Opening Prayer
Gracious God, I put myself before you in this moment with waiting heart, expectant desire. Open my eyes that I may see your promise fulfilled; open my ears that I may hear your word whispered to my deepest being.
Amen.
Passage
John 1:1-5, 14
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.
Reflection - Jody Been
Jesus, the embodiment of everything God wants us to know, was wrapped in flesh and delivered to us in a manger. But that’s not where Jesus’ story starts. John’s Gospel skips the Christmas story in favor of a creation account with Christ at the center. Jesus has always existed as God and with God. He was intimately involved in the creation of literally everything. When you look outside, or at the people near you, Jesus’ fingerprints are all over them. He is the creator and the super glue that holds us, and all things, together. Jesus isn’t simply the cosmic-cleaner upper of our sin messes. He was working on your behalf long before he showed up in Bethlehem.Pause throughout the day to take in everything and everyone around you and practice gratitude toward Jesus, creator of all things.
Closing Prayer
My Lord, may all that I have seen of you and all that I have heard from your word now enflesh itself in me. Send me from this place as the incarnate promise of life to all whose life I will touch this day.
Amen.