The Joy of the Incarnation

This is that rare year when Christmas Day occurs on a Sunday. As we have cited the birth narratives in Luke and Matthew in the two Christmas Eve services, now is the time to celebrate the joy of the arrival of the baby. The scripture is from the first chapter of John, those familiar and mysterious verses about “the Word” and its identification with God. “The Word” is described as life, the light shining into the darkness, becoming flesh and dwelling among people. Rev. Carol Cavin-Dillon points to the element of joy in our Advent trek to the nativity, recalling that the third candle of the Advent wreath represents joy. At the end of the Christmas Eve services we sing the very familiar, “Joy To the World.” She shares a number of joys she has experienced in the last few days and then presses us to recall a moment of joy in our lives and to share that with each other in the midst of the service. Joy is given to us in the birth of the Christ child, God incarnate, and that gift of joy is ours.