Genesis 1.1-26 John 1.1-14 Now you havent had a west wing story for ages.

So I am not at all guilty to tell one this morning. It comes in a moving episode set at Christmas time in President Bartletts White House in Washington. Charlie Young the presidents personal aid asks Bartletts long time secretary why she doesnt seem to have any Yuletide cheer. Mrs Laningham explains that she once had two twin boys who had done everything together. That included differing medical school and volunteering to go to Vietnam. And it was there on a Christmas eve they died together in a fire fight at Di-nang. Well, it turns out that the actress who plays the secretarys part has herself two sons. No wonder then they felt very uncomfortable watching that episode - for them then - what had been invisible was now visible. Now I know you dont want believe this. But preachers from time to time, do give forth clichs. One of them is God is love. By that I hope they mean that one of Gods greatest attributes is love rather than love itself is God. Because when we listen to todays lessons, we are cheered by knowing that another huge characteristic of God is a passion to be creative. In other words to make the invisible - visible. We see this supremely in the world around us and the universe above us. For surely, his invisible design, purpose and even mind are beautifully arrayed in the glories of the stars and in the treasures of his good earth. And I dont know about you, but even as a scientist, I find that that very making visible what was invisible is the more beautifully described in our Genesis lesson of this morning than the more scientifically correct physics of our day. For it strikes me that the why of creation is best explained by poetry and the how by the hicks particle.

Yet as we read on in our bibles we soon see another poetic description And that is how something went wrong. Wrong at the molecular level when cells can become malignant, wrong on the cosmic level when galaxies collide and wrong on the human level when young people are killed in war and parents are bereaved. And as a result we lose our hope in the visible and our faith in the invisible. For these then to be restored, we need to see something more. We need to see a new perfection through the prevailing imperfection. We need to spy a perfection at the scientific, artistic and spiritual level. We need to behold a perfection at the level of human to human relationships. In all honesty, we need the vision of a perfection at the level of all creation reconciled, re-harmonised and reunited with its creator. And so, we need once more for the wonder of the invisible to touch down in the visible. Which leads us to a strange fact. And that is - did you know that light itself is invisible. If you dont believe me get a torch and go out on a dark night. Prop the flashlight up so that its beam goes up into the heavens. Switch on and walk a distance away. Can you see the beam? The truth is we only see light when it is reflected back to us; reflected back by wall or book or even light source. In the famous non-quotation of Michael Cain - not a lot of people know that. Yet here is how the invisible is once again was made visible.

Here is how the light of invisible perfection was seen and is seen by all who look. Here indeed is how we here and know can see the perfect will and mind of God. Since as John tells us Christ alone is the visible word of God. Christ alone makes visible how perfect we could become. But even surmounting these, Christ alone makes visible how perfect all of life will one day be. What then is the roadway from the present imperfection to that future perfection showcased and promised in Jesus? Well, even today as you turn off the A1 and enter the city of Durham its cathedral is impressive. You can imagine then how it must have appeared to pilgrim yokels living in the 11th Century who had seen nothing much larger than a single storey building. In fact, just as its Norman builders intended, for nearly a millennia, it has created an almost overpowering sense of the perfect creativity of God. For, standing as it does high above you, it appears as if a splinter of Godly splendour had come down to earth. Indeed for a thousand years its approach promises a gateway to heaven that has become visible. However there is another reaction to this cathedral today. Because, in a newly opened exhibition about this world heritage site, youngsters are asked about their thoughts on the building. One replies that it feels as if the church raps it arms around you. Now there is a perfect response for you of the invisible being made visible. Moreover there is our clue to the bridge from imperfection to perfection Since even as we worship in our own beautiful building, the way to perfection is not in its stones and mortar; the pathway to perfection is not in the words or music; the guarantee of

perfection is not even in each other. Instead that golden road lie before us there. Since our perfection lie in the invisible gift that has become visible. It lies in God wrapping his arms around us in his sacrament. It lie in a love so great for the imperfect that it gave a perfect son to do something about us. And so today if you feel the weight of the worlds imperfection - then let God wrap his perfect love around you. Just eat the bread and wine. If you feel the burden of your own imperfection - then let God wrap his visible span around you. Just eat the bread and drink the wine. If above all you feel the crush of a minds or bodys imperfection - then let God wrap his invisible dwelling place around you. Just eat the bread and drink the wine. For only then can you see the unseen - embrace the ideal and have a little taste of heaven.