2010 Advent-Christmas-Epiphany Devotions

SECOND SUNDAY OF CHRISTMAS
Jerry Hopkins

Light all the candles of the Advent Wreath.

Read John 1:10-18

The shepherds have gone. The angels are back in the heavens. In one short week, the lectionary introduces to broader context of what we have experienced as Christmas. John brings us face to face with cold hard truth of the Christ event—the world goes on as if nothing special happened.

The creative Word of God was in the world, had always been in the world. In fact, the world came into being through this Word. In the beginning, God brooded over the chaos and called forth through his Word, saying “Let there be…” heavens, earth, life--and it happened. John identifies this creative Word as Jesus Christ. John, had witnessed this creative love of God as the person Jesus Christ in Jesus’ ministry of preaching, healing, and gathering the little ones to receive his creative power.

John brings us face to face with the reality that God and his Word, Jesus Christ, confront the world, but God’s very creation does not know him. More than this, Jesus Christ, came to God’s covenant people, and Yahweh’s own people would have nothing to do with him. Jesus Christ, the Word, was born as a human. He lived among God’s covenant people Israel. As Moses had delivered the law to Israel, Jesus delivered grace and truth. He revealed in his life and actions the glory of God’s love and a glimpse at the very face of God. He made God known wherever he found himself. He was not recognized but by few as the Son of God.

A week after Christmas we are faced with the reality that for most of the world, the echo’s of Hark the Herald Angel’s Sing, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wA_YmII8MYw, is not resounding in their ears, nor is the miracle of God’s love appearing in the person of a small baby stirring their souls, nor is the experience of Immanuel (God with us), felt in the fellowship of our congregation at this joyous season, motivating their actions. As John says, “No one has ever seen God.” Most of the world has not recognized Jesus Christ, the Word, in its midst. On this second day of this New Year, we are faced with the reality that God has for so long faced—most of the world knows him not.

Confronted with this reality, we who have experienced the glory of Jesus Christ, who have received grace upon grace, who have felt the love of God creating now possibilities in our lives, who have experienced new life in him, are called to show each person we meet this Jesus Christ. We who have had God made known to us are to witness to this Jesus Christ so that others may know grace and love, so that all may see the face of God. Likewise, we as a church, the Body of Christ, are called to make God’s grace and love known in our community, our nation, and our world. We are now to be God’s Word.

Prayer
God the creator,
breathe into us your creative Word,
that we may love in such a way
that new possibilities are created
for those who have no hope.
Give us your power to be graceful
so that our kindness and attentiveness
may cause the presence of Jesus Christ to be known
in our meetings with family, friends,
co-workers, neighbors,
during this coming year.
In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Next - Epihany of the Lord >>

Updated March 13, 2011