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Children of God – Clothed in Christ

December 28, 2025

Isaiah 61:10-62, 3 | Psalm 147 | Galatians 3:23-25, 4:4-7 | John 1:1-18

The Collect:

Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Merry Christmas!

I hope that this devotional finds you filled with joy and light today. The dim light of Advent has given way to the bright light that is the Word. Echoing the creation story from Genesis, John’s gospel proclaims that this Word of God was there at the beginning with God and is God.

“All things came into being through him and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him is life, and the life was the light of all people” (John 1:3-4)

This life, this light not only shines in the darkness; it cannot be extinguished by darkness. The Word of God, the bringer of light and life, “became flesh and lived among us” and because of this those of us who choose to take him at his word have received this season the gifts of grace and truth. Recognizing and receiving Jesus as the Logos; the Word of God, we are rewarded with the “power to become children of God.”

Paul writes, “Now that faith has come we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. As many of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ” (Galatians 3:25-27).

In short, today’s readings are full of references to family, new clothes, and light. Very good things. I truly pray that your Christmas has been full of good things. I’ve also been around the block enough times to know that as much as I may wish and hope, and even pray, there are some people for whom this Christmas, this past year-and maybe even longer, has not been full of those good things. There are some folks who, despite having those good things, are struggling to see the light in the midst of the darkness. I’m writing this blog three days after the shooting at Brown University, two days after the Bondi beach attack, and one day after the murder of the actor Rob Reiner and his wife. It’s been feeling a lot like Advent for a while. Maranatha.

And yet…because the light came into the world and we seek to live in that light, we are not mere creations of God, not only bearers of God’s image, we are God’s children, we are heirs. Through our baptisms, we are clothed in new clothes, the clothing of salvation–Christ himself. We are sent into the world to reflect Christ’s light, but we are not asked to do so alone. Through our baptism we are welcomed into the household of faith. We have community, and a particularly vibrant one here at St. Luke’s. When the darkness is so dark, the gifts so hard to come by, and our faith is hanging on by the thinnest of threads, we are accepted–beloved!-as a child of God Almighty. Because we are children, “God has sent the spirit of his Son into our hearts crying ‘Abba, Father!” The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness will not overcome it. In the year ahead, may we each bring what we have, get cozy in those salvation clothes, and cling to the family of faith. May we find ourselves being light in the darkness…with God’s help.

The Baptismal Covenant

Do you believe in God the Father?

People: I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

Celebrant: Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?

People: I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

Celebrant: Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?

People: I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

Celebrant: Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?