Christmas II, Dawn
Luke 2: 1-20 (adapted)
Now is proclaimed the [middle of the Gospel[s],
according to Luke in the second chapter.
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:
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.
December
25, 2019
Luke
2: 1-20
A
rose begins a tight-closed bud. Gradually it unfurls, bestowing its beauty and
fragrance to the world.
The
poet asks:
How
did the rose
ever open its heart
and give the world all
of its beauty?
It felt the
encouragement of the light against its being.*
The
old Christmas hymn speaks of Christ as a rose, ever blooming, which comes in
the cold of mankind’s winter. Encouraged by the light of the Father, Christ the
Rose blossomed upon the tree of Jesse. His beauty and fragrance filled the
world. Now he speaks. He has become the Father’s light-filled, creating Word.
The poet says:
They can be like a sun,
words.
They can do for the
heart
What light can
for a field.**
Honthorst |
Once
again Christ approaches the fields of earth. His light dawns gently at first.
We ask to be touched by His warmth and light. It is our hope that the light of
his creating Word touch our lips, warm our hearts; so that our souls may open
and receive him; so that our souls may bestow His beauty and fragrance. “Become”, he says.
This
is a moment of such gentle fullness. There is so much beauty to give to the
world; so much love to give; so much encouragement. The rose of the heart opens
because it feels the encouragement of the light against its being.
*
Hafiz, “How Did the Rose”, in Love Poems to God, Daniel Ladinsky, p. 161
**
St. John of the Cross, “They Can Be Like the Sun”, Ibid, p. 324
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