For
Sunday, December 31, 2017, 1st Sunday After Christmas, Year B, Readings: Isaiah 61:10-62:3, Psalm 147,
Galatians 3:23-25; 4-4-7;
John 1:1-18
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds...The LORD lifts up the lowly, but casts the wicked to the ground. [Psalm 147:3, 6]
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law...So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God. [Galatians 4:4, 7]
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God...What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it...The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. [John 1:1-2, 3b-5, 17]
The Gospel of John
has marked differences from the other three Gospels which are known as the
Synoptic Gospels because of their similarities to each other. John's emphasis
might be thought of as more "theological" and
contains material not in the other three and, in some cases, seemingly
contradicting them. But the beauty of the mysterious opening, for me, is
something to linger with and ponder. Jesus, the Word, was with
God, and the Word was God...The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness
did not overcome it.
The Word comes from
the Greek, logos, and is usually defined - in theological
terms - as Jesus. Once we understand who the Word is, then the
Prologue [John 1:1] may be more easily comprehended in verse
14: the Word became flesh and lived among us. Jesus is the
face of God, was with God from the beginning, and was sent to be among us to
make God and God's will known.
In the 4th century, St.
Athanasius said of Jesus, He became what we are that he might make us
what he is. Paul tells us in Galatians that Jesus is faith revealed by
God. Those who followed Jesus in his time and who influenced others who came
after, have all tried to instruct us in ways to be more like him, our Christ,
the Messiah. This Child, just born, is God's promise, God's Word, with
flesh, blood, and a beating heart, like us, and that I can grasp and almost
understand. Yet the mystery of God endures, for if we do think we fully
understand God, Jesus, and the Spirit - the Triune God, the Holy Trinity - then
our god is too small.
As the Church year unfolds we
will soon be led through the woes of Lent and Holy Week until the glorious
Resurrection. In the meantime, let us savor this moment of great Birth, and
through all of the days to come let us also know that our Redeemer lives. If we
relinquish ourselves to steadfast faith, however difficult at times, and allow
ourselves to be open, Jesus is the light in our hearts that darkness cannot
overcome. Jesus is the right WORD, now and always.
LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
Leader:
~ O God of All That
Is, Seen and Unseen, into
this fullness of time You have sent our Messiah, woman-borne, to redeem us as
Your own children. Let us rejoice with our whole beings, as heirs of Your
eternal Kingdom, justified by faith, and proclaiming Christ’s grace and truth.
Creator,
Redeemer, Sanctifier God
RESPONSE: May
our lives reflect Your Light and Glory
~ O God of All
That Is, Seen and Unseen, with
the Spirit of the Son that You have sent into our hearts let us not keep silent.
Grant us courage to speak without ceasing to lawful governments and to vengeful
despots until righteousness, peace, and mercy prevail across our Earth, across
our Country, and across our Communities, great and small. We pray especially
for: add your own petitions
Creator,
Redeemer, Sanctifier God
May our lives reflect Your Light and Glory
~
O God of All That Is, Seen
and Unseen, refresh the bodies, hearts, and souls and give hope to all who
suffer serious illness, despair, or fear, and to all who give love and support.
We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need…
Creator,
Redeemer, Sanctifier God
May our lives reflect Your Light and Glory
~ O God of All
That Is, Seen and Unseen, dispel
the darkness of grief as we remember and celebrate all who have gone ahead and
now live again, complete in the radiant joy of Your eternal life. We pray
especially for:
Creator,
Redeemer, Sanctifier God
May our lives reflect Your Light and Glory
~ O God of All That Is, Seen and Unseen, we pause
in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions,
petitions, and memorials, aloud or silently…
Creator,
Redeemer, Sanctifier God
May our lives reflect Your Light and Glory
~ O God of All
That Is, Seen and Unseen, we
give You gracious thanksgiving for those entrusted to bring us Your Word and
Sacraments. Fill us all with unwavering faith that we may walk together as constant
witnesses of Christ Jesus, our Saving Lord. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
Creator,
Redeemer, Sanctifier God
May our lives reflect Your Light and Glory
The Celebrant adds: Holy Triune God: Lord, Word, & Spirit, we are created by You to be Your
fertile soil in this world. Let us each, by word and example, sow seeds of forgiveness, hope, and salvation, by grace upon grace, now and in the life to come. We ask through
Jesus, Your Word Made Flesh; the Holy Spirit, Your Sacred Breath; and our
Almighty Creator, who, together, reign as One God, now and forever. Amen.
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