Dr. M wrote this year's poem, and I would just like to remind everyone that he has a Master of Divinity (with languages) and a Ph.D. in history.
“Of the
logos being forever do men prove to be uncomprehending, both before they
hear and once they have heard it.” Heraclitus, as quoted by Sextus Empiricus
Surely the one who preached in the wilderness
Understood the failure of men to comprehend.
Neither Christ nor Elijah, no prophet was he,
But he knew things and spoke of them boldly.
The logos, he said, was everlasting, indeed,
The logos was with God in the beginning,
The logos WAS GOD! Heraclitus likely
Would have debated the nature of the Divine
With the man we know as John, but he had
Gotten the gist of the Greek’s ancient memo.
“Jesus is the reason for the season!”
We proclaim. John would likely correct us:
The Christ, he preached, is the logos,
The “word” that gives meaning and order
To everything that was, is, and ever shall be.
The Christ is God become human, accepting
The fragile mantle of flesh and dwelling with us,
The Promised One who joined us here on Earth
To show us the true way, the Lord’s way, and in turn
The errors of our ways, our thoughts and actions.
The Christ, both gift and sacrifice, born of a human
For the sake of all humans, in love made manifest
A new covenant between God and humankind.
The season of God’s love has no beginning, no end.
God’s love is forever. Hallelujah! Celebrate God!
Mike & Dana Rhyne
Christmas 2025
Surely the one who preached in the wilderness
Understood the failure of men to comprehend.
Neither Christ nor Elijah, no prophet was he,
But he knew things and spoke of them boldly.
The logos, he said, was everlasting, indeed,
The logos was with God in the beginning,
The logos WAS GOD! Heraclitus likely
Would have debated the nature of the Divine
With the man we know as John, but he had
Gotten the gist of the Greek’s ancient memo.
“Jesus is the reason for the season!”
We proclaim. John would likely correct us:
The Christ, he preached, is the logos,
The “word” that gives meaning and order
To everything that was, is, and ever shall be.
The Christ is God become human, accepting
The fragile mantle of flesh and dwelling with us,
The Promised One who joined us here on Earth
To show us the true way, the Lord’s way, and in turn
The errors of our ways, our thoughts and actions.
The Christ, both gift and sacrifice, born of a human
For the sake of all humans, in love made manifest
A new covenant between God and humankind.
The season of God’s love has no beginning, no end.
God’s love is forever. Hallelujah! Celebrate God!
Mike & Dana Rhyne
Christmas 2025
John's gospel is my favorite, partly because of its emphasis on the Word. It's a different way of looking at the season, but equally compelling. Merry Christmas to you and Dr. M., and all good wishes for a healthy and happy new year!
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