Bono's Interview about Christ

As you know, I'm a big U2 fan...Here is a great link to bono talking straight up about faith...This one is an absolute gem!

Peace on Earth

One of U2's great songs (aren't they all!?!) is Peace on Earth.

It asks the obvious question: How can we read and sing "Peace on Earth" when so much of our news, our politics, and our lives are full of anything but peace?

If the Christ Child came to bring peace or to announce peace, where is it? Did God fail to deliver? Is God lying? Is God even there?

Something that I have learned is that the greatest gifts I've received are the gifts that I must do. For example, the greatest gift I received from my parents is how to love and be loved. This love is not something that is just given me...it fails to be what they taught if I only receive. The love they taught is a love that gives. What they gave me was giving. What they gave me was a giving of myself. The gift they gave was a gift I give.

I think the gift of the Christ Child is peace and goodwill; however, that peace isn't something that magically appears. It's not something that just happens.

The Peace of the Christ Child only happens when the birth of Jesus happens in our hearts and lives...when WE become peace and goodwill...when our lives and our selves offer peace.

Where is peace? It comes from the heart that receives the Christ Child. Do we want peace? We must live it! Do we want goodwill to all? Then we must live it!

"Heaven on earth...we need it now..."

May God be with the fathers and mothers who weep this Christmas for the sons and daughters lost to our insane violence. Amen.

The Church & U2: Grace

Sermon Snip-It:

It's only been in the last few years of my own faith journey that I've begun to understand the true horror of karma [the 'baggage' of bad deeds that determine who you are]. It is to me the most evil side of religion. For its result is to wall away those that we humans deem unworthy, too dirty, too bad, or unloved by God. We wall them away, cast them aside, and pretend like they are not there...all around us. And brothers and sisters, let's not pretend that we aren't doing it, too, right here in [insert where you are]...

And that's what is so amazing about the message of Jesus: No karma. That's what's so amazing about Grace: No more karma. God doesn't hate you for what you've done. You don't deserve living in a slum. No one "earned" being disabled. Grace makes beauty out of everything. It was a revolutionary idea in Jesus' day, and it's just as big an idea today.

The Church & U2: One

Sermon Snip-It:

The number one mission of the Church is to be the undoing of Babel, the curse that made one into many. The healing that flows from the Spirit of God through the Church brings the many to One.

The Church & U2: She Moves In Mysterious Ways

Sermon Snip-It:

"The Spirit moves in mysterious ways that we can't always predict or understand, but we can rest assured that the Spirit of Power is at work and moving in our lives...."

Magnificent

Magnificent by U2

Magnificent...Magnificent.

I was born...I was born to be with you.
In this space and time,
After that and ever after,
I haven't had a clue
Only to break rhyme.
This foolishness can leave a heart black and blue.

Only love, only love can leave such a mark.
But only love, only love can heal such a scar.

I was born...I was born to sing for you.
I didn’t have a choice but to lift you up...
And sing whatever song you wanted me to.
I give you back my voice.
From the womb my first cry, it was a joyful noise…

Only love, only love can leave such a mark
But only love, only love can heal such a scar.

Justified till we die, you and I will magnify...
The Magnificent...Magnificent.

Only love, only love can leave such a mark.
But only love, only love unites our hearts.
Justified till we die, you and I will magnify...
The Magnificent...Magnificent...Magnificent