We need to search for treasures in the ordinary. We don't always appreciate the seemingly mundane tasks or the uniqueness of the ordinary soul. But ordinary events are gates, doors to the extraordinary. On a starlit night, which seemed to be an ordinary night, there burst forth a new Star, pointing out the resting place of a new order of Creation in a New Day. This One Who would change the course of human history forevermore was cradled in an ordinary manger in an ordinary stable.
But this was no ordinary babe. It was the birthplace of a King. A Treasure had come to a sin-sick world - a Treasure in the midst of darkness. A heavenly King, disguised in human flesh, walked among men who were ordinary. His touch became the magic that transformed ordinary lives into vessels of honor - even as ordinary water was turned into wine at the wedding at Cana. He showed us that He saves the best for last, so that our ordinary lives would no longer seem futile, but fulfilled.
We, like Nicodemus, learned that a second birth released us from the dungeon of darkness to thrust us forth into Light, into the Kingdom of His dear Son. "Seek first the Kingdom of God," He said. "Consider the lilies" -- "Let not your heart be troubled" -- "Come unto Me" -- "Go and sin no more."
He demonstrated the Power of Peace, spoken to the wind and the waves; and His cry in Gethsemane's ghetto, "If it be possible, let this cup pass from Me," poured out in blood and tears to become for us the prayer that never fails -- "Nevertheless, not My will, but Thine be done." And new meaning comes to the darkness. "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."
The grave clothes could no longer bind Him; the tomb can no longer hold Him. Darkness would no longer diffuse His Light. Human flesh no longer conceals His Glory. The wonder of His resurrection is that we too, become treasures within the darkness - for we have this treasure in our earthen vessels. Now we can proclaim with certainty, He is coming again! We rehearse His words: "In a little while you will not see me, but I am coming for you."
We see that His coming is not an end in itself, but rather, a means to an end. Our mission is to seek first His kingdom, to lose our selfishness and self-centeredness, in order that He may become in and through us, all that He desires to be. That we might be broken bread and poured out wine in celebration of a New Creation, a New Day, and a New Order of Life -- becoming echoes of praise to our generation, dispelling darkness by showing forth His Light.
His Holy Spirit strengthens us to live, to love, to proclaim, "Even so, Lord Jesus, come!"
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