December 23, 2022

Signs of Our Time

Heather Murray Elkins | Read Isaiah 52:7-10

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Lectionary Week

December 19–25, 2022

Scripture Overview

Joy over the Christmas miracle is the theme that binds this week’s passages together—unrestrained joy over what God has done and over who God is. These texts celebrate a God who reigns in strength and brings peace and light—the beginning of a new reality. As worshipers, we join in rejoicing over the coming of the messenger “who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns’” (Isa. 52:7) and the angel who brings “good news of great joy for all the people” (Luke 2:10). We celebrate with all the earth by singing a new song (Ps. 96:1). 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 9:2-7. What or who in your life helps you to continue to walk in the world’s darkness?
Read Psalm 96. How do you join the earth in joy and worship? How does this allow you to shout for joy and sing to the Lord a new song?
Read Luke 2:1-20. Advent reminds us of Jesus’ bridging the gap between God and humanity. How does this reality change the way you experience the world?
Read John 1:1-14. Reflect on the incarnation of God in the form of a baby. In what ways does this influence the way you see and understand God’s nature?

Respond by posting a prayer.

For me, Christmas day is filled with the sound of feet. Little feet, eager feet, can’t-sleep-anymore feet dance down the hall searching for a tree or happy things in boxes. These are the happy-feet sounds in my memory, but this is also the undertone that can become an undertow to...

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Emmanuel, may my soul be jubilant and my feet be swift to answer. Amen.

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