Husband. Father. Anglican Priest.
Pure hearts does not mean hearts without a history of sin. The Collect asks God for grace because purity is his work in us. Christ fulfilled the covenant for us. Christ bears the Name of salvation. Christ has acted first.
January 1 is also the beginning of the civil new year, a day commonly associated with resolutions, fresh starts, and the mixture of hope and uncertainty that accompanies an unknown year. The Church does not need to reject those ordinary human instincts in order to say something deeper.
Therefore, let us greatly rejoice in the Lord. Let our souls exult in our God. He has clothed us with garments of salvation. He has covered us with the robe of righteousness. He has gathered us into his redeemed people, and he rejoices over his people with gladness and singing, now and forever.
The word of God, in the hands of Matthew, does not require the sufferers to stop weeping before it is willing to speak. Rachel refuses to be comforted, and Matthew does not correct her.
From ancient times the Church has honored the children of Bethlehem as martyrs. Their martyrdom is unique because they did not consciously confess Christ, understand why they were being killed, or knowingly choose suffering for his sake. They were infants and very young children.
Walking in the light means that we stop hiding from the truth about ourselves because we have learned the truth about Christ. The light exposes, but it exposes in the presence of the Savior whose blood cleanses. Christ calls us into the light because there is forgiveness there.