RCL Christmas Day 3
Isaiah 52:7-10; Psalm 98; Hebrews 1:1-4; Saint John 1:1-14
“He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word.”[1]
This Christmas morning, now that the preliminary services are over, and quietness reigns, let us simply enjoy the sheer grace of the mystery of the Word who was made flesh and dwelt among us. Let us remind ourselves that his presence brings us peace. “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace.”[2] Many Christmas cards this year had the word Peace.
The beautiful beginning of St. John’s Gospel which we proclaimed this morning says that the Babe in the manger is the man who made the world. The Babe is the Word, who is God, who made everything that is, gives it form and order, infuses the entire cosmos with his wisdom and goodness. The Babe is the Word who is the true light and life of every human being. For the peace we all yearn to have comes from the maker and sustainer of all things. That peace comes from the Babe in the Manger whose very goodness and mercy withholds nothing that we truly need.
In his time, in his good time, we shall have peace. In his time, in his good time, we shall
finally understand his purpose in coming among us: to all who receive him, who
believe in his name, are given power to become children of God. In his time, in his good time, we shall have
the peace we need, the peace foretold by the prophet Isaiah when he prophesied:
“For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love
shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed, says
the Lord, who has compassion on
you.”[3]
[1] Hebrews 1:3.
[2] Isaiah 52:7.
[3] Isaiah 54:10.
hs3rd 