In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. . . . The Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1, 14)
Alluding to the creation of the world, John’s gospel reminds us that Jesus is no ordinary human, but a human expression of God’s presence. He is the God-Person whom we trust to reveal the truth and grace of God’s loving presence among us. In him God’s love is made real and we can learn its practical implications for life.
Love incarnate gives shape to our lives. We have been loved unconditionally and because of this gift are able to love others. We have been changed in a way that makes us agents for change.
Big news rocked the scientific community recently when the Higgs boson particle theory moved a step closer to proof. Scientists at the Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland, the world’s largest and highest-energy particle accelerator, claim to have caught a glimpse of this theoretical phenomenon. The science is too far beyond me, but if this particle is the key to explaining why physical objects have mass, it will likely lead to much deeper understanding of our world. That has scientists excited.
Leon Lederman is credited with giving the Higgs boson the nick name “the God particle.” Some argue that using this name does a disservice to the science and a disservice to religion. No doubt. But wouldn’t we love to catch even a glimpse of God at work in the creation of the world?
The fact that the Higgs boson may be the key to explaining the mystery of matter makes it parallel to understanding the mystery of God’s presence around us as a creative force that gives form and meaning to our world. It is fascinating study that presses toward empirical proof of a theory that has directed the study of physics for a number of years. What does it mean? Bob MacDonald said that we have no idea what the knowledge will lead to, but we can be sure that it will trigger the development of technologies we cannot even imagine yet.
Actually proving the existence of God is another matter. I concluded much earlier in my personal spiritual quest that God’s existence can neither be proved nor disproved through empirical study. But stepping out in faith to trust in God’s promises leads to many affirmations that God is present and still creating in this world.
Amid the distracting pressures of the season, may we all trust in the hope promised through the coming of the saviour; for he is love made human for us so that we may also love our neighbour.
May God’s love come to you full of grace and truth, to bless and keep you in God’s peace. Blessed Christmas to you from me and my family.
Pastor David, Margaret, Janaya, Renelle, Brendan
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