The Second Sunday of Christmas Year B

The Second Sunday of Christmas

Jeremiah 31.7–14
Ephesians 1.3–14
John 1.[1–9] 10–18

‘He gave them the right to become children of God,’ says John. ‘I have become a father to Israel,’ says God to Jeremiah, ‘and Ephraim is my firstborn.’ ‘He destined us for adoption as his children,’ says Paul. Exodus-imagery, of course: Israel’s status as God’s firstborn, announced to Pharaoh as the reason for freeing Israel from slavery, will be reaffirmed through covenant renewal (Jeremiah), and has been so reaffirmed in Jesus (John and Paul).

These writers are not primarily concerned about status. They are celebrating actual knowledge of God: first-hand, intimate, astonishing knowledge that swept them off their feet and left them unable to keep silent. Jeremiah had witnessed the depth of self-caused suffering of those who turned from the living God to idols; now, in a sustained two-chapter poem, he invites us to gaze at fresh-minted promises springing from sheer grace. Israel has no merit or innate worth to cause the covenant God to replace the judgement of exile with the assurance of new delight...

Taken from Twelve Months of Sundays Year B by N T Wright

Published by SPCK