John 1:10-18, Ephesians 1:3-14
Intro
“Years ago a psychologist named Viktor Frankl stood up to Sigmund Freud. Freud was teaching that what man wanted most in life was pleasure. But Frankl believed man wasn’t seeking pleasure as much as he was seeking a deep sense of meaning. In fact, he went on to say “When people can’t find a deep sense of meaning, they distract themselves with pleasure.”
“I believe Frankl was right. And I think it’s obvious. Everybody around us, especially during the holidays, is seeking to receive and give pleasure, but pleasure rarely satisfies. In fact, the most contented people I know have found something more satisfying than pleasure, they’ve found a humble sense of gratitude and are actively participating in work that is difficult, beautiful and good.” -Donald Miller
Blessing
Meaning is a blessing from God. It is so much deeper than pleasure and longer-lasting. Pleasure really is fleeting. We’re thinking about meaning at this time because it’s what we do when one year ends and another begins.
2015
The new year has started. Our common pattern is to take a break and come back raring to go. But go on with what and in what direction? With whom and how and when?
Our reading from John’s gospel is from the prologue. A prologue is an introduction to the theme and the key elements of the story. John’s prologue tells the reader who the story is about – Jesus – and some key things about him, his character and his purpose. Jesus, says John, is God’s communication to humankind. He shows us God, makes God known to us, because he is the same as God. He has always existed. He is full of grace and truth and God’s glory. The purpose of his coming was to make God known to us and to bless us.
He is truth for there is truth and untruth, right and wrong. We got it wrong; grace put us right. We have all the blessings in the heavenly realm starting with eternal life. We don’t get eternal life by being right. We get it by being wrong, admitting that and God putting us right because we receive Jesus and believe in him, trusting him in faith to deliver on his promise of eternal life, which he does, and gives us the Holy Spirit to confirm it.
Our prologues
It’s fair enough to write the prologue after you’ve written the story, when you know how it pans out and what the themes are. This is probably what John did. He certainly knew the whole story when he wrote it. It’s also possible to write the prologue in anticipation, which is what I’m suggesting today as another way of doing the new year thing.
My prologue to the year lays out the theme and key elements of my story of 2015. Yours would do the same for you. It sets out the fundamentals I’m living by and the kind of activity I anticipate. I think it is better than new year resolutions because it not only lays out expectations for what I’m going to do this year but it also says why and how I would do them.
What’s in this year for you? What do you know is coming? What do you hope is coming? What do you hope is not coming? Where will you put your energies and how will you maintain your energies? Why? Who are you doing this for? These are all questions I’ve been considering and I invite you also to consider.
What Paul wrote to the Ephesians reminds us that we enjoy every spiritual blessing from God in our union with Christ Jesus. We were chosen by God – not our doing so no cause for pride – and now we are holy and without fault, possessors of eternal life. God enjoys making us his children. He has forgiven our sins and set us free. We have heard the true message and responded to it by believing and receiving Christ. God’s stamp or ownership, the Holy spirit, guarantees the fulfillment of all God’s promises. This is huge and for this God deserves lavish praise and all our thanks.
All this is established. This is the fundamental basis of life. In 2015 we continue to build our lives on this foundation. If you haven’t already put this foundation in place this would be a good year to do so.
Meaning and purpose
“Viktor Frankl spent most of his life studying the mystery of meaning, and he came up with a prescription for how we can experience it ourselves.
“His prescription was remarkably simple:
1. Have a project you’re working on that requires your unique skills and abilities. And preferably a project that helps others.
2. Share your experiences within the context of safe, loving relationships.
3. Find a redemptive perspective on your suffering and challenges.” -Donald Miller
3. A redemptive perspective can be found through today’s readings. You belong to God. When the time is right he will bring all creation together under Christ. Until then there is both good and bad in life. Christ suffered for us. Our suffering is akin to that of Christ. Suck it up (endure) and trust God to sort it out.
And for those things that we worry about, especially the little irritations that can bug us big time, experience tells us that most of them will turn out fine. Figure this is not a major and it’s going to be fine.
2. We all need safe, loving relationships. Nurture your relationships with such people. Don’t share deeply with those who are not safe and not loving. We need to uphold our part in these relationships by being safe, loving people ourselves. This is something to work on that will take constant attention. Let’s continue to develop in these aspects of our character. Let’s be truthful and gracious, like Jesus.
1. Do you have a project that you’re working on that requires your unique skills and abilities and benefits others? If you have then go for it. If not, now would be a good time to find it. Do you need to figure out what your unique skills and abilities are? We can help you with that. Do you need help to find an appropriate project? We can help you with that, too. You may work with others on your project (and probably will) but your contribution to the work will be uniquely yours, and you will be helping others. You will know that this is worth doing.
So, write these into your prologue to 2015 – the fundamentals of your faith and life, your redemptive perspective on suffering and challenges, your safe, loving friends, and your personal project that will use your uniqueness to the full – and go live a meaningful life in this brand new year, in faith and in the power and blessing of the Holy Spirit.