Well, vacation is almost over and soon it will be time to go back to work.  Thankfully, I love my job (servant of Christ Jesus) and the people I work with (people living in God’s kingdom) are a joy to be around.  Still, it was nice to have a couple of Sundays off in order to recharge the batteries.

Worship has been wonderful these past two weeks as we were able to visit our home congregation and the church where I did my internship during seminary.  So many of the faces have changed, yet so many others are still so familiar.  Thanks be to God for their friendship and hospitality these past two Sundays.

So as the new year begins, let us take a moment to reflect on the gospel text for today (John 1:1-18).  After all, I may not have been in the pulpit this week, but text study and sermon preparation are hard habits to break.  Three things to ponder as we read about God’s Light come to earth.

See the Light – John tells us that through Jesus, God’s Word became flesh and lived among us.  He is Light for the world and the darkness cannot overcome the Light.  As foretold in Isaiah, they named him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.”  Through good times when the Light is evident, and even during periods of darkness when you feel alone, keep watch and see that Christ is with you.

Live in the Light – Through our baptism into Christ we are filled with God’s Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ.  Let us live in God’s grace, always thankful for God’s mercy and salvation.  “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him may not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

Reflect the Light – Filled with God’s Holy Spirit, let us always remember to welcome the strangers in our midst, feed the hungry, visit those who are sick or imprisoned, provide shelter for the homeless.  For as Christ tells us, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength … [and] you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:29-30)

May the Light of Christ shine upon you forever!

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