Tuesday, December 27, 2022
Feast of St. John, Apostle and evangelist
Third Day of Christmas
First Day of Kwanzaa
Grandma Dot’s 99th birthday (Margaret’s mom)
(click here to listen to or read today’s scriptures)
Celebrate
They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter. He saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head rolled up in a separate place.
On Easter Sunday 1986, Marc, age 3, ran into the sanctuary after Sunday School in Waynesville, shouting over and over at the top of his lungs, “JESUS IS ALIVE!” Just like Jasper, age 3, ran back and forth toward the Christmas tree on Sunday laughing and yelling over and over, “IT’S CHRISTMAS, IT’S CHRISTMAS!” Like John, like Peter, those young boys sure know how to celebrate.
So now today is another big day to celebrate. Grandma Dot has been in the middle of this celebration since her birth day in 1923. She has trouble breathing nowadays, but she walks freely back and forth, sometimes with a cane, in the Evansville apartment where she lives with her daughter Kay. She has a fine sense of humor. She and Kay welcome visitors often, and her “pew family” at Crossroads Christian Church gave her a lovely arrangement of colorful plants at Christmas. She is the mega-church’s oldest member.
October 2021, Miles and Jasper, Andi and Kay, Dorothy
Dorothy has been a part of our lives since the beginning of Margaret’s life, of course, and since the beginning of our marriage. Our kids have visited with her every year of their lives. She has 99 years of stories to share. It is wonderful to wish her another happy birthday!
Marc and Dorothy, May 2007
The apostle John wrote three letters that we can read ourselves, because they are in the New Testament. Perhaps he wrote these to his followers, to the churches he pastored, late in his life, when he too was approaching 100. Of all Jesus’ apostles, he lived by far the longest.
Beloved: what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we looked upon and touched with our hands concerns the Word of life.
John also wrote the first words of the Gospel of John, you know, the ones who make you shiver with awe:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be.
John captured the word Logos: “The Word of life … the Word was with God.”
And John was captivated by God’s light, not just the light of sunrise or sunset but so much more – the light of life.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John the Baptist (yet another John!) testified to the light, the true light which enlightens everyone, which was coming into the world.
Jesus opened John’s eyes. John is certain Jesus will open the eyes of everyone who sees him, and the ears of those who hear about him. And John is doing his part.
We have seen it and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life which was made visible to us, what we have seen and heard we proclaim now to you …
John will not keep his joy to himself. He is the ultimate pastor, sharing his words, his stories, his life with us.
 … so that you too may have fellowship with us, for our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We are writing this so that our joy (together) may be complete.
Dorothy, who came to her faith in Jesus a bit later in life, often talks with Margaret about her prayers, and her inner life – her quiet life with Jesus, day by day by day.
It is so good for all of us to be prayed for, and to pray, and to see the light of Jesus shining every day.
(posted at www.davesandel.net)
#
