God's immeasurable grace
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series V, Cycle B
Theme For The Day: God's immeasurable grace. The Lord's restorative grace is promised in the First Lesson. In the Second Lesson, that grace has been restored to the community. The Gospel eloquently asserts that grace upon grace has been bestowed through the Logos, Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh.
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Jeremiah 31:7--14 (C, E)
This passage derives from the "book of consolation" portion of Jeremiah, compiled by Baruch, and covers the 622 B.C. to 609 B.C. period. God promises to redeem the remnant from captivity. They will return with tears of joy welling in their eyes. The earth will participate in the restoration by bountifully yielding her produce; it will be a well--watered garden (v. 12). All inhabitants will rejoice.
Lesson 1: Sirach 24:1--2, 8--12 (RC)
Praise of wisdom.
Lesson 2: Ephesians 1:3--14 (C); Ephesians 1:3--6, 15--18 (RC); Ephesians 1:3--6, 15--19a (E)
A hymn of praise to God for spiritual blessings in "heavenly places." This expression is found only in this epistle, referring to a spiritual realm above and beyond the earthly. Because of his great love, God destined us to be his sons and daughters before the foundation of the world. Salvation takes on cosmic dimensions: "to unite heaven and earth in him" (v. 5).
In verses 15--19, the apostle gives thanks for their faith and love and prays that the Lord might fill their hearts with wisdom, knowledge and revelation.
Gospel: John 1:1--18 (C, RC)
The prologue of John rings lyrical in praise of the divine Logos or Word. This Logos is the eternal creative and redemptive power of God himself. Instead of a nativity account, such as we find in Matthew and Luke, John takes us to the beginning of the created world. That dynamic Word not only created all things but became a human being in Jesus Christ, the foremost display of God's surpassing grace and truth. The life of God is revealed as light, which the darkness (evil) cannot snuff out. John the Baptist bears witness to the light, which reveals our sins and gives us the power to become the children of God.
Gospel: Luke 2:41--51 (E)
The only story of Jesus' adolescence in the gospels. Jesus goes up to the Passover in Jerusalem with his family, friends and neighbors. His parents are nearly a day into their return journey before they realize that Jesus is not with their group of pilgrims. They return to Jerusalem and finally, after three days, find him asking questions of the scribes in the temple. All who hear the proceedings are impressed with his knowledge. Mary accuses her son of treating them poorly. The boy Jesus replies that they should have known where to find him, in his Father's house. Already Jesus exhibits a high degree of self--awareness through his reply. He returns obediently with his parents to Nazareth. The Lord displays obedience to both his heavenly Father and his earthly parents.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 147:12--20 (C, RC) - "Praise the Lord."
Psalm 84 (E) - "How lovely is your dwelling place" (v. 1).
Prayer Of The Day
God of grace and glory, we praise you for your Word made flesh in Jesus, our Lord. Empower us to bear witness to the light of your creative power and redeeming love, that all people might know the joy of being your beloved child. In Jesus' name. Amen.
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Jeremiah 31:7--14
Songs of salvation. This passage comes as a song of praise in anticipation of God's salvation: "Sing aloud with gladness..." (v. 7). The Lord would bring back the people from exile and they would again worship the Lord freely in their own land. Songs of praise and thanksgiving to God for the gift of salvation should roll naturally from the lips of the redeemed of the Lord.
The God of consolation. Verse 9 states that the captives will return with weeping; with consolation, the Lord will lead them back to their homeland. The burial service found in the Lutheran Book of Worship opens by referring to the "God of all consolation." Our God does not prevent pain and sorrow from striking us but he does share in the pathos of our existence. The second of our Lord's Beatitudes states: "Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted" (Matthew 5:4). We weep but our weeping is not inconsolable. We mourn but are comforted with the knowledge of God's saving presence. Our God comforts us in our sorrows that we might also comfort others in their sorrows.
Paradise regained. Jeremiah promises that the lives of the Israelites will be like a "well watered garden" (v. 12). That is the basic definition of the word "Paradise." When a person's life throbs with purpose and joy, he experiences his life as a paradise. However, when a person feels depressed, he is likely to describe his or her life as parched and arid. Jeremiah may have been referring not only to an external reality but also an internal state. When God restored them to favor, it would seem like Paradise regained. We can all experience our lives as a "well watered garden" when we live in harmony with God's Spirit.
Lesson 2: Ephesians 1:3--14
Destined in love (v. 5). How wonderful to know that we were conceived in love. How tragic, on the other hand, to conclude that you were not conceived in love, with purpose. Such a realization can cause a person to lash out against self or the world. The Gospel states that the Lord destines all people to live as his beloved children. No matter what our origin, we are destined in love to be God's precious children. Unfortunately not all people will realize or accept that destiny which comes through faith.
Praise Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Our duty and delight is to live to the praise of God's glory. All three persons of the Trinity are lifted up as objects of praise: the Father (v. 6), the Son (v. 12) and the Holy Spirit (vv. 13--14). The Father sends the Son and the Son sends the Spirit, a three--tiered waterfall of divine grace and love. A life of praise and thanksgiving is the only fitting response.
The cosmic Christ. In Ephesians, God's plan of salvation becomes explicitly cosmic, to unite all things through Christ in heaven and earth (v. 10). As I write this, the people of Oklahoma City are struggling with the pain of the devastating bombing of their federal building. Hundreds of Rwandans in refugee camps are murdered in cold blood. Talk show hosts stir up hate. How desperately we need to catch the vision of the cosmic Christ, whose passion and goal is to unite all things in heaven and earth.
Gospel: John 1:1--18
In the big inning. You've probably heard this one.
Did you know that God is a big baseball fan?
What are you talking about?
Genesis opens with the statement, "In the big inning God created the heavens and the earth."
Well, if you believe that one, I have another one for you. In the big inning was the Word. But the Word didn't shout "You're out!" Rather, the Word gave a message filled with grace that proclaims, "You're in! You are accepted!" That was the word from the beginning.
Incognito. The Word came into the world through the incarnate Jesus, yet the world did not recognize him (v. 10). He came to his own special people and they did not acknowledge him (v. 11). God sneaked into the world incognito, unrecognized by all but a few. The Lord of Existence comes to us under the guise of frail human flesh, not in heavenly power and glory.
Perceive, believe, conceive. Because the Word does come into the world incognito, we need to have the eyes of our souls opened that we might perceive the Christ. The next step would have us believe in the Word, accept the message he brought (v. 12). Finally God would have us conceive the Word. Faith moves us beyond intellectual consent to giving birth to the Spirit of Jesus within our hearts.
No grace without truth (v. 14). The concepts of grace and truth are wedded in John's theology. Some churches attempt to dispense God's grace without his truth. They would preach that God is love without the corollary truth that the Lord is also holy. Through the grace of Christ we are able squarely to face the truth of our sinful human state and our spiritual impotence. This grace enables us to face the truth and become new persons in Christ.
SERMON APPROACHES WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
Lesson 1: Jeremiah 31:7--14
Sermon Title: Proclaim Salvation
Sermon Angle: Jeremiah, sometimes called the weeping prophet, commands his people to praise the Lord with songs and shouts and proclaim his salvation (v. 7). We are so timid. Some claim that their faith is so personal that they couldn't possibly share it with others. Hogwash! Scripture makes clear that which we believe in our hearts will naturally be expressed with our lips.
Outline:
1. These words of hope came to a captive people.
2. They were called to proclaim a national salvation that was yet to come, based on a belief in God's promises and God's faithfulness.
3. God is acting in Christ to free us from the captivity of sin and death.
4. As we proclaim this salvation, God works to bring it to fruition.
Sermon Title: The Homecoming
Sermon Angle: Jeremiah paints a picture of God's scattered children returning home to their land and to their Father's house. Does anything pull at our heart strings more than being united with those we love? Can anything bring greater joy? Homecoming is one of the major themes of the Christmas season. God made his home with us in Christ that we might come home to God and God's people.
Outline:
1. Jeremiah proclaims Israel's homecoming (v. 9ff.).
- It will be a time of feeding and fulfillment (v. 12).
- Also a time of rejoicing (v. 13).
2. Think of a special homecoming you've experienced.
3. Christ came into our world so that we might come home to God.
4. Have you experienced the joy of coming home to God?
Lesson 2: Ephesians 1:3--14
Sermon Title: The Original Big Spender
Sermon Angle: Some people get carried away with their Christmas shopping, even to the extent of spending lavishly. I suppose that's all right if they can afford it and they are doing it out of love. God is the original big spender. He freely bestowed upon us his grace through Christ (v. 6) or, as verse 8 expresses it, "lavished upon us" (RSV). God gave himself to us, even yielding up the life of his Son at the hands of sinful humans. The only proper response on our part is to give ourselves to the Lord and to others.
Outline:
1. God is the original big spender.
- He gave us his Son.
- His Son gave up his life for us.
2. What has been your response to this lavish grace?
- Do you just parcel out little pieces of yourself to God and others?
- Or, do you give your all?
3. The Christmas season calls us to give ourselves away.
Gospel: John 1:1--18
Sermon Title: Christ And Culture
Sermon Angle: Jesus was a Jew and Christianity arose in the context of Judaism. As the church reached out to the gentile world, this presented a problem. The Jewish ideas, such as that of Messiah, would not have a great deal of appeal in the non--Jewish world. John must have searched for symbols that spoke to his Greek--educated audience but which also had a point of contact with Christianity's Jewish roots. The tool that he chose was the concept of Logos. This concept was employed in Jewish intertestamental books and was an integral part of Greek thinking. John realized that Christianity had to be packaged into familiar cultural concepts. This process of interpretation continues not only as Christianity strives to reach new cultures but as the culture in which we live also transforms. The content of the gospel is immutable but the cradle in which it is placed changes. The preacher must raise the question: "How well is the gospel being communicated to the culture in which we live?"
Outline:
1. Why doesn't John have a Nativity story?
Answer: He is trying to relate to a non--Jewish audience.
2. Explain the Logos (Word, wisdom) concept.
- Christ is the Logos and was present before the created world.
- The grace of Jesus is inherent in creation itself.
- In Christ, the Logos, we see the wisdom and knowledge of God.
3. John places Christ in a different cradle.
4. In what kind of cradle must we place Christ, so that he speaks effectively to the cultures of which we are a part?
__________
The concept of the Logos apparently originated in the city of Ephesus, the same city from which John wrote his gospel. Heraclitus, an Ephesian philosopher, maintained that everything was in a state of flux. His most popular illustration of this principle was the river. He said that a person could step into a river, then step out of the river, only to return a few moments later. He contended that the river that the person stepped back into was not the same river as before. Everything was in the process of flux. A person might assume that such a world would soon degenerate into chaos. Not so, says Heraclitus, there is a principle of order, purpose and design. He dubbed it the Logos.
In the bullet pace of modern existence we can more easily than Heraclitus' contemporaries comprehend the process of flux and fluidity. More than ever, we can derive comfort from the concept of the Logos because it tells us that there is purpose in existence; even the madness we see around us will be made to conform to the grace and love we see in Jesus, the Word become flesh.
Sermon Title: Was God Always A Christian?
Sermon Angle: "In the beginning was the Word...and the Word became flesh..." This assertion tell us that the grace and love of God we see in Jesus Christ always existed. Some people have gotten the wrong idea from reading the Bible. It might seem that the God in the Old Testament is harsh, even violent, but that the God we see in Jesus shows a loving and forgiving face. William Barclay tells the story, in his commentary on the Gospel of John, of one little girl's explanation for some of those places in the Old Testament where God was depicted with an angry face. She explained: "Oh, that's before God became a Christian." John is trying to tell us here that God has always been a Christian. That is, grace and love have been the chief defining characteristics of God from the beginning. Some of those vengeful images of God come from an incomplete understanding of the divine nature.
Outline:
1. Has God always been a Christian?
2. John replies a resounding "Yes!"
3. When confronted with seeming pointless pain and sorrow, we might also ask, "Is God really a Christian?"
- Remember, "the light shines in the darkness ..." (v. 4).
- God's love comes through human flesh and lives with us (v. 14).
4. Do our lives proclaim that God is still a Christian?
__________
The horror of the bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City, in April of 1995, may have caused some people to question the presence of the Word in our midst. Yet consider this. Thousands of rescue workers gave freely of themselves and their time to rescue victims and minister to the throngs of hurting people. One nurse, married only a few months, when she heard of the disaster rushed to the scene of carnage to serve the needs of the wounded. Unfortunately, a wall fell on her and crushed her. Yet even in death she gave of herself by donating her organs. The Word continues to become flesh and live among us, full of grace and truth.
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Jeremiah 31:7--14 (C, E)
This passage derives from the "book of consolation" portion of Jeremiah, compiled by Baruch, and covers the 622 B.C. to 609 B.C. period. God promises to redeem the remnant from captivity. They will return with tears of joy welling in their eyes. The earth will participate in the restoration by bountifully yielding her produce; it will be a well--watered garden (v. 12). All inhabitants will rejoice.
Lesson 1: Sirach 24:1--2, 8--12 (RC)
Praise of wisdom.
Lesson 2: Ephesians 1:3--14 (C); Ephesians 1:3--6, 15--18 (RC); Ephesians 1:3--6, 15--19a (E)
A hymn of praise to God for spiritual blessings in "heavenly places." This expression is found only in this epistle, referring to a spiritual realm above and beyond the earthly. Because of his great love, God destined us to be his sons and daughters before the foundation of the world. Salvation takes on cosmic dimensions: "to unite heaven and earth in him" (v. 5).
In verses 15--19, the apostle gives thanks for their faith and love and prays that the Lord might fill their hearts with wisdom, knowledge and revelation.
Gospel: John 1:1--18 (C, RC)
The prologue of John rings lyrical in praise of the divine Logos or Word. This Logos is the eternal creative and redemptive power of God himself. Instead of a nativity account, such as we find in Matthew and Luke, John takes us to the beginning of the created world. That dynamic Word not only created all things but became a human being in Jesus Christ, the foremost display of God's surpassing grace and truth. The life of God is revealed as light, which the darkness (evil) cannot snuff out. John the Baptist bears witness to the light, which reveals our sins and gives us the power to become the children of God.
Gospel: Luke 2:41--51 (E)
The only story of Jesus' adolescence in the gospels. Jesus goes up to the Passover in Jerusalem with his family, friends and neighbors. His parents are nearly a day into their return journey before they realize that Jesus is not with their group of pilgrims. They return to Jerusalem and finally, after three days, find him asking questions of the scribes in the temple. All who hear the proceedings are impressed with his knowledge. Mary accuses her son of treating them poorly. The boy Jesus replies that they should have known where to find him, in his Father's house. Already Jesus exhibits a high degree of self--awareness through his reply. He returns obediently with his parents to Nazareth. The Lord displays obedience to both his heavenly Father and his earthly parents.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 147:12--20 (C, RC) - "Praise the Lord."
Psalm 84 (E) - "How lovely is your dwelling place" (v. 1).
Prayer Of The Day
God of grace and glory, we praise you for your Word made flesh in Jesus, our Lord. Empower us to bear witness to the light of your creative power and redeeming love, that all people might know the joy of being your beloved child. In Jesus' name. Amen.
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Jeremiah 31:7--14
Songs of salvation. This passage comes as a song of praise in anticipation of God's salvation: "Sing aloud with gladness..." (v. 7). The Lord would bring back the people from exile and they would again worship the Lord freely in their own land. Songs of praise and thanksgiving to God for the gift of salvation should roll naturally from the lips of the redeemed of the Lord.
The God of consolation. Verse 9 states that the captives will return with weeping; with consolation, the Lord will lead them back to their homeland. The burial service found in the Lutheran Book of Worship opens by referring to the "God of all consolation." Our God does not prevent pain and sorrow from striking us but he does share in the pathos of our existence. The second of our Lord's Beatitudes states: "Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted" (Matthew 5:4). We weep but our weeping is not inconsolable. We mourn but are comforted with the knowledge of God's saving presence. Our God comforts us in our sorrows that we might also comfort others in their sorrows.
Paradise regained. Jeremiah promises that the lives of the Israelites will be like a "well watered garden" (v. 12). That is the basic definition of the word "Paradise." When a person's life throbs with purpose and joy, he experiences his life as a paradise. However, when a person feels depressed, he is likely to describe his or her life as parched and arid. Jeremiah may have been referring not only to an external reality but also an internal state. When God restored them to favor, it would seem like Paradise regained. We can all experience our lives as a "well watered garden" when we live in harmony with God's Spirit.
Lesson 2: Ephesians 1:3--14
Destined in love (v. 5). How wonderful to know that we were conceived in love. How tragic, on the other hand, to conclude that you were not conceived in love, with purpose. Such a realization can cause a person to lash out against self or the world. The Gospel states that the Lord destines all people to live as his beloved children. No matter what our origin, we are destined in love to be God's precious children. Unfortunately not all people will realize or accept that destiny which comes through faith.
Praise Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Our duty and delight is to live to the praise of God's glory. All three persons of the Trinity are lifted up as objects of praise: the Father (v. 6), the Son (v. 12) and the Holy Spirit (vv. 13--14). The Father sends the Son and the Son sends the Spirit, a three--tiered waterfall of divine grace and love. A life of praise and thanksgiving is the only fitting response.
The cosmic Christ. In Ephesians, God's plan of salvation becomes explicitly cosmic, to unite all things through Christ in heaven and earth (v. 10). As I write this, the people of Oklahoma City are struggling with the pain of the devastating bombing of their federal building. Hundreds of Rwandans in refugee camps are murdered in cold blood. Talk show hosts stir up hate. How desperately we need to catch the vision of the cosmic Christ, whose passion and goal is to unite all things in heaven and earth.
Gospel: John 1:1--18
In the big inning. You've probably heard this one.
Did you know that God is a big baseball fan?
What are you talking about?
Genesis opens with the statement, "In the big inning God created the heavens and the earth."
Well, if you believe that one, I have another one for you. In the big inning was the Word. But the Word didn't shout "You're out!" Rather, the Word gave a message filled with grace that proclaims, "You're in! You are accepted!" That was the word from the beginning.
Incognito. The Word came into the world through the incarnate Jesus, yet the world did not recognize him (v. 10). He came to his own special people and they did not acknowledge him (v. 11). God sneaked into the world incognito, unrecognized by all but a few. The Lord of Existence comes to us under the guise of frail human flesh, not in heavenly power and glory.
Perceive, believe, conceive. Because the Word does come into the world incognito, we need to have the eyes of our souls opened that we might perceive the Christ. The next step would have us believe in the Word, accept the message he brought (v. 12). Finally God would have us conceive the Word. Faith moves us beyond intellectual consent to giving birth to the Spirit of Jesus within our hearts.
No grace without truth (v. 14). The concepts of grace and truth are wedded in John's theology. Some churches attempt to dispense God's grace without his truth. They would preach that God is love without the corollary truth that the Lord is also holy. Through the grace of Christ we are able squarely to face the truth of our sinful human state and our spiritual impotence. This grace enables us to face the truth and become new persons in Christ.
SERMON APPROACHES WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
Lesson 1: Jeremiah 31:7--14
Sermon Title: Proclaim Salvation
Sermon Angle: Jeremiah, sometimes called the weeping prophet, commands his people to praise the Lord with songs and shouts and proclaim his salvation (v. 7). We are so timid. Some claim that their faith is so personal that they couldn't possibly share it with others. Hogwash! Scripture makes clear that which we believe in our hearts will naturally be expressed with our lips.
Outline:
1. These words of hope came to a captive people.
2. They were called to proclaim a national salvation that was yet to come, based on a belief in God's promises and God's faithfulness.
3. God is acting in Christ to free us from the captivity of sin and death.
4. As we proclaim this salvation, God works to bring it to fruition.
Sermon Title: The Homecoming
Sermon Angle: Jeremiah paints a picture of God's scattered children returning home to their land and to their Father's house. Does anything pull at our heart strings more than being united with those we love? Can anything bring greater joy? Homecoming is one of the major themes of the Christmas season. God made his home with us in Christ that we might come home to God and God's people.
Outline:
1. Jeremiah proclaims Israel's homecoming (v. 9ff.).
- It will be a time of feeding and fulfillment (v. 12).
- Also a time of rejoicing (v. 13).
2. Think of a special homecoming you've experienced.
3. Christ came into our world so that we might come home to God.
4. Have you experienced the joy of coming home to God?
Lesson 2: Ephesians 1:3--14
Sermon Title: The Original Big Spender
Sermon Angle: Some people get carried away with their Christmas shopping, even to the extent of spending lavishly. I suppose that's all right if they can afford it and they are doing it out of love. God is the original big spender. He freely bestowed upon us his grace through Christ (v. 6) or, as verse 8 expresses it, "lavished upon us" (RSV). God gave himself to us, even yielding up the life of his Son at the hands of sinful humans. The only proper response on our part is to give ourselves to the Lord and to others.
Outline:
1. God is the original big spender.
- He gave us his Son.
- His Son gave up his life for us.
2. What has been your response to this lavish grace?
- Do you just parcel out little pieces of yourself to God and others?
- Or, do you give your all?
3. The Christmas season calls us to give ourselves away.
Gospel: John 1:1--18
Sermon Title: Christ And Culture
Sermon Angle: Jesus was a Jew and Christianity arose in the context of Judaism. As the church reached out to the gentile world, this presented a problem. The Jewish ideas, such as that of Messiah, would not have a great deal of appeal in the non--Jewish world. John must have searched for symbols that spoke to his Greek--educated audience but which also had a point of contact with Christianity's Jewish roots. The tool that he chose was the concept of Logos. This concept was employed in Jewish intertestamental books and was an integral part of Greek thinking. John realized that Christianity had to be packaged into familiar cultural concepts. This process of interpretation continues not only as Christianity strives to reach new cultures but as the culture in which we live also transforms. The content of the gospel is immutable but the cradle in which it is placed changes. The preacher must raise the question: "How well is the gospel being communicated to the culture in which we live?"
Outline:
1. Why doesn't John have a Nativity story?
Answer: He is trying to relate to a non--Jewish audience.
2. Explain the Logos (Word, wisdom) concept.
- Christ is the Logos and was present before the created world.
- The grace of Jesus is inherent in creation itself.
- In Christ, the Logos, we see the wisdom and knowledge of God.
3. John places Christ in a different cradle.
4. In what kind of cradle must we place Christ, so that he speaks effectively to the cultures of which we are a part?
__________
The concept of the Logos apparently originated in the city of Ephesus, the same city from which John wrote his gospel. Heraclitus, an Ephesian philosopher, maintained that everything was in a state of flux. His most popular illustration of this principle was the river. He said that a person could step into a river, then step out of the river, only to return a few moments later. He contended that the river that the person stepped back into was not the same river as before. Everything was in the process of flux. A person might assume that such a world would soon degenerate into chaos. Not so, says Heraclitus, there is a principle of order, purpose and design. He dubbed it the Logos.
In the bullet pace of modern existence we can more easily than Heraclitus' contemporaries comprehend the process of flux and fluidity. More than ever, we can derive comfort from the concept of the Logos because it tells us that there is purpose in existence; even the madness we see around us will be made to conform to the grace and love we see in Jesus, the Word become flesh.
Sermon Title: Was God Always A Christian?
Sermon Angle: "In the beginning was the Word...and the Word became flesh..." This assertion tell us that the grace and love of God we see in Jesus Christ always existed. Some people have gotten the wrong idea from reading the Bible. It might seem that the God in the Old Testament is harsh, even violent, but that the God we see in Jesus shows a loving and forgiving face. William Barclay tells the story, in his commentary on the Gospel of John, of one little girl's explanation for some of those places in the Old Testament where God was depicted with an angry face. She explained: "Oh, that's before God became a Christian." John is trying to tell us here that God has always been a Christian. That is, grace and love have been the chief defining characteristics of God from the beginning. Some of those vengeful images of God come from an incomplete understanding of the divine nature.
Outline:
1. Has God always been a Christian?
2. John replies a resounding "Yes!"
3. When confronted with seeming pointless pain and sorrow, we might also ask, "Is God really a Christian?"
- Remember, "the light shines in the darkness ..." (v. 4).
- God's love comes through human flesh and lives with us (v. 14).
4. Do our lives proclaim that God is still a Christian?
__________
The horror of the bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City, in April of 1995, may have caused some people to question the presence of the Word in our midst. Yet consider this. Thousands of rescue workers gave freely of themselves and their time to rescue victims and minister to the throngs of hurting people. One nurse, married only a few months, when she heard of the disaster rushed to the scene of carnage to serve the needs of the wounded. Unfortunately, a wall fell on her and crushed her. Yet even in death she gave of herself by donating her organs. The Word continues to become flesh and live among us, full of grace and truth.
