Pastor’s Corner – December 28, 2023
Matthew and Luke tell the birth stories of Jesus. In Mark’s gospel Jesus is introduced as an adult who comes to John for baptism in the Jordan. The gospel writer John begins his narrative by going back to the very beginning, the moment of creation.
John mimics Genesis chapter one with his opening line: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things came into being through the Word.
John identifies Christ, as the Word, the logos in Biblical Greek. Christ is the Divine wisdom and agent of creation, who was pre-existent with God from the beginning. This identity takes on a purposeful affirmation in the 14th verse of John’s opening chapter: And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. Furthermore, the result of this purpose is summarized as the prologue to John’s gospel comes to a close: From Christ’s fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
The music, festivities, feasts, decorations, presents, and parties of Christmas are fun. They come with anticipation and then they are gone for another year. John reminds us of something more enduring—the wise and creative presence of Christ who fills our lives with grace, the unconditional love of God.
Soon enough we will pack into storage the signs and symbols of Christmas, but the grace of Christ never goes out of season. Christ shines a light into the new year; a light of Divine love that warms us with forgiving love and leads us with a joyful Spirit of compassion.
Christmas blessings,
Marc
