Scripture – Isaiah 52:7–10, Psalm 98, Hebrews 1:1–12, and John 1:1–14
The psalmist exclaimed that the Lord will come to judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with equity, steadfast love, and faithfulness. We rejoice! The Lord has come!
Isaiah heralded the feet of the messenger who announces peace, the good news of the reign of God, the salvation of God to the ends of the earth. We rejoice! The messenger has arrived!
John testified that the life that was to be the light of all people, shining in the darkness, was to come and live among us full of grace and truth. We rejoice! The light has dawned!
The writer of Hebrews proclaimed the coming firstborn son, who would love righteousness and hate wickedness, whose kingdom will be forever. We rejoice! The Son is born!
On this day we come to the holy manger. Like the shepherds and the Magi we would bring our gifts to the one born prince of peace: the gift of faithfulness as we engage in peacemaking with justice; the gift of obedience as we worship and proclaim Christ’s lordship and love; the gift of moral witness as we work for justice, peace, and compassionate world order.
Prayer
We behold the wonder of this day, O Father, the gift of the Christ-child. Judge us with mercy, grant us internal peace, illumine our minds with truth, and grant that we may be called peacemakers, your children. Amen.
The Rev. Robert F. Smylie, former director, Presbyterian United Nations Office, retired, Tinton Falls, New Jersey
Order Proclaiming the Good News of God's Peace.