Delicious Anticipation, Open Invitation

“See, I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to repay according to everyone’s work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they will have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates.

“It is I, Jesus, who sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.”

And let everyone who hears say, “Come.”

And let everyone who is thirsty come.

Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift.

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen.

~ Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 21

We think we're celebrating the birth of a baby... and so we are, in many (if not most) quarters. But I fear we focus on the baby because what we really celebrate is so overwhelming as to scare the bejeezus out of us if we dare to approach it with open minds and hearts.

We celebrate the open invitation: "Come."

We celebrate the dawning of a power that should knock us right out of our little partisan squabbles and bring us to our knees.

There are no restrictions on that "come." No "except for..." No one we can look at and say "Not you." Damn.

The one who broke my heart? He's in. The boss who nearly crushed my spirit and ended my pursuit of ministry? Her too. People with different clothing, language, religion? In, in, in. People whose sexual expression makes my skin crawl? They're in. The people who sent human bombs crashing into US targets on September 11? Yes, they're in.

We celebrate an inclusiveness that might turn our stomachs, make us ill, make us not want to take part. So be it. It is not up to us. It is up to the bright morning star, to choose upon whom the divine light will shine. Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift. Yes. The Spirit and the bride say, come.