Devotional Messages

DEVOTIONAL MESSAGE

John 1:1-5 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being.  What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. (NRSV)

What makes your heart light?  What helps you not be afraid of the dark?  What brings you joy?  Are those precious things on your Christmas list?  This third week of Advent, our theme has been Joy.  With all the war and violence and corruption in the news, it can be hard to hold onto something as pure and innocent as joy.  It can feel naïve and irresponsible even to try.

But our faith brings these things together.  As Disciples, we are people who preach unity.  In these opening lines from the gospel of John, we tune into the truth that all life, all humanity, all creation, comes into being through the Life That Is Stronger Than Death, whom we call Jesus.  We are all connected.  And that shared life, the gospel tells us, brings light to all the world.

We live out this truth in many ways.  We share presents with family and friends.  We bring cookies to our elderly neighbors.  We open our doors to guests with no other home.  All of these activities are part of the practice of true joy, for they are rooted in our recognition that we are united with all God’s children and we are called to bring that unity into being.  Living out the life of Christ in these ways brings light into the world that cannot be extinguished.  And that is a source of true joy!