Praise the LORD from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and frost, stormy wind fulfilling his command! Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars! Wild animals and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds! Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! Young men and women alike, old and young together! Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his glory is above earth and heaven. (Psalm 148:7-13)

And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (1 John 5:11)

I love that even the sea monsters praise God. Animate and inanimate aspects of creation, nature that can be a joy or terror to humanity, and people from all stations in life are called into exaltation of God.

Now, more than a year after Hurricane Sandy, some of us in this state still think differently about nature than we did before. I enjoy walking outdoors and appreciating the change of seasons, and I even enjoy a snow day here and there. But, the awesomeness and fear that God’s creation can inspire was made evident to us a year ago.

And yet, even when confronted with the destruction of natural events, we live in the reality that God has created us, and all of God’s world, not for causing fear and destruction, but for praising the God who made us and saves us.

In this season of Christmas, we celebrate that our God who has powerful cosmic influence is also the God who comes among us in the Son. The God who created even the great sea monsters and depths of the oceans, cares deeply about each inchworm and snowflake, and individual person and cell.

Praise to you, O God, maker of all things. Thank you for your deep care of creation as shown in the gift of your Son. Amen.

Contributed by Pastor Becky
Monday December 30, 2013
Liturgical Year A Week 5
Liturgical Color: White
Sunday Gospel reading Christmas2
First Sunday after Christmas