord’, you came, Lord, having taken the form of a servant, asking for Baptism, though you did not know sin. The waters saw you and were afraid. The Forerunner trembled and cried out, saying, ‘How will the lamp enlighten the Light? The servant place his hand on the Master? Saviour, who take away the sin of the world, make me and the waters holy’.

SOME SCRIPTURES, ON THE THEME:

quote:
Reading from the Prophecy of Isaias.[35,1-10]

Thus says the Lord: Thirsty desert rejoice, let the desert exult and flower like a lily. And the deserts of Jordan will flower and be overgrown and exult. And the glory of Lebanon has been given to it and the honour of Carmel. And my people will see the glory of the Lord and the majesty of God. Be strong, enfeebled hands and palsied knees. Give comfort and say to the faint-hearted, ‘Be strong and do not fear. See, our God is giving judgement and will give it. He himself will come and save us. Then the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf will hear. Then the lame will leap like a deer and the tongue of stammerers will speak clearly, because water has broken out in the desert and a channel in a thirsty land. And the waterless land will become pools and there will be a spring of water for the thirsty land. There will be joy of birds there, folds for flocks and reed beds and pools. And there will be a pure way there, and it will be called a holy way, and no one unclean may pass along it. There will be no unclean way there. But the scattered will walk upon it and not go astray. There will be no lion there, nor will any evil wild beasts go up on it or be found there. But the redeemed and gathered by the Lord will walk on it. And they will return and come to Sion with joy and exultation, and everlasting joy will be upon their head. And on their head praise and exultation and joy will possess them. Pain, grief and sighing have fled away.

quote:
Reading from the Prophecy of Isaias. [55,1-13]

Thus says the Lord: You that thirst, go for water. And as many of you as have no money, make your way and buy. And eat and drink wine and fat without money and price. Why do you spend money on what is not food, and toil for what does not satisfy? Hear me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in good things. Give heed with your ears and follow in my ways. Listen to me and your soul will live among good things. And I will make an eternal Covenant with you, the sure mercies of David. See, I have given him as a testimony among the Nations, a ruler and commander among the Nations. See, Nations who do not know you will call upon you, and peoples who are not acquainted with you will take refuge with you, for the sake of the Lord your God and the Holy One of Israel, because he has glorified you. Seek the Lord, and when you find him, call upon him. But when he comes near you, let the impious abandon his ways and a lawless man his plans. And return to the Lord and you will find mercy, and cry out, for he will abundantly forgive your sins. For my plans are not like your plans, nor are my ways like your ways, says the Lord. But as far as heaven is from earth, so far is my way from your ways and your thoughts from my mind. For as rain or snow comes down from heaven and does not return until it has saturated the earth and it brings forth and sprouts and gives seed to the sower and bread for food, so will my word be. Whatever comes out of my mouth will not return to me empty, until everything that I wished has been fulfilled. And I will make my ways and my commands prosper. You will go out with gladness and be taught with joy. For the mountains and hills will leap up, welcoming you with joy, and all the trees of the field will clap with their branches. And instead of brambles cypress will come up, and instead of nettles myrtle will come up. And there shall be for the Lord a name and an everlasting sign, and it will not fail.

quote:
Reading from the Prophecy of Isaias.[12,3-6]

Thus says the Lord: Draw out water with gladness from the wells of salvation. And you will say in that day, Sing to the Lord and cry out his name. Proclaim among the Nations his glorious deeds, remind them that his name has been exalted. Sing to the name of the Lord, for he has done great things. Proclaim these in all the earth. Exult and be glad, you that dwell in Sion, because the Holy One of Israel has been exalted in the midst of her.

Empiress
Registered Member

Date Joined Jan 2002
Total Posts : 363

Posted 1/6/2003 9:15 PM (GMT -6)

Al,

Thanks for this post! I simply adore that icon because it was the only image that hung in my room while I was on retreat at a Candolese Monastery before I took vows to become a lay Franciscan several years ago. I spent a number of hours meditating on it and it really spoke to me of God's vulnerability...much how I felt at the time.

It's late here on the West coast and I'm off to pray Compline and the assigned Epiphany lections. Blessed Theophany to you!

~E

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