A QUOTE, A TEXT AND A PRAYER…OR TWO
A QUOTE
If, then, the sojourn of the Lord in flesh has never taken place, the Redeemer paid not the fine to death on our behalf, nor through Himself destroyed death’s reign. For if what was reigned over by death was not that which was assumed by the Lord, death would not have ceased working his own ends, nor would the sufferings of the God-bearing flesh have been made our gain; He would not have killed sin in the flesh: we who had died in Adam should not have been made alive in Christ; the fallen to pieces would not have been framed again; the shattered would not have been set up again; that which by the serpent’s trick had been estranged from God would never have been made once more His own. All these boons are undone by those that assert that it was with a heavenly body that the Lord came among us.
… St. Basil the Great (330?-379), in Letter CCLXI, to the Sozopolitans
A TEXT
And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.
1 John 2:28
AND A PRAYER…OR TWO
Father, by the leading of a star you manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth.
Lead us, who know you now by faith, into your presence, where we may see your glory
face to face. Today give us a glimpse of how truly wonderful, loving and accepting you are.
Help us to enjoy you now, tomorrow and each day. As we remember the wise men seeking
out your Son and publicly declaring to the world that He was your son, give us the freedom
to do the same. Give us the courage to adequately praise you and declare to those around
us that we are yours.
We pray all of these things through the strong name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Radiant God, light for all people and all places,
by the guidance of a star you led the Magi
to worship the Christ Child.
By the light of faith
lead us to worship you in peace and love,
and guide us in your way.
We pray in the name of Christ,
light of the world. Amen.
(by Joan McMurtry in “Voices United”)