Alter Anno Domini

I have no idea if I have my Latin right, but alter anno domini should be “another year of the Lord”, and that is, of course, what 2021 is, just like 2020 was.

The actual phrase, which we sometimes shorten to A.D., is anno Domini Nostri Jesu Christi – The year of the Lord Jesus Christ. The phrase recognizes that the coming of the Lord Jesus changed everything. And, of course, it reminds us that every year is His – even the ones before His birth. (Colossians 1:16-17)

This past December was a month full of big astronomical events – especially the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn, the so-called “Christmas Star”. I kept seeing articles before the event, and I was amazed at how much they emphasized, over and over, that this was just “chance”. Of course, they were referring to the fact that it was not an event that necessarily happens only in December, something someone might have thought because of the “Christmas Star” moniker.

But it seemed like there was something going on above and beyond that. As if everyone was rushing to say that this all just happened by chance – the conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter had no purpose, no planning behind it.

But, of course, it did.

Oh, I’m not suggesting that we can now start the countdown to the Second Coming or anything like that. But as believers, we all know that nothing in the heavens is by chance. In fact, “The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory.” (Psalm 97:6) God placed wonders in the heavens that we would be able to see in December of 2020, so that we would look up and realize that there is Someone glorious, Someone righteous, who is far above every ruler and false god.

And so the world rushed to suppress this truth, while still drinking in the wonder of God’s Creation. (Romans 1:18-19)

And so we ended 2020 with some wonderful reminders of Who is really in control. We ended 2020 with some wonderful reminders that we are responsible to Him for our actions on this tiny planet.

I hope you were able to spend some time meditating on the coming of the Lord. On Sunday mornings, we took time to meditate on Luke 1, in four parts, as we prepared for the year ahead:

• Prepare for the Judge! (Repentance)
• Prepare for the King! (Obedience)
• Prepare for the Saviour! (Thankfulness)
• Prepare for the Liberator! (Hope)

…and because of that Person, Jesus Christ, I pray that the words of Zechariah will be true for you: “…that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.” (Luke 1:74-75)

Now that we’re emerging from the holiday season (which ends tomorrow with Three Kings Day), we’re looking ahead to activities and studies and outreach in the year ahead, so we would appreciate your prayers.

And I’ll leave you with these words from the end of the Psalm I quoted above – another fitting text as we enter into the year of the Lord 2021: