THE WORD 4 ev 1

Today’s Reading is Matthew 28 (click here for link)

Merry Christmas! Here we are at last, Christmas Eve. Perhaps it was the juxtaposition of Easter and Christmas this morning, but today I ask that each of you remember that you are of an entirely different order of things. You are not of this world any longer, but of the next. Whatever the world may celebrate today and tomorrow, remember what it is exactly that we observe. Our Lord—our meaning for life—is born, is risen, and is returning. We live for a very different reason than all the rest of this world.

I offer you this ancient Christmas prayer from the 10th century:

You are our eternal salvation,
The unfailing light of the world.
Light everlasting,
You are truly our redemption.
Grieving that the human race was perishing
through the tempter's power,
without leaving the heights
You came to the depths in your loving kindness.
Readily taking our humanity by Your gracious will,
You saved all earthly creatures, long since lost,
Restoring joy to the world.
Redeem our souls and bodies, O Christ,
and so possess us as Your shining dwellings.
By Your first coming, make us righteous;
At your second coming, set us free:
So that, when the world is filled with light
and you judge all things,
We may be clad in spotless robes
and follow in Your steps, O King,
Into the heavenly hall.
Again… in all that you do remember your true calling as a child of God made possible through the Son of God made flesh, Jesus Christ.

BLESSED CHRISTMAS,
Pastor Aaron

P.S. Taking seriously the command of God for Sabbath rest (and Pastor Aaron’s need for rest), we will not begin blogging through Mark until the first of the New Year. So sleep in for one week and then start the New Year right with gospel of our Lord.