Christmas II
Luke 2: 1-20
(The middle of the four Gospels)
Now it came to pass in those days that a proclamation went out from
Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This
was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)
And everyone set out to be enrolled, each to the town of his ancestors.
So
Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city
of David which is called Bethlehem, because he belonged to the house and
lineage of David. He went to be enrolled with Mary his betrothed. And Mary was
with child. And it came to pass that while they were there, the time was
fulfilled for her to be delivered. And she bore her son, her first-born. And
she wrapped him in linen and placed him in a manger, because there was no room
for them in the inn.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch
over their flocks in the night. And an angel of the Lord came upon them
[appeared before them] and the light of the revelation of God shone about them.
And great fear came upon them [they felt the fear of fears].
But the angel said to them,
“Do
not be afraid; for I announce to you a great joy, which shall be for all men on
earth: today is born unto you the Bringer of Healing, in the city of David,
Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a
sign for you: you will find a little child wrapped in linen, lying in a
manger.”
And suddenly around the angel was the fullness of the heavenly angelic
hosts: their song of praise sounded forth to the highest:
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| Govert Flinck |
And brings peace to men of earth
In whose hearts good
will dwells!
And as the angels
withdrew from them into the heavens, the shepherds said to one another:
“Let us go to Bethlehem to see the fulfillment of the Word that has
happened here, which the Lord let be proclaimed.”
And they came hastening, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger. And when they had seen, they made known the Word that was spoken to them concerning this child. [or, When they saw that, they understood what had been told them concerning this child.] And all who heard it were astonished about what the shepherds said.
But Mary treasured [preserved] all these words, pondering them [turning
them over] in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising
God to everyone for everything they had heard and seen, which was just as it
had been announced to them.
December
25, 2008
Christmas II, Dawn
Luke 2: 1- 20
When dawn approaches, we first sense the rising light. It
brings us the hope of the banishment of darkness. It is in that pre-dawn
twilight that birds begin to sing. But not until the sun has risen do we feel
the warmth of its rays caress our skin. Not until the sun actually appears do
we receive the warmth of its love. Once touched and warmed, we feel
strengthened to move into the day.
At the midnight
service we celebrated the hope that arises in human hearts when the darkness
lightens. We heard about the offering song of the angels. Now at dawn we hear
the words, the lyrics of their song,:
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| Tom du Bois |
The spirit of God reveals itself in
the heights
And brings peace to those on earth
In whose hearts good will dwells! Luke 2:14
You will find and know the Child as
the bringer of healing! Luke 2:12
And as the shepherds seek and find the Christ Child, their
hearts are warmed with love, and they begin their own song. They begin telling
the story about the words the angels sang to them, their own offering song. And
the Mary soul preserves the whole of it in the warmth of her pondering heart.
Every year it happens again: The Light of Love appears in
the realm of earth. We still can hear the offering song of the angels
resounding in the heights. We seek the Christ Child, and when we find Him,
cradling Him in the warmth of our heart, His healing, warming power touches us,
warms our blood, strengthens our will.
Hearing the angels’ song, we join them, offering our words
of warmth, our good will deeds and our love along with theirs. For, in the
words of the mystic,
He is the One Whose power is stronger
Whose generosity is more abundant,
Whose appearance is more beautiful,
Whose love more tender,
Whose courtesy more gracious, and in
Whose embrace you are already caught up.
Have you noticed?[1]
[1]
St. Clare of Assisi (1193 – 1254), “The Depth of His Touch”, in Love’s Immensity, Mystics on the Endless
Life, by Scott Cairns, p. 84.
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