25-Dec-23 (John 1:1-14)

The idea of Jesus being Emmanuel (God with us) is often difficult to get our minds around. Theologians have argued since John wrote the words we heard earlier just exactly what they mean so I'm not going to try to define it absolutely.
There is one thing though: To see Jesus; to really see Jesus, is to know God. Jesus shows us the essential parts of God's character so we can know what we can know about the unsearchable and unfathomable. But here is an interesting thing that John write too: " to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God". In other words, for those of us who believe in Jesus, we too can become people through whom other people understand who God is.
And one of the places this begins to happen is here at the Table. At the Table, we remember who Jesus is and most importantly how he gave himself fully to show us who God is. At the Table, we commit ourselves to following Jesus and becoming like him so that others can learn through us.
Let's pray about that.

Prayer:

God, who calls to be your children; your representatives; carriers of your image in this world, help us remember Jesus, and in the remembering become more like Jesus.
We thank you for these emblems before us, the bread and the cup, that remind us of how much Jesus gave to show your love to us. As we take them into ourselves, rekindle our resolve; rekindle the Holy Spirit in us, that we will carry your love into our world.
In the name of Jesus, our Christ, AMEN