On the eve of our celebration of Christmas, we stop to once more relive the story of the birth of the Christ Child. It is a story of hope fulfilled, of love demonstrated, of joy celebrated and of peace renewed. It is our prayer that you will join with us in the reading from the gospel of Luke…
And it came to pass that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. Everyone went to his own town to register.
So Joseph went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem, the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary who was pledged to be married to him and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her first born, a son. She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today, in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ, the Lord. This will be a sign to you. You will find the baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the Highest and on earth, peace to men on whom His favor rests."
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has told us about.”
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
May your Christmas be joyous and holy. And may the
light of God shine in your lives throughout the coming year.
Comments