For Sunday, December 27 2020, Readings: Isaiah 61:10-62:3, Psalm 147,
Galatians 3:23-25; 4-4-7; John 1:1-18
For the earth brings forth its shoots, and
as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up...For Zion's sake I will not
keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest...
[Isaiah
61:11a; 62:1a]
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, for me, of the
mysterious opening, known as the Prologue, 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 as Jesus, in theological terms. [Theos comes
from the Greek for God, theology is the study of God] 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 to the world.
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 enjoy the ageless
story of the Epiphany and proceed soon after to be led through the
woes of Lent and into the Passion of 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 in difficult times, and allow
ourselves to be open and accepting, we will know Jesus as the Light in our
hearts that darkness cannot overcome. We begin, again and still, to welcome
Jesus, the Christ, our Savior and Redeemer, the Word of all
Words, as we, too, are re-born, refreshed, and filled with joy.
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
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
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
hearts together to pray for those in need… add your own petitions
Creator, Redeemer, Sanctifier
May
our lives reflect Your Light and Glory
~
O God of All That Is, Seen and Unseen, exchange the darkness of grief for joy and celebration, for
all who have gone ahead now live again, complete in the brilliant light and
radiant joy of Your eternal life. We pray especially for… add your own petitions
Creator, Redeemer, Sanctifier
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… add your own petitions
Creator, Redeemer, Sanctifier
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 the unwavering faith to walk together as constant
witnesses of Christ Jesus, our Saving Lord. We pray especially
for: add your own petitions
Creator, Redeemer, Sanctifier
May
our lives reflect Your Light and Glory
The Celebrant adds: Holy
Triune God: Lord, Word, and 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, in 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 Omnipotent Creator, who together,
reign as One God, now and forever. Amen.
