O Come, O Wisdom

Posted on December 17, 2015 by David Nuottila

Matthew 25_10

Matthew 25:1-13

Assembled by the early Church, the O Antiphons signal the Octave of Christmas, the eight days before the Nativity of our Lord. The ringing of steeple bells and the singing of antiphons, at the beginning of vespers, alerts the world to the celebration of God’s saving grace come to earth in the form of God’s Word made flesh. Emmanuel, God is with us.

With the first of the O Antiphons, we pray for wisdom to be made manifest through God’s goodness and mercy. It is Wisdom which was present since the day of Creation (Sirach 24: 8-12). Wisdom leads us in godly living (James 3:17), and helps Christians to discern God’s will (Ephesians 5:15-17). Wisdom is the foundation of fear of the Lord, of holiness, or right living. Wisdom teaches God’s people prudence.

At the beginning of the Octave of Christmas, the cry “Come, O Wisdom!” is repeated again and again by God’s hope-filled people, in preparation for the coming again of our Lord Jesus Christ. We know not the day of the hour, but we have the assurance of God’s promise. And so the Church sings:

O Come O wisdom from on high,
Embracing all things far and nigh;
In strengthened beauty come and stay;
Teach us your will and guide our way.

O Come, O Come Emmanuel v. 2 Traditional

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From Water into Wine

Posted on July 17, 2015 by David Nuottila

John 2_11

John 2:1-11

The miracle of Jesus turning water into wine gives us a glimpse of God’s redeeming power. When we hear this account of one of Jesus’ first signs, we are drawn to the water itself, that which became wine. One thing we often overlook is the vessel in which the water was poured. These clay jars, large as they may be, had one purpose, to contained water used for purification before sitting down for a meal. Simply put, they were used to hold water to wash one’s hands and feet. Upon the water’s transformation into wine, these vessels had a much different purpose; to hold and pour out that which God had made to reveal his glory.

In the beginning, our earthly bodies, these vessels of clay, had one intended purpose, to glorify God. Yet, through humanity’s fall into sin, our earthly bodies have become less that what God intended. Through Christ, we are redeemed, transformed and made new. As we are washed in the waters of Holy Baptism, we become vessels with a purpose; to glorify God. The power of the risen Christ is the power that saves and transforms. Through Christ Jesus, God redeems us, transforms us and calls us to pour out the good news of his grace.

Prayer: Redeeming God, through Christ you make all things new. Make us vessels of your grace and cause us to share the power of your love. Amen.

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Pray and Believe

Posted on July 16, 2015 by David Nuottila

Pray and Believe

Mark 11:12-25, 2 Corinthians 1:1-7, Lamentations 1:1-2, 6-12

We don’t have to look far to see the fading glory of a once great city. Many cities once boasted of extraordinary things, yet fell into ruin. In their glory days, citizens could look toward a promising future while enjoying abundant life. Our landscape is dotted with communities that trusted the empty promises of a world whose mantra is eat, drink and be happy. The king of Assyria made such promises to Jerusalem during the reign of Hezekiah. “Make your peace with me…then each one of you will eat of his own vine, and each one of his own fig tree” (2 Kings 18:31).

Chasing after worldly things brings decay and death. Even as the fig tree bears the promise to provide food, there are limits to its ability to bear fruit. Out of season, the fig tree cannot provide food. There can be no doubt; the world’s promises are shallow at best. Yet in Christ there is hope.

Jesus taught crowds about the fullness of God’s kingdom. Loving God above all else and seeking his kingdom first, leads to the certainty of life filled eternally with peace and joy. God’s promises are sure, so sure that, through baptism into Christ, God makes his people inheritors of his kingdom. And so Jesus says, “Whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

Prayer: Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, and his mercy endures forever. Amen.

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Because He Lives

Posted on July 8, 2015 by David Nuottila

The Lords Table

John 11:30-44

Once, a Sunday school teacher showed her class a picture of famous people gathered around God’s table in heaven. The teacher then asked, “Where are you in this picture?” The children were puzzled. Finally, a boy spoke up saying, “We can’t be in the picture, we’re not dead yet.” Such an understanding presents the resurrection as a distant and future reality.

Jesus’ announcement, “I am the resurrection and the life,” teaches us that the resurrection is closer than we may realize. Because of sin, every moment of human life occurs in the face of death. Yet, by grace through faith in Christ Jesus, our sins are forgiven and death has lost its sting. Therefore, the resurrection is not some far off point in time that we await; it is a present reality for those who know Christ as Lord and Savior. Because he lives, we too shall live.

In their grief, Mary and Martha see only the earthly picture, the one in which their brother Lazarus is missing. Jesus invites us to gaze upon the heavenly picture and to take our place at God’s table gathered with the saints of every time and space.

Prayer: Eternal God, we give you thanks for raising your people from death to life, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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A New Beginning

Posted on July 6, 2015 by David Nuottila

Let there be light

Genesis 1:1-5, John 1:1-4

Holy Scripture teaches God’s children that, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” In the beginning there was nothing but darkness, yet God brought forth light. In the beginning there was no dry land, no animals or creatures of any kind, yet God caused rains to fall, plants to sprout and he filled the earth with animals, the seas with fishes and the skies with birds of every kind.

In the beginning, God created the first humans in his very image and likeness. God created the humans for one another, and gave them the task of tilling and keeping his beautiful garden. In the beginning, our vocation was to love God and care for all he had made. And so it has been since the beginning.

Today marks a new beginning, one more opportunity to begin the day with thankful praise, one more moment to pause and reflect on God’s Word, one more instance in which we may begin the new day following our Lord Jesus and his commandment to love God and love neighbor. We begin this new day, dwelling in God’s Word of life, and living in the light of his love.

Prayer: In the beginning, O Lord, you created the heavens and the earth. Fill us with your light, that we may dwell in your love forever. Amen.

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