January 01, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 8, 98, 99
Isaiah 62:1-5, 10-12
Revelation 19:11-16
Matthew 1:18-25

II. Selections
Psalm 99:9
Extol the LORD our God,
and worship at his holy mountain;
for the LORD our God is holy.

Isaiah 62:5b
...and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,
so shall your God rejoice over you.

Revelation 19:11
Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse! Its rider is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.

Matthew 1:21
" ...[ Mary] will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." [ An angel of the Lord to Mary]

III. Meditation: Difficult to understand, but not to extol

It is difficult to think of Mary's baby saving his people
from their sins; harder still to envision him mounted
on a white horse, come to judge and make war.
Most difficult of all to fathom is why you
would rejoice over your people, like a
bridegroom rejoicing over his bride;
for we are a rebellious people.
We cannot understand you,
for you are holy, but
we can extol your
holiness.