Sunday, December 25, 2022

Nativity of Jesus Christ

The Revised Common Lectionary passages for the Lord’s Day are:
– First Reading: Isaiah 52:7-10
– Psalm 98
– Second Reading: Hebrews 1:1-12
– Gospel Reading: John 1:1-14

The liturgical color for the day is: White

It is Christmas Day.  It is the Lord’s Day.  What do God’s people do on the Lord’s Day.  They gather together.

We worship on Sunday as weekly observation of that first day of the week when the Lord was risen—Risen, Indeed!  And, on this ONE Sunday it is also the day we celebrate the birth of Christ.  What a wonderful day for the Church to gather and rejoice.  REJOICE!

Some will be tired from a late night Christmas Eve service.  Into that tiredness, hear the Word: “And the Word became flesh and lived among us…”

Some will be exuberant about the joy of having opened gifts.  Into the exuberance, enjoy the Word: “…he gave power to become children of God…”

Some will be absent, claiming that it is a day for other things.  Let that be, and into the worship space, proclaim the Word, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.”

Some will need prayer.  They will need the prayer of the church that welcomes the present of incarnation in living these days.  “What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.”

It is Christmas Day.  The day of resurrection.  Taste and see that the Lord is good.

—

Rev. Dr. Daris Bultena
General Presbyter and Stated Clerk