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December 30, 2017

Love Is Born

Becca Stevens, Don Welch   |   Read Psalm 98:1-9

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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 98:1-9

1 Sing to the LORD a new song because he has done wonderful things! His own strong hand and his own holy arm have won the victory! 2 The LORD has made his salvation widely known; he has revealed his righteousness in the eyes of all the nations. 3 God has remembered his loyal love and faithfulness to the house of Israel; every corner of the earth has seen our God’s salvation. 4 Shout triumphantly to the LORD, all the earth! Be happy! Rejoice out loud! Sing your praises! 5 Sing your praises to the LORD with the lyre with the lyre and the sound of music. 6 With trumpets and a horn blast, shout triumphantly before the LORD, the king! 7 Let the sea and everything in it roar; the world and all its inhabitants too. 8 Let all the rivers clap their hands; let the mountains rejoice out loud altogether 9 before the LORD because he is coming to establish justice on the earth! He will establish justice in the world rightly; he will establish justice among all people fairly.

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

Sing to the Lord a new song because of the marvelous things
God has done. God has vindicated the people. The psalmist
calls the whole earth to make a joyful noise in celebration of
God’s steadfast love and faithfulness.

I have been married to a songwriter for more than twenty-five...

God, our Creator and Sustainer, continue to be with us. We live in gratitude for and in reliance on your presence. Help us know that you are the Rock, the core of permanence when all else falls away. Amen.


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