Reading
When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road. (Matthew 2: 9-12) Reflection It’s a little hard to imagine such a star. So bright that the wisemen knew exactly where to go. So clear that there was no question about the path they were to take. So bold that there was no question which star in the sky they were to follow. It was the beginning of our understanding of a light shining in the darkness. It’s why, more than 2000 years later, we still light candles and hang strings of lights to brighten the shortened, dark days of the bleak mid-winter. We even occasionally go full-on Clark Griswold and light up the entire neighborhood. Because a little bit of light dispels the darkness. And when light shines in the darkness, the darkness does not overcome it. + --Sarah Hershberger Prayer Gracious God we also ask that you help bring true justice to your world. Help the leaders of all nations make decisions that would glorify you and your plan of love and mercy. We pray, God, that you watch over troops from all nations, both friend and foe, and aid in bringing clarity to situations that are so very murky. Amen. Our devotions are based on this Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The RCL is a three-year cycle of readings telling the story of our Christian faith and corresponding to the season church calendar. On any given Sunday, we are hearing and praying and examining the same Scripture with millions of Christians around the world. In our current Year C, the Old Testament readings progress through the Prophets and have the theme of the day that it is connected to the Gospel reading. The Psalm, a song the congregation sings in response to the Old Testament reading, most often corresponds to the theme of the Hebrew Lessons and/or that of the Gospel Lesson. The lesson from the Epistles or from Acts typifies the church’s focus on the meaning of Christ for today. The Gospel lesson is connected to the season of the Church Year. This year, our gospel readings are from Luke, who writes that Jesus is the universal Savior and the perfect Son of Man. In the current season of Christmas focuses on God within our lives. Our devotions this year were developed to look at the parts of the nativity scene.
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