St. Aidan's Anglican Church, Kansas City - weekly talks

Today is the first Sunday of Epiphany. The Church celebrates the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.

Immanuel, God with us, identifies with our darkness. Jesus, the New Joshua, slips into the crowds coming to be baptized in the river Jordan by the Baptist, and takes his place among sinners. In so doing, he completely identifies with our brokenness. He begins his ministry with this epiphany of astounding humility, entering fallen creation, standing in our place. The second great epiphany is the tearing open of the heavens, receiving the voice of the Father and the anointing of the Holy Spirit, the first great epiphany of the Holy Trinity.

In this, we are called to hear the Voice from heaven and silence the voice of shame and orphanhood. We are invited to share in the Sonship of Jesus and hear the voice within, Abba Father! We are giving a share in the same relationship which Jesus shares with his Father, we in him and he in us.

Icon: Ivanka Demchuk, Ukrainian Iconographer

Today is the first Sunday of Epiphany. The Church celebrates the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.

Immanuel, God with us, identifies with our darkness. Jesus, the New Joshua, slips into the crowds coming to be baptized in the river Jordan by the Baptist, and takes his place among sinners. In so doing, he completely identifies with our brokenness. He begins his ministry with this epiphany of astounding humility, entering fallen creation, standing in our place. The second great epiphany is the tearing open of the heavens, receiving the voice of the Father and the anointing of the Holy Spirit, the first great epiphany of the Holy Trinity.

In this, we are called to hear the Voice from heaven and silence the voice of shame and orphanhood. We are invited to share in the Sonship of Jesus and hear the voice within, Abba Father! We are giving a share in the same relationship which Jesus shares with his Father, we in him and he in us.

Icon: Ivanka Demchuk, Ukrainian Iconographer

St. Matthew weaves a dark backdrop into which Jesus is born. Herod wants to kill him and when tricked by the Magi, he vents his rage on all male children under 2 years of age. This is the reality into which God came and experienced along with us. He is not removed but deeply shares our human nature and the context in which we live ... a broken, world to be renewed.

Questions arise as to why does God tolerate such madness and St. Matthews gives us clues found in the Old Testament prophecies ... fulfillment of his long-term divine plan conceived before the foundations of the world ... the Lamb was slain so that we might be wedded in unbroken communion, an eternal state where God will be all in all. We're on the journey and Jesus is with us!

St. Matthew weaves a dark backdrop into which Jesus is born. Herod wants to kill him and when tricked by the Magi, he vents his rage on all male children under 2 years of age. This is the reality into which God came and experienced along with us. He is not removed but deeply shares our human nature and the context in which we live ... a broken, world to be renewed.

Questions arise as to why does God tolerate such madness and St. Matthews gives us clues found in the Old Testament prophecies ... fulfillment of his long-term divine plan conceived before the foundations of the world ... the Lamb was slain so that we might be wedded in unbroken communion, an eternal state where God will be all in all. We're on the journey and Jesus is with us!

First Sunday of Christmastide - The Mission of Incarnation - Fr. D.O. Smart 12-28-14 by St. Aidan's Anglican Church, KC

First Sunday of Christmastide - The Mission of Incarnation - Fr. D.O. Smart 12-28-14 by St. Aidan's Anglican Church, KC

Christmas Eve - Incarnation, God with us - Fr. D.O. Smart - 12-24-14 by St. Aidan's Anglican Church, KC

Christmas Eve - Incarnation, God with us - Fr. D.O. Smart - 12-24-14 by St. Aidan's Anglican Church, KC

The Church has thought in parallel of Adam and Christ, the Second Adam alongside Eve and Mary, the new Eve. As we explore the Annunciation in Luke's Gospel, we see that Mary's Yes to God reversed Eve's No ... Mary, the Mother of God, made the path for her and our redemption in Christ. All generations shall call her blessed, indeed!

The Church has thought in parallel of Adam and Christ, the Second Adam alongside Eve and Mary, the new Eve. As we explore the Annunciation in Luke's Gospel, we see that Mary's Yes to God reversed Eve's No ... Mary, the Mother of God, made the path for her and our redemption in Christ. All generations shall call her blessed, indeed!