Christmas II
Luke 2: 1-20
The middle of the four Gospels,
according to Luke in the second chapter.
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| On the Way to Bethlehem, David Newbatt |
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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| Thomas Buchanan Read |
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.
Christmas II, Dawn
December 25, 2013
Luke 2: 1-20
When we were born, we crossed the great divide between
heaven and earth. We died out of the realm of the angels, and fell into the
material world, the world of death. And the angels mourned their loss of us.
The Christ Child however draws heaven across the divide,
onto the earth with him. The angels do not mourn because one of their own
disappeared into the far country of death; rather they accompany him,
proclaiming:
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| Virriot (?) |
God’s Spirit reveals itself in
the heights
And brings Peace to men of earth
In whose hearts good will
dwells.
The light of heaven has descended into the earth night.
The open souls of the shepherds, as do ours, receive the good news.
Why doth the sun re-orient take
A wider range, his limits break?
Lo! Christ is born, and o'er
earth's night
Shineth from more to more the
light!
….
This is the day of Thy dear
birth,
The bridal of the heaven and
earth,
When the Creator breathed on
Thee
The breath of pure humanity.[1]
[1] Hymn
XI From Cathemerinon ("The Hymns of Prudentius"), Aurelius Clemens
Prudentius (348-405),
Translated by R. Martin Pope.
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