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This is the Sunday after Christmas.  This is the Sunday when we read the Prologue to John’s Gospel. 
 
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)
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What a glorious Christmas Eve!  Music that fills the soul with delight … this church decorated beautifully with greens … and an evening filled with spirit.  There is even a chill in the air just to remind us what it was like when we lived up north.

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​This morning Mary sings her song … the Magnificat.  Not once.  Not twice.  But three times … first, as our Hymn of Praise at the beginning of the service.  Again, as the canticle we recited between our first and second lessons.  And, finally we hear Mary sing these subversive lyrics in the reading from the Gospel of Luke.

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As Father Ted said last Sunday, each Sunday in Advent has a particular emphasis. This Sunday actually has a Latin name, Gaudaytay Sunday, which means REJOICE Sunday, and it comes from the increasing feeling of joy as Christians anticipate the birth of Christ.  In a high Mass the choir would sing an opening prayer, known as the Introit, which begins with the word “Rejoice.”  And our wonderful Epistle this morning from Paul’s letter to the young church at Philippi is all about rejoicing.
Hear it again: 
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“Rejoice in the Lord always: again I will say, Rejoice.  The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything,  let your requests be made known to God.  And, the Peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  Rejoice!

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The Second Sunday of Advent is when we hear the story of John the Baptist as the forerunner of Jesus.  Every Second Sunday of Advent … year after year … from one of the three Synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke … year after year we hear this story of John in the wilderness.