Monday, December 26, 2016

Today's Hymn
O come, all ye faithful,
joyful and triumphant;
O come ye; O come ye to Bethlehem!
Come, and behold him,
born the King of angels!
O come, let us adore him;
O come, let us adore him;
O come, let us adore him,
Christ, the Lord!

True God from true God,
Light from light eternal,
born of a virgin, a mortal he comes;
very God, begotten, not created!
O come, let us adore him;
O come, let us adore him;
O come, let us adore him,
Christ, the Lord!

Sing, choirs of angels;
sing in exultation;
sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God, all
glory in the highest!
O come, let us adore him;
O come, let us adore him;
O come, let us adore him,
Christ, the Lord!

Yea, Lord, we greet thee,
born this happy morning;
Jesus, to thee be all glory given;
Word of the Father,
now in flesh appearing!
O come, let us adore him;
O come, let us adore him;
O come, let us adore him,
Christ, the Lord!

John Francis Wade’s “O Come, All Ye Faithful” (tune: Adeste Fideles)
trans. Frederick Oakeley
from Glory to God: The Presbyterian Hymnal

Reflection
On the day after Christmas Day, awash in the afterglow of family, food, and festivity, it is easy for many of us to feel as though another Christmas season has officially passed. Presents have been opened, services have been attended, and we have paused for our due diligence at the foot of the manger. Our liturgical calendar, though, asks us to stay a bit longer—to continue to revel with joy over these twelve days of Christmastide until we reach Epiphany.

Our text today—a well-known, triumphant Christmas hymn—urges us to do just that: to come, to stay, and to revel. In the Christ child we have seen the miracle of God’s love made flesh, a fulfillment of promises given long ago, and a reminder of promises yet to be realized. O come, let us indeed adore him!

Yet in this season when many of us pause and reflect, particularly on the cusp of a new year, we hope too that our experience of Christmas will sustain and guide us moving forward. We come, not just to observe Christ’s light, but to reflect it as well. The candles of our faith are lit once again as a new year emerges. So may joy and hope shine brightly within us not just in this Christmastide season, but in this year to come.

Prayer
Holy God, we thank you for the gift of a light that shines out in the darkness, hope in the face of uncertainty, and the promise of peace in a world that is troubled. Help us reflect in our daily living the depth of love found in the Christ child, and inspire us once more to work toward the coming of your kingdom. Amen.

Written by Matt Helms, Associate Pastor for Children and Family Ministry

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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