This is the Fifth Day of Christmas
Eucharistic Gospel Reading for the First Sunday after Christmas Day
“But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God” (John 1:12)
That’s what I want to be, “Child of God.” I believe all of humanity are children of God already. I just don’t think I fully understand the power of believing.
I believe, not just in God, but also in God’s heavenly realm where saints dwell in light everlasting. Such a place includes Nicholas, Bishop of Myra. Therefore, I believe in Santa Claus and that Santa Claus still lives in light everlasting. Such a place also includes Saints John (both the Baptist and the Evangelist), Saint Paul, Saint Peter, Saints Mary, (mother of Jesus), and Mary Magdalene, (servant of our Lord), and many other prophets and saints who have gone before.
Receiving and believing in God walking among us in human form is the Christian path that teaches us to love God and to love all of our brothers and sisters. We are a blended family. We don’t all look alike, we don’t speak the same language and we don’t all live in the same place on this earth, our island home. But, we are brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, God Incarnate.
While serving in the Marines I circumnavigated the earth six times. Later, as a priest, I was blessed to travel to Israel and see the land that Jesus himself walked, taught, fed and healed. I have personally seen Mohammed Ali, Martin Luther King Jr. and Ronald Reagan, and a great multitude of people whose name no one knows, save God. Even in our diversity, we are all the same; the good and the bad.
There is a story about a dying father who sees his two sons before he passes. He tells the first son, “I’ll see you later.” He tells the second, “Bye my son.” We are all the same, the good and the bad. But as children of God we have the opportunity to be good and to see our brothers and sisters later. We must first believe and then act accordingly.
Believers of the Word are servants of our Lord. The power of faith or belief is a Christmas gift from the Word of God that has always been with God and is God. Thank You Lord Jesus. Merry Christmas: Day 5.
A Let us pray: First Sunday after Christmas Day (BCP p. 213)
Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
onewhoponders 