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December 26, 2017

Love Is Born

Becca Stevens, Don Welch   |   Read Psalm 148:1-14

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Lectionary Week
December 25–31, 2017
Scripture Overview

Ecstasy over the Christmas miracle binds these passages together with unrestrained joy over what God has done and over who God is. The God whom these texts celebrate is a God who reigns in strength and whose activity on behalf of humankind is timelessly ancient. As worshipers, we join in rejoicing over the coming of the messenger “who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns’” (Isa. 52:7). We also celebrate “the LORD, for he is coming to judge the earth . . . with righteousness, and . . . equity” (Ps. 98:9). Then a note of immediacy is struck by the focus on what God has done just now, in these “last days,” in which “he has spoken to us by a Son” (Heb. 1:2). The One who was present at Creation, the eternal Word, “became flesh and lived among us” (John 1:14).

Questions and Suggestions for Reflection

• Read Isaiah 52:7-10. Where do you see signs of God’s peace amid the world’s brokenness?
• Read Psalm 98. Where in your life has a new beginning come most startlingly from an ending?
• Read Hebrews 1:1-12. When you next celebrate the sacrament of Holy Communion, re ect on how God has brought healing to your life.
• Read Luke 2:22-40. When have you been surprised by an inbreaking of God’s extraordinary love in an ordinary moment?

Respond by posting a prayer.

Psalm 148:1-14

1 Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from heaven! Praise God on the heights! 2 Praise God, all of you who are his messengers! Praise God, all of you who comprise his heavenly forces! 3 Sun and moon, praise God! All of you bright stars, praise God! 4 You highest heaven, praise God! Do the same, you waters that are above the sky! 5 Let all of these praise the LORD’s name because God gave the command and they were created! 6 God set them in place always and forever. God made a law that will not be broken. 7 Praise the LORD from the earth, you sea monsters and all you ocean depths! 8 Do the same, fire and hail, snow and smoke, stormy wind that does what God says! 9 Do the same, you mountains, every single hill, fruit trees, and every single cedar! 10 Do the same, you animals—wild or tame you creatures that creep along and you birds that fly! 11 Do the same, you kings of the earth and every single person, you princes and every single ruler on earth! 12 Do the same, you young men—young women too! you who are old together with you who are young! 13 Let all of these praise the LORD’s name because only God’s name is high over all. Only God’s majesty is over earth and heaven. 14 God raised the strength of his people, the praise of all his faithful ones that’s the Israelites, the people who are close to him. Praise the LORD!

Unless otherwise indicated, scripture quotations are from the Common English Bible. Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible. Used by permission.

Glory to God in the highest,” proclaim the angels at Jesus’
birth. Birth is always a miraculous event, a happening that
evokes praise for our Creator and brings forth new life.

The angels’ proclamation echoes an ancient Hebrew call to
praise! In today’s passage, the psalmist exhorts all of creation...

Subscribe to Continue Reading

God, we praise your holy work. Help us bend our will in reverence to all creation, express gratitude for the life to which you have given birth, and remain dedicated to faithful stewardship in our life among all life. Amen.


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