God is Among Us Now John 1:6-8, 19-28 Today John the Baptist is on the stage again bearing witness to the coming of one greater than him.  Of course we recognize him in the Gospel as a forerunner to the coming of Jesus, who was to be called Emmanuel, God with us. It is the way that we see God being in the world as human, as one of us. We will soon celebrate the nativity of Christ, recognizing that event that happened so many years ago. The question that I struggle with today is how does God come to us now, this year, this week, this day, this very hour? How do we recognize God in our midst today? * As I struggle with these questions I think back on a book that I read a number of years ago called The Wounded Healer by Henri Nouwen.  In  the concluding chapter of the book he says that In the middle of our convulsive world men and women raise their voices time and again to announce with in-credible boldness that we are waiting for a Liberator. We are waiting, they announce, for a Messiah who will free us from hatred and oppression, from racism and war - a Messiah who will let peace and justice take their rightful place. He asks:  How does this liberator come? He found an old legend in the Talmud which may suggest to us the beginning of an answer: Rabbi Yoshua ben Levi came upon Elijah the prophet while he was standing at the entrance of Rabbi Simeron ben Yohai's cave . . . He asked Elijah, "When will the Messiah come?" Elijah replied, "Go and ask him yourself." "Where is he?" "Sitting at the gates of the city." "How shall I know him?" "He is sitting among the poor covered with wounds. The others unbind all their wounds at the same time and then bind them up again. But he unbinds one at a time and binds it up again, saying to himself, 'Perhaps I shall be needed: if so I must always be ready so as not to delay for a moment."' (Taken from the tractate Sanhedrin) The story tells us that the Messiah comes as a wounded healer as one with all those who are suffering with their wounds. He comes binding his own wound but always ready to bind others like himself. When we come as one with others who are suffering in some way as a fellow sufferer, as a wounded healer, God is in our midst. God comes as the Spirit within us and among us so that:  In our poverty we help those who are in poverty of some kind. In our experience of oppression we bring good news to those who are  oppressed in some way. In our broken heartedness we can bind the brokenhearted, In our many experiences of captivity we proclaim liberty to those who captives to whatever. In facing that which imprisons us we can bring release to those who are imprisoned in many ways. In our mourning we can comfort all who mourn  In our lonliness and isolation we can bring hope to those who experience lonliness and isolation that comes from ouar common human condition. We can act with the compassion of Christ to all those because we are at one with them as God is at with us.  * How does God come to us? We see God all around us in the compassionate life style. When does God come.  God comes now. Henri Nouwen goes on with his story from the Talmud. When Elijah had explained to Joshua Ben Levi how he could find  the Messiah sitting among the poor at the gated of the city, the Rabbi went the Messiah and said to him: "Peace unto you, my master and teacher." The Messiah answered "Peace to you, son of Levi" He asked "When is the Master coming?" "Today" he answered Rabbi Joshua returned to Elijah, who asked, "What did he tell you?" He indeed has deceived me for he said, "Today he is coming has not come." Elijah said, "This is what he told you: 'Today if you would listen to his voice' " * The voice we hear is the voice of Love and compassion.  For it is in these acts that we hear the voice of God most clearly and we see God working so noticeably at this present moment. Sometimes God comes as a surprise. Such as told in The Christmas Miracle in Gander, a true story  told by Marjorie Boutilier in the December issue of Downhome  magazine that is published monthly out of  St. John's Newfoundland.  The story was about a family that left Halifax late Christmas Eve to visit their father who was seriously ill in the Grand Falls-Windsor hospital in Central Newfoundland.  They arrived in St. John's late and after a short overnight stay with friends, they began their long journey to Grand Falls-Windsor on Christmas morning. They write: Early Christmas morning we began our journey. We drove and drove and were so anxious to stop somewhere for a cup of tea. Being Christmas Day, of course, nothing was open. But when we arrived in Gander, we noticed lights on in the Irving Gas Station & Restaurant. Hopeful, we went in. Two gentlemen greeted us, and we were quickly informed that Irving was not open for business as usual. Gander hosts a free Christmas dinner each year for the homeless, for people living alone, and for travelers - like us. We were totally overwhelmed by their hospitality and quickly sat down for a cup of tea. The place was decorated lovely for Christmas and a talented lady was playing guitar and singing carols. A delicious turkey dinner with all the trimmings (including traditional salt beef) was soon served, topped off by dessert. We chatted with the people serving the meals - all members of the community volunteering their time on Christmas morning for people like us. They also delivered meals to other people in the community who were unable to leave their homes. Our meal was served to us by Gander Mayor Claude Elliott, and he sat down and chatted with us for a bit. When we left, they presented us with boxes of chocolates and a little care package. The three of us left feeling so overwhelmed by this very special Christmas miracle - it really hit the spot as we travelled the highway to visit our ill father. Unfortunately, our father lost his battle to cancer and passed away on January 5. We will never forget our miracle on Christmas Day.... One could definitely call it a miracle and miracles like this happen every day all around us  in the compassionate acts as people minister to one another. It is interesting to note the short mention that the server sat down with them at the table and chatted with them. At that point they were not apart but the server and those being served were one. That is where God is to be found. * There are many people who have the a concept of God as afar off - a God who is completely removed from our plight as human beings.  A God who is detached and removed.  But the Birth of Christ changed that conception for us. Christmas tells of an incarnate God that dwells among us. One who joined us and took on our flesh. This is a God who knows what is like to suffer. A God who in Christ walked the way of the cross . We see in Christ a wounded healer. We still find God in our midst today. As a blind person once told a minister, "I don't need eyes to see God", nobody needs eyes to see God, not eyes but the eyes of faith - the eyes that discern Jesus making his presence among us through the servant-like ministries that are performed among us. He is with us today if we would hear His voice. You are visitor number UK Online Casinos This free counter  is supplied by Visible Counter   Connect with Deacon Sils Homelical resource   Also for more sermon and lectionary resources connect to SERMON AND SERMON LECTIONARY RESOURCES Check Out my daughter's web site CARLY'S STRENGTH THE GODDESS WITHIN MUSIC PROJECT Each year, thousands of women and children become homeless as a result of domestic violence.  "The Goddess Within" music project is designed to empower those whose lives have been affected by domestic abuse and to raise awareness of this issue. "The Goddess Within" compilation album will showcase artists and their songs, written for or relating to those escaping the cycle of violence.  The C.D. will be distributed throughout North America and proceeds from the sale of the C.D. will be donated to women's shelters. More information on the CD is available at ARTISTS FOR CHANGE My daughter Carly is featured on the album with her song The Mask.  The art for cover for the CD album is the creation of another daughter, Mary Anne Molcan. Another site to access is Ending Domestic Abuse * Mary Anne is a very talented artist.  She has a new web site called Faerie Artist where she displays her Art.   You can access her site at: Faerie Artist   Megan's Blog You can check out some of Megan's recipes and meal planning on her Blog  Food and Whine, Adventures in making food for my toughest critics, my family.