Christmas II
Luke 2: 1-20
(The middle of the four Gospels)
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:
God’s Spirit reveals itself in the heights
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.
We are in the middle. Human beings are the centerpiece of
God’s creation, ratified by the fact that He sent His Son to become one of us.
We are in the middle—and at the beginning. The new day has dawned. Human hearts
are the dwelling place for His peace. He warms and strengthens the goodness of
human will. Human speech is the bearer of His comfort, His healing and His
love. And so we say with the poet:
Christmas II, Dawn
December 25, 2011
Luke 2:1-20
We are in the middle; in the midst of a great event, a great
day. And at the middle is a beginning.
An angel comes to announce the joyous dawning of a new age
of mankind—an age of healing. And it begins with a tiny child, from whose eyes
there pours all of God’s love for humankind. We are assured that we will find
the child when we seek him.
We are in the middle. Human beings are the centerpiece of
God’s creation, ratified by the fact that He sent His Son to become one of us.
We are in the middle—and at the beginning. The new day has dawned. Human hearts
are the dwelling place for His peace. He warms and strengthens the goodness of
human will. Human speech is the bearer of His comfort, His healing and His
love. And so we say with the poet:
Thou whose face gives grace
As the sun's doth heat,
Let thy sunbright face
Lighten time and space
Here beneath thy feet.
Bid our peace increase,
Thou that madest morn;
Bid oppressions cease;
Bid the night be peace;
Bid the day be born.[1]
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