A Christmas Message: The Pathos of Advent

In Him was life, and the life was the Light of mankind (John 1:4).

The Incarnation of the eternal Son is situated within human experience. In other words, “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14) means that God experienced the fulness of human experience, and humans might experience the fulness of God. Pathos is an expression of emotion, or passion. So, to speak of the pathos of Advent is to reflect on how the coming of Christ moves us towards faith in God. The pathos of Advent is illustrated in the candles of the Advent wreath. As we moved towards the celebration of Christmas, we light a candle and reflect.

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Athanasius – On the Incarnation

Athanasius of Alexandria (abt AD 296-372) is one of the most significant theologians of the golden age of patristic thought. He served as deacon and secretary to Bishop Alexander of Alexandria, and in that capacity Athanasius attended the Council of Nicaea (AD 325). With the death of Alexander (AD 328), Athanasius was elected to succeed him. He was a giant of the Faith who engaged in theological controversy and political intrigue with emperors and bishops in defense of Nicene orthodoxy. He was known as a man of fiery and uncompromising disposition, expressed in the maxim “Athanasius against the world!”

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A Christmas Sermon: The Pathos of Advent

In Him was life, and the life was the Light of mankind (John 1:4).

The Incarnation of the eternal Son is situated within human experience. In other words, “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14) means that God experienced the fulness of human experience, and humans might experience the fulness of God. Pathos is an expression of emotion, or passion. So, to speak of the pathos of Advent is to reflect on how the coming of Christ moves us towards faith in God. The pathos of Advent is illustrated in the candles of the Advent wreath. As we moved towards the celebration of Christmas, we light a candle and reflect.

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I Believe in God the Father

The Christian revelation that God is Holy Trinity is firmly established in Jesus’ commission to his disciples: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). This is remarkable when we realize that God is called “Father” less than a dozen times in the Old Testament. However, the “fatherhood” of God is woven throughout message of the New Testament. But what does it mean to confess, “I believe in God the Father?”

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