Christian Reflection and Prayer

By Rev. Wayne Palmer

Scripture

Read John 1:19-28.

"Make straight the way of the Lord" .
(John 1:23b)

It's easy to pass by the manger scene
without giving it any thought. All we see
is a small human baby lying in a manger.
But this Baby is the mighty God who
created all the heavens and the earth.
His mother feeds Him and changes His
diapers, but He provides food for all His
creatures and holds all the stars in place.
His foster-father Joseph guards His life,
but He commands the wind and the
waves.

As this small Baby grows to manhood
this same wonder continues. He who
formed the mountains and valleys learns
to be a carpenter in Joseph's shop. He,
who spread out the galaxies in the
universe, walks from place to place
teaching and proclaiming God's Kingdom
to all. He, who commands all the forces
of nature, surrenders Himself to be
arrested, beaten, whipped and nailed to
a cross. And it is through His bitter
suffering and death He wins our pardon,
forgiveness and peace.

Why did He do it all? Why did He set
 aside His majesty, glory and power and
come to live in our world? He did it
because of His intense dedication to His
Father, who loved the world so much
He gave His only-begotten Son to save
us, and because of His own undying love
for you and for all people.

Our Savior still comes to us in the same
quiet, mysterious way today. He invites
you to His Church where you
will hear His ancient Word and learn more
about Him who gave His all for you. There
He will prepare you to celebrate His birth
with a profound joy, peace and hope.

Prayer:

Son of God, Your birth is a profound
mystery: God became human to live with
us. Open my mind to hear Your Word of
salvation and to believe You are God's Son,
my only Savior. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

By Rev. Wayne Palmer

Scripture:

Read John 1:6-8.

There was a man sent from God, whose
name was John. ... He was not the light,
but came to bear witness about the light.
(John 1:6, 8)

Reflection:

Have you ever taken a close look at a
manger scene? There are a bunch of
figures all gathered together: Mary and
Joseph, the shepherds and the wise men,
perhaps even some sheep, camels and a
donkey. Usually they aren't placed in little
groups talking among themselves. Instead,
they're focused on that Baby whose birth
brought them all together in that place.

What if you were one of the characters in
that manger scene this Christmas? Would
you be focused on the Christ Child like the
others, or would your attention be somewhere
else? Would you be gazing out to the side,
staring at the Christmas tree and all the
presents lying under it? Would you be
scanning the kitchen and dining room thinking
about Christmas dinner? Would you be staring
into the family room where friends are gathered
for a Christmas party?

All those things are great parts of Christmas,
but only one thing belongs in the center as the
focus of our Christmas celebrations. That is
God's Son, born on Christmas day. The mighty
God became one of us and came into our world
to share our life, to suffer and die in our place,
and to rise to life again to guarantee our eternal
future.

His birth brings joy, hope, comfort and peace
to all our Christmas celebrations. He is always
with us to provide our needs and protect us from
all harm until the Last Day when He will come in
glory to bring us to our everlasting home.

PRAYER:

Son of God, Christmas holds so
many distractions. Please focus my mind and
heart on Your birth so every part of my Christmas
celebration will be more meaningful. Amen.

Fourth Sunday Sunday of Advent

[Light the first three candles of the
Advent wreath.]

After the angel came to Mary and told
her that she would conceive the child
in her womb and would call him Jesus,
Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the
Lord; let it be with me according to your
word." (Luke 1:38)

And Mary sings her Song of Praise:

…My soul magnifies the Lord…he has
scattered the proud

   …He has brought down the powerful
from their thrones

     …He has lifted up the lowly

       …He has filled the hungry

         …He has provided for the poor
(Luke 1:46-55).

We marvel at Mary, the mother of the Messiah,
herself a single, teenage mother, herself poor
and powerless. But she understood that the
baby she would call Jesus was sent, not just
to her, but to the world…
…To the hungry
   …To the weak
     …To the very young and the very old
       …To those who suffer or are in pain.

[Light the fourth candle of the Advent wreath.]

We light this fourth candle to remember Mary,
the mother of Jesus. May the light of this candle
also remind us that the light of Jesus shines
for everyone.

COME, LORD JESUS. AMEN