The Joy of a New Beginning

Daily Office Devotional, Tuesday, December 31, 2024

Feast of the Eve of the Holy Name

The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.

Key phrases for reflection from today’s Isaiah reading:

17 For I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind. 18But be glad and rejoice forever in what I am creating; for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy, and its people as a delight. 19I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and delight in my people; no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it, or the cry of distress.

You will find the full text of today’s Isaiah reading at the end of this reflection.

Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 940)

AM Psalm 46, 48

Isa. 26:1-9; 2 Cor. 5:16-6:2; John 8:12-19

PM Psalm 90

Isa. 65:15b-25; Rev. 21:1-6

David's Reflections

Philosopher Søren Kierkegaard writes: "A road well begun is the battle half won. The important thing is to make a beginning and get under way. There is nothing more harmful for your soul than to hold back and not get moving.” *

Isaiah describes God as creating new heavens and a new earth, making a new beginning. The Judah of Isaiah’s day was beginning again, digging out from the devastation of having been invaded and ravaged by Assyria. Perhaps we can get a bit of a feel for their chaos in light of September 11.  Suppose we had also lost the White House, the Capitol building, the Supreme Court, and the Washington and Lincoln monuments.

This text proclaims a central theme in God's saving work, the theme of new creation.  It is not that the old heavens and earth are to be destroyed and replaced;  rather, they are to be renewed.  In this new creation, no one will have their lives cut short by premature death.  There will be no more grief because of the losses and chaos of the past.  Loss will be no more (the former things).  Their labor will no longer be in vain, because conquest and exile will be things of the past, former things.  Prayers will be answered before they are uttered.  And, the creation itself will see an end of predatory relationships, even the lion and the lamb will coexist in peace.  This prophet, standing amid the ruins, exhibits a rare boldness of vision fueled by hope in God.

At the end of the year, join me in remembering the former things, looking back on the year past.  The places where chaos prevailed loom large. There may be places in your life that look like the devastation of Judah must have looked, those places where God's new creation of peace and unity would be most welcome.

What a comfort to know that God's renewing love will blow into our lives like a cool, spring breeze.  Every place where chaos reigns offers the opportunity for God's renewing love to break forth.  There is no place in my life or yours where a new beginning is not possible.  The more chaotic and broken the place, the greater the chance for God's renewing, creative love to flow.  Imagine the greatest wholeness and healing and deliverance you can, and God's saving love will outdo that vision.

The year 2025 will be the year of new beginnings, of new creation in which we can see chaos reversed and those broken, devastated places in our lives renewed.  We can live with excitement and hope in anticipation of new beginnings in our personal lives and in the lives of our faith community. And we can lean into that excitement by offering ourselves to God to embody that new beginning in our worship, witness and service.

As Kierkegaard put it, “The important thing is to make a beginning and get under way. There is nothing more harmful for your soul than to hold back and not get moving.”

*Søren Kierkegaard, Provocations:  Spiritual Writings of Søren Kierkegaard. Ed. Charles E. Moore (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 2010), p. 4.

Collect of the Day, The First Sunday after Christmas Day

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.  (BCP, 212)

A Collect for Peace

O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. (BCP, 99)

A Collect for Guidance

O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people;  Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (BCP 100)

For stewardship of creation

O merciful Creator, your hand is open wide to satisfy the needs of every living creature: Make us always thankful for your loving providence; and grant that we, remembering the account that we must one day give, may be faithful stewards of your good gifts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 259)

A Prayer for Light

O Lord God Almighty, as you have taught us to call the evening, the morning, and the noonday one day; and have made the sun to know its going down: Dispel the darkness of our hearts, that by your brightness we may know you to be the true God and eternal light, living and reigning for ever and ever. Amen.  (BCP, 110)

A Collect for Mission

Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen. (BCP, 101)

Daily Office Old Testament Reading, Isaiah 65:15-25

15You shall leave your name to my chosen to use as a curse, and the Lord GOD will put you to death; but to his servants he will give a different name.

16Then whoever invokes a blessing in the land shall bless by the God of faithfulness, and whoever takes an oath in the land shall swear by the God of

faithfulness; because the former troubles are forgotten and are hidden from my sight.

17 For I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind. 18But be glad and rejoice forever in what I am creating; for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy, and its people as a delight. 19I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and delight in my people; no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it, or the cry of distress. 20No more shall there be in it an infant that lives but a few days, or an old person who does not live out a lifetime; for one who dies at a hundred years will be considered a youth, and one who falls short of a hundred will be considered accursed.  21They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 22They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands. 23They shall not labor in vain, or bear children for calamity; for they shall be offspring blessed by the LORD— and their descendants as well. 24Before they call I will answer, while they are yet speaking I will hear. 25The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, the lion shall eat straw like the ox; but the serpent—its food shall be dust!  They shall not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain, says the LORD.

Daily Prayer Offices in The Book of Common Prayer 

Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, Book of Common Prayer

Noonday Prayer, p. 103, Book of Common Prayer

Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p. 109, Book of Common Prayer

Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer 

Compline (Night Prayer), Page 127, Book of Common Prayer

Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer