Matthew's Message for December 22, 2023

It is fitting that we gather on Christmas Eve to declare that Jesus is the light of the world. That the light shines into the darkness and that the darkness does not overcome it.

 

Over the last four weeks we have been centering our worship on the ways that we can reflect the sacred into the world around us. We do so recalling that even though Jesus is the light of the world, we are also told by Jesus, “You are the light of the world.” You are the light of the world when you make the statement through your words and actions that the God of refugees, exiles, and migrants still shines light in today’s darkness. You are the light of the world when you speak truth to power. You are the light of the world when you declare that God is still at work today.

 

I recently came across this poem from “Meister Eckhart’s Book of Secrets.” I think that it strikes upon the mystery of Christmas. A time when we remember that Jesus was born in a manger and is born anew in our hearts.

 

Christmas Poem

Why do we assume

that God became

human only once,

in the incarnation?

Not so.

God becomes human

here and now just

as he did then.

Why is this?

So that he might

give birth to you,

too, as his only

begotten son.

 

Join us on Christmas Eve at 4pm in the Albany Park Ministry Center for a candlelight service declaring that Christ is born again in our hearts.

 

Peace,

Matthew