Morning Meditation for the Season of Christmastide
January 1, 2026
Reading: Isaiah 9:2-7
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; this who lived in a land of deep darkness — on them light has shined. You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of the oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire. For a child has been born to us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Meditation by Glenn Beamer
Every year I start anticipating this reading, the first reading at our annual pageant, in October. One of the aspects of Isaiah that has become more apparent to me is the hope that lies within it. I have heard clergy, scholars and commentators describe the book of Matthew as the Gospel of Hope. I find Isaiah to be the prophet of hope, albeit not unbounded hope.
The first verses of this reading create a predicate for joy in Jesus’ eventual arrival, but this arrival is some five to seven centuries hence from Isaiah’s time. Isaiah lives among a people who experienced repeated conquest, occupation, oppression and intermittent exile. For Jews experiencing centuries of military, political and cultural tumult, the arrival of a messiah likely evoked relief as much as joy — to enjoy the fruits of their harvests, to have their yoke lifted, and to have warriors’ boots and garments burned. Yet Isaiah goes beyond relief, and writes that the messiah will be more than a just referee and will be a counselor, a mighty God and the Prince of Peace. Relief is the basis for joy.
As the fall progressed this year I was drawn repeatedly to thinking about and praying for Ukrainians, especially Ukrainian children. Ukrainian children have now lived for four years — somewhere between twenty and one hundred percent of their childhoods under attack from an aggressor. From what we have learned nearly twenty thousand Ukrainian children have been kidnapped and trafficked to Russia and Belarus for fates unknown, perhaps unthinkable. My prayer for these children and for all Ukrainians is that those of us on earth work diligently to create humane relief for all Ukrainians. Beyond that prayer and in time, I hope that Ukrainians will again know and experience joy in their homeland. I pray that Ukrainians reclaim their heritage; a heritage which has been threatened and oppressed for the last eighty years. This heritage includes but is not limited to their Christian Orthodox faith. Restoring Ukrainians to their homeland could bring them the written good news of Jesus, the genuine joy of knowing God loves them to infinity, and the security that comes from their brothers and sisters throughout the world being genuinely present for them.
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