"The Newborn" - Georges de la Tour (1593-1652)
ALL SOULS MISSOULA
Daily Advent Readings December 2 - December 25, 2018 www.allsoulsmissoula.org
Welcome to Advent Once again, the Christmas season is upon us. And (like it or not!), we will all celebrate it in one way or another – as consumers, caught up in a sea of sales; as indentured servants, anxiously wondering how we're going to pay for everything we just put on the credit card; as sentimentalists, wistfully longing for the way Christmas used to feel when we were kids; or perhaps even as agnostics, too busy with the tyranny of the urgent to really even give it much thought. Or we can choose to celebrate it differently – intentionally – as followers-of-Jesus. Christians throughout the ages have been doing just that, and there's a rich tradition from which we can benefit as we seek to follow in their footsteps. That tradition is Advent, and this guide is designed to help all of us be more thoughtful in our faith, to use this season as an opportunity to grow in our spirituality. So where do we begin? For starters, we invite you to grab your family or a few close friends and make a commitment – to spend a few minutes every day between now and Christmas doing something liturgical: reading a Scripture, lighting a candle, saying a prayer, pausing to reflect. You can do it in the morning over breakfast. Or in the evening at dinner. Just grab this guide, find the right day, and read what's there. All you need to get started are a few candles (three purples, one rose, and one white) and a box of matches. This guide will give you everything else – quotes, scripture readings, prayers, and plenty of reflections to stimulate your thinking. Everything in this guide is simply a suggestion, a starting point. There's no “right” or “wrong” way to do this. Feel free to adapt, to tweak, to run down rabbit trails. The important thing is to do something. Counter the cultural gravity; celebrate Advent. If you are a follower of Jesus, this is a great way to nourish your faith. And if you are someone who is skeptical, it's a great way to better evaluate what Christians believe. It's also a great way to rediscover Christmas – not just the Americanized “Hallmark” version, but one that spans cultures and continents and millenia... two thousand years of rich tradition. We'd love to hear how it goes for you...
Setting the Stage – What is Advent? Advent (from the Latin adventus, which means “coming”) is the beginning of a new year in the Christian calendar. It is a season marked by a spirit of expectation, of anticipation, of preparation, of longing. In Advent, there is a yearning for deliverance from the evils of the world, initially expressed by the Israelites in Egyptian slavery as they railed against their bitter oppression. It is the cry of those who have experienced the tyranny of injustice in a world under the curse of sin, and yet have hope of deliverance from a God who hears our cries and promises to come and rescue us. It is this hope (however faint at times), and this God (however distant he can sometimes seem), that sets the world up to anticipate a King, one who will rule with truth, justice, and righteousness over his people and his creation. It is this hope that Israel once sought and we now anticipate anew – an Anointed One, a Messiah who will bring peace to this broken world. So we celebrate with gladness the great promise of the Advent of Jesus, as we remain faithful to the arrival of the King who will come to rule, judge, and save the world. The focus of the entire season is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ in his First Advent, and the anticipation of the return of Christ the King in his Final Advent. As such, Advent is far more than a marking of a 2,000 year-old event in history. In it we celebrate the fact that God's faithfulness then gives us great reason to trust in his faithfulness yet to come, a time when all creation will finally be reconciled to God. This is the process in which we now participate, and the completion, or perfection, of which we anticipate. Advent is a time of preparation marked by prayers of humble devotion and commitment, prayers of submission, prayers for deliverance, prayers by those walking in darkness who are awaiting a great light. The spirit of Advent is embodied in the parable of the bridesmaids, anxiously awaiting the coming Bridegroom. There is profound joy at his expected coming, amid the echo of a warning: You need to be prepared! Even then, the prayer of Advent remains: Come, O Come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel! Explanation of the Advent Candles – Why Do We Do This? Here's a little background on the symbolism of our Advent traditions... The wreath: Its circle reminds us of God's endless mercy: He is the Alpha and the Omega, with no beginning and no end (Revelation 1:8). We use evergreens to represent the hope that we have in our God – of freshness, of renewal, of eternal life. The candles: They remind us that Jesus is the Light of the World, coming into the darkness of our lives to bring newness, life, and hope. They also reinforce Christ's command that we ourselves are called to be light to the world, reflecting God's grace to those around us (Isaiah 42:6). Each of the four outer candles represents one of the Sundays in Advent, which symbolize the four centuries of waiting between the prophet Malachi and the birth of Christ. Every week we light one more candle to symbolize our experience of waiting. And every week there is a little more of the light of Christ here in our midst – the darkness of fear and hopelessness receding, the shadow of sin falling away. Even the colors are significant – purple for Christ's royalty, rose for the joy that burns within when he is near:
• the first week we light a purple candle – to remind us of our Hope;
• the second week another purple candle – our longing for his Peace;
• the third week we add the rose/pink candle – the experience of his Joy!
• the fourth week, the final purple candle – the passion of his Love;
• then finally, on Christmas Eve – the white Christ candle in the center of the wreath, a sign that the promise of ages has come, and God has kept his covenant! The Gospel of John speaks of Christ as the true light coming into the world. In commemoration of that coming, we light candles for the four weeks leading up to Christmas as we reflect on the coming of Christ. It is significant that the church has always used that language — the “coming” of Christ — because it speaks to a deep truth. Christ is coming. Christ is always coming, always entering a troubled world, a wounded heart. So, as we begin the celebration of this Advent season, we invite you to join us in these traditions, as we eagerly await the coming of our King! The First Week of Advent – Hope The first candle represents Expectation or Hope. This draws attention to the anticipation of a Messiah, a longing that weaves its way like a golden thread throughout Old Testament history. As God’s people were abused by power hungry kings, led astray by self-centered prophets, and lulled into apathy by half-hearted religious leaders, there arose a yearning that God would raise up a new king who could show them how to be God’s people. They longed for a return of God’s dynamic presence to their midst. And this is what God promised through the prophet Isaiah: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness – on them light has shined. ~ Isaiah 9:2 Yet even as they waited for the coming king, their expectations fell far short of God’s answer in Jesus, who boldly proclaimed: I am the light of the world; the one who follows me will not walk in darkness but have the light of life. ~ John 8:12 Yet still the world is not fully redeemed. And so we too wait, with expectation and hope, longing for God’s coming work in history, the final Advent, in which He will once more reveal Himself to the world. And we understand in a profound sense that the best, the highest of our expectations will fall far short of what our Lord’s Final Advent will reveal! So we invite you to join in our Advent tradition at All Souls, by reading the Scripture passages provided, by lighting the first advent candle – the candle of Hope – each day for the first week of Advent, and by concluding with a simple call and response: [Reader lights one purple candle]
Reader: Behold Jesus, the light of the world! Family: Thanks be to God!
Sunday, December 2nd Traditionally, the season of Advent begins with readings from the book of John. John focuses on Jesus as both the Word and the Light. Who is this Jesus to whom we look with both expectation and hope? Here's the way John introduces Christ in his gospel:
John 1:1-18 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. 9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.
“Christmas has lost its meaning for us because we have lost the spirit of expectancy. We cannot prepare for an “observance.” We must prepare for an experience.” ~ Handel Brown Monday, December 3rd Advent readings often focus a great deal on both the prophets (like Isaiah) and the gospels (mostly Matthew and Luke). For today's Scriptures, we get a chance to read one of each:
Jeremiah 33:14-18 14 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 15 In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 16 In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’” 17 "For thus says the LORD: David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel, 18 and the Levitical priests shall never lack a man in my presence to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings, and to make sacrifices forever."
Mark 13:32-37 32 “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. 35 Therefore stay awake — for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning — 36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”
“Life is a constant Advent season: we are continually waiting to become, to discover, to complete, to fulfill. Hope, struggle, fear, expectation, and fulfillment are all part of our Advent experience.” ~ Edward Hayes Tuesday, December 4th If we're looking for hope this Christmas season, where do we find it? Black Friday? The Montana spirit, cutting down your own Christmas tree with your family? The traditions you have relied on since childhood? Or perhaps it's in God's Word – his light, his truth – and in us exulting in it, finding it beautiful. How are you approaching God? As Taskmaster? As a Father who you struggle to trust? As Artist, whose ways are perfect and whose work is stunning? Perhaps we should ask God to give us his sense of beauty, worth, and identity...
Micah 5:2-5 2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. 3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel. 4 And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. 5 And he shall be their peace.
1 Corinthians 1:3-9 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge — 6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
“A prison cell, in which one waits, hopes... and is completely dependent on the fact that the door of freedom has to be opened from the outside, is not a bad picture of Advent.” ~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer Wednesday, December 5th What do these passages have to do with this season of Advent? Many of the readings are meant to reflect the spirit of expectancy, of readying ourselves, of being prepared for coming into the presence of our Lord as he condescends (not in the negative sense, of looking down on, but literally coming down) to live in our midst, to meet us where we are. This is the legacy that Jesus provided us, by becoming man and living as one of us, so that we could be one with him.
Philippians 2:1-11 1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
“How many observe Christ's birthday! How few, his precepts! O, 'tis easier to keep holidays than commandments.” ~ Benjamin Franklin Thursday, December 6th Isaiah's prophecies of the hope that is to come are a pivotal component of the celebration of Advent. In like spirit, we strive to capture such bold, unrestrained, jubilant hope for the joy that is to come. If we manage to catch the spirit of this passage, our days, too, can achieve that kind of joy. This is God's promise to us!
Isaiah 60:1-3, 19-22 1 Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. 2 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. 3 And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. 19 The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. 20 Your sun shall no more go down, nor your moon withdraw itself; for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of mourning shall be ended. 21 Your people shall all be righteous; they shall possess the land forever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I might be glorified. 22 The least one shall become a clan, and the smallest one a mighty nation; I am the Lord; in its time I will hasten it.
“I have a better Caretaker than you and all the angels. He it is who lies in a manger, but at the same time sits at the right hand of God, the almighty Father. Therefore be at rest.” ~ Martin Luther, Letter to his wife Kate, 1546
Friday, December 7th To what are you hoping for? A better job? Better kids? A better wife? A better president? Isaiah's vision of the future is significant: all the people of the earth – not just the Jews – will gather together to worship God, and he himself will rule and judge over the earth. Justice. Peace. Worship. Is that on your agenda?
Isaiah 2:2-5 2 It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it, 3 and many peoples shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 4 He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. 5 O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord.
“The implications of the name 'Emmanuel' are both comforting and unsettling. Comforting, because He has come to share the danger as well as the drudgery of our everyday lives. He desires to weep with us and to wipe away our tears. And what seems most bizarre, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, longs to share in and to be the source of the laughter and the joy we all too rarely know. Yet The implications are also unsettling. It is one thing to claim that God looks down upon us, from a safe distance, and speaks to us (via long distance, we hope). But to say that He is right here is to put ourselves and Him in a totally new situation. He is no longer the calm and benevolent observer in the sky, the kindly old caricature with the beard. His image becomes that of Jesus, who wept and laughed, who fasted and feasted, and who, above all, was fully present to those He loved. He was there with them. He is here with us.” ~ Michael Card, The Book of Jesus Saturday, December 8th Imagine Jesus himself speaking these words to you: “I speak to you from the depths of eternity. Before the world was formed, I AM! You hear me in the depths of your being, where I have taken up residence. I am Christ in you, the hope of Glory. I, your Lord and Savior, am alive within you. Learn to tune in to my living presence by seeking me in silence. As you celebrate the wonder of my birth in Bethlehem, celebrate also your rebirth into eternal life. This everlasting gift was the sole purpose of my entering your sin-stained world. Receive my gift with awe and humility. Take time to explore the vast dimensions of my love. Allow thankfulness to flow freely from your heart in response to my glorious gift. Let my peace rule in your heart, and be thankful.” ~ Sarah Young, Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence
Colossians 1:15-16,19-20 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. Colossians 3:1-4, 12-17 1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
The Second Week of Advent – Peace The second candle represents Peace. We live in a world where wars and rumors of wars are the currency of the nations. But violence and conflict also run rampant here in Missoula. We all experience it at some level – on our streets, at our jobs, in our schools, in our homes, even with the people we love the most. We are a conflicted people. And most of us don't have a clue what to do about it. Perhaps this is why Isaiah said we needed a guide to rescue us: I will lead the blind by a road they do not know, by the paths they have not known, I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I will do and I will not forsake them. ~ Isaiah 42:16 We desperately need guidance and insight. Simply wishing for peace does nothing to actually bring it. If we ever hope to experience peace, one of the first things we need to realize is that the conflicts that besiege us relationally are but an echo of the conflict our world has with the One who created it. For peace to become a social reality, it must first become a spiritual reality. Jesus is the “Prince of Peace” and “of His peace there will be no end” (Isaiah 9:6-7). This is the peace we all long for. We continue, then, with expectation and hope, to await God’s new work in history, His final Advent, in which He will reveal Himself to the world once more. As promised, He will be our peace. (Ephesians 2:14). This week, after reading the Scripture passages provided, we light the first two Advent candles – the candles of Hope and Peace – and then conclude with a simple call and response: [Reader lights two purple candles]
Reader: Behold Jesus, the light of the world! Family: Thanks be to God!
Sunday, December 9th Last Sunday we lit the first candle—the candle of Hope. This week we add the second candle, the candle of Peace. We light it knowing full well that peace is elusive, and in some parts of the world almost completely absent. Yet in this season of Advent, we trust that God is never absent from us. God is always preparing something new. And even where there is war and discord, whether between countries, within families, or within our own hearts, God is present, gently leading us toward new possibilities.
Isaiah 9:2-7 2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined. 3 You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. 4 For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. 5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
“Advent is the perfect time to clear and prepare the Way. Advent is a winter training camp for those who desire peace. By reflection and prayer, by reading and meditation, we can make our hearts a place where a blessing of peace would desire to abide and where the birth of the Prince of Peace might take place.” ~ Bill McKibben
“ Monday, December 10th Here's a bold and challenging question: Where are you putting God to the test this Christmas season? Not in a bad way (testing his patience), but in a good way – asking him to reveal himself, to make his presence felt in your life, to keep his promises. After all, he promises to reveal himself to those who truly seek him. So what about it? Will you put him to the test? This might be a great time to ask him to soften your heart, to help you to see clearly this holiday season...
Isaiah 7:10-14 10 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, 11 “Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” 12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.” 13 And he said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel.”
“'Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people; for there is born to you this day a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.' In these words you clearly see that he is born for us. He does not simply say, Christ is born, but to you is born; neither does he say, I bring glad tidings, but to you I bring glad tidings of great joy. Furthermore, this joy was not to remain in Christ, but it shall be to all people.” ~ Martin Luther, Sermons Tuesday, December 11th Psalm 27:1-14 1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. 3 Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident. 4 One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple. 5 For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock. 6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the LORD. 7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me! 8 You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, LORD, do I seek.” 9 Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation! 10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the LORD will take me in. 11 Teach me your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies. 12 Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence. 13 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living! 14 Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!
“...And then, just when everything is bearing down on us to such an extent that we can scarcely withstand it, the Christmas message comes to tell us that all our ideas are wrong, and that what we take to be evil and dark is really good and light because it comes from God. Our eyes are at fault, that is all. God is in the manger, wealth in poverty, light in darkness, succor in abandonment. No evil can befall us; whatever men may do to us, they cannot but serve the God who is secretly revealed as love and rules the world and our lives.” ~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer, God is in the Manger Wednesday, December 12th As you read this passage from Paul's letter to the church at Ephesus, you may recognize the final verse from the song we sing in worship titled “Why Did He Come?”. This verse may represent a fragment of one of the earliest Christian hymns (circa 60 AD). Ephesians 5:6-14 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9(for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
Psalm 19:105-106 105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. 106 I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to keep your righteous rules.
“'He came down from heaven' can almost be transposed into 'Heaven drew earth up into it,' and locality, limitation, sleep, sweat, footsore weariness, frustration, pain, doubt, and death are, from before all worlds, known by God from within. The pure light walks the earth; the darkness, received into the heart of Deity, is there swallowed up. Where, except in uncreated light, can the darkness be drowned?” ~ C.S. Lewis, Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer Thursday, December 13th The Old Testament is scary – all this talk of God's coming sure sounds an awful lot like fire and brimstone, wrath and judgment! And it is, but not in the way we might expect. Try reading these two passages in juxtaposition – God promising judgment, then Christ entering this world to walk in our shoes and be judged (by dying on a cross!) so that we wouldn't have to be. It may not make the idea of God's judgment any more palatable... but it might just help you see a whole new side of God – One who loves lost people so much that He's willing to undergo for Himself what we alone deserve.
Malachi 3:1-5 1 Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. 2 But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord. 4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years. 5 Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.
Isaiah 53:4-6 4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
“The future is always unknown; from one point of view we always seem to be traveling into the dark. But the Advent message is that the God who is Lord of past, present and future, has unveiled his plans in Jesus Christ. So, despite the darkness, we journey step by step in confident hope.” ~ Dean of Lichfield Friday, December 14th The overarching message of the Christmas story? That God has not abandoned us – He is with us! He is working (even when to us he may seem absent). How will we respond? Like the skeptics? Or with the simple faith of Mary?
Luke 1:26-38 26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy— the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
“One of the essential paradoxes of Advent: that while we wait for God, we are with God all along, that while we need to be reassured of God's arrival, or the arrival of our home-coming, we are already at home. While we wait, we have to trust, to have faith, but it is God's grace that gives us that faith. As with all spiritual knowledge, two things are true, and equally true, at once. The mind can't grasp paradox; it is the knowledge of the soul.” ~ Michelle Blake, The Tentmaker Saturday, December 15th One of the fascinating things about Jesus is this – Scripture says that when people really see him, they have one of two responses: Many simply reject him, because his message is hard and causes many to stumble... yet for those who bow in allegiance to him and call on him in faith, he is like bedrock. What Jesus are you looking for this Christmas? One who is soft and cuddly, meek and mild? Or a Christ-child who will change the course of history with his amazing claims?
1 Peter 2:4-9 4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” 7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” 8 and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
“The feast of Saint Andrew invites us to ponder his response to Christ’s call: 'Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men. At once they left their nets…' (Matthew 4:19-20). With his brother Peter, Andrew immediately left his fishing nets to catch souls for the Kingdom. Are we hesitating to respond to Christ this Advent because we are waiting for just the right moment, those perfect circumstances that will allow us to be just as quick as Andrew? Sadly, we may discover that while we were waiting for that illusive moment, we failed to be attentive to the here and now invitations of everyday life, missing opportunities to respond with the generosity of a true follower of Christ.” ~ Priscilla Marck, The Magnificat
The Third Week of Advent – Joy The first and second candles represent Hope and Peace. The third candle represents Joy. Jesus himself (and his followers throughout the ages) have insisted that the coming of Christ is a cause for great joy: “How can wedding guests fast when the bridegroom is with them?” (Mark 2:19). After all, this is an amazing rescue plan God is envisioning: The LORD says to his servant, “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the survivors of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” ~ Isaiah 49:6 What was true then remains true now – when the Messiah is present with us, how can we help but to sing, to celebrate, to rejoice? Accordingly, the tone of Advent begins to shift, from a prayerful cry for help to a joyous response of praise at his coming. Is your life characterized by hope, peace, and (especially) a deep sense of joy? If not, we invite you to consider one of the great claims of Christianity: that Christ is alive, well, and truly present here in our midst. Scripture insists that those who recognize his presence and follow him in allegiance, with faith, will experience great joy, even in the face of great adversity. Jesus did not come simply to “save us” – he came that we might have life (and joy!) abundantly. If you struggle to know joy, perhaps you are not seeing Jesus as clearly as you could. Ask Christ to reveal himself freshly to you today, that you might know joy. This week, after reading the Scripture passages provided, we light the first three advent candles (two purples and a rose) – the candles of Hope, Peace, and Joy, respectively – and then conclude with our now familiar call and response: [Reader lights two purple candles, then rose candle]
Reader: Behold Jesus, the light of the world! Family: Thanks be to God! Sunday, December 16th We have lit the first two candles, one for Hope and one for Peace. This week we add the third candle, the candle of Joy. This should be an easy one, because joy is all around us—in the children, the lights, the music, the gathering together. But how often do we let our preparations — or our memories — push joy to the side? Joy is like an underground spring that wells up within us, but joy is also a choice, an attitude. Like a muscle, it needs to be exercised. So today we open ourselves to joy, trusting that God has already planted it in us.
Matthew 2:1-12 1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: 6And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel. 7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
“The Bible is the cradle wherein Christ is laid.” ~ Martin Luther Monday, December 17th Joy is certainly elusive these days. And yet Scripture promises that it is there for those with eyes to see – not by having everything go as planned, but rather by seeing Christ in the midst of every situation, even in great adversity. Are you struggling to rejoice? Why not ask God to pull back the veil in your life, to open the eyes of your heart, to reveal himself to you, that you might understand the glory of this thing called 'the gospel'? After all, he claims to be able to shine truth into our hearts...
2 Corinthians 4:1-6 1 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Revelation 21:1-4 1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
“Do they still make wooden Christmas trees?” ~ Linus, A Charlie Brown Christmas
Tuesday, December 18th Here is a prayer for you to pray, as you share this time together: Loving God, we open ourselves to you, trusting this is how you made us: you created us for joy-filled hearts and lives. Show us the creative power of hope. Teach us the peace that comes from justice. Fill us with the kind of joy that cannot be contained, but must be shared. Prepare our hearts to be transformed by you, That we may walk in the light of Christ. Amen!
1 John 1:1-7 1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life — 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us — 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. 5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
“What Advent is, really, is a discipline: a way of forming anticipation and channeling it toward its goal. There’s a flicker of rose on the third Sunday — “Gaudete!”, that day’s Mass begins: Rejoice! — but then it’s back to the dark purple that is the mark of the season in liturgical churches. And what those somber vestments symbolize is the deeply penitential design of Advent. Nothing we can do earns us the gift of Christmas, any more than Lent earns us Easter. But a season of contrition and sacrifice prepares us to understand and feel something about just how great the gift is when at last the day itself arrives.” ~ Joseph Bottom, First Things
Wednesday, December 19th This reading begins with one of the most often-quoted verses in the Bible – John 3:16. As you read this today, try to look with a fresh perspective at how truly amazing this statement is. God gave his Son, not just for “the world” (although that part is true), but for you. For me!
John 3:16-21 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.
“Take time to be aware that in the very midst of our busy preparations for the celebration of Christ’s birth in ancient Bethlehem, Christ is reborn in the Bethlehems of our homes and daily lives. Take time, slow down, be still, be awake to the Divine Mystery that looks so common and so ordinary yet is wondrously present.” ~ Edward Hays, A Pilgrim’s Almanac
Thursday, December 20th What's our source of comfort? For Christians, it's not rooted in family, or holidays, or the good will of others (although those are good things!). Instead, it's grounded in the amazing promises of God – that he is near, that he is breaking in, that he is going to make things right, because everything he promises comes true. That's certainly more than Santa Claus can deliver...
Isaiah 40:1-11 1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins. 3 A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. 5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” 6 A voice says, “Cry!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. 7 The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the Lord blows on it; surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. 9 Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!” 10 Behold, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. 11 He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.
“Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no child-like faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished. Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies!” ~ Francis P. Church, New York Sun, September 21, 1897
Friday, December 21st Looking back into the depths of the Old Testament, we find this ancient snippet of wisdom literature. What does it have to do with Christ? For everyone – even God incarnate in the form of man! – there is a time for everything, both good and bad, ups and down. This seems to be the mark of our humanity, the description of our existence. And it is also the description of his. Christ never promises us a life of wealth and ease (in fact, he actually promises us the opposite: a life of hardship and suffering for all who follow him!). At the same time, he also promises that he will never leave us nor forsake us no matter how hard things get, no matter how often we fail. And that just might be the comfort we're looking for in these trying and tumultuous times...
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: 2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; 3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7 a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.
“Advent, like its cousin Lent, is a season for prayer and reformation of our hearts. Since it comes at winter time, fire is a fitting sign to help us celebrate Advent… If Christ is to come more fully into our lives this Christmas, if God is to become really incarnate for us, then fire will have to be present in our prayer. Our worship and devotion will have to stoke the kind of fire in our souls that can truly change our hearts. Ours is a great responsibility not to waste this Advent time.” ~ Edward Hays, A Pilgrim’s Almanac Saturday, December 22nd The message of Jesus is actually very simple – repentance, for the forgiveness of sins. Repent and believe. This, it would seem, is how the mountains are made low, how the paths become straight. Yet for most of us, it's a message that is very difficult. We really don't like the idea that we are sinners, nor that we need to admit it. Yet, if this really is the heart of Jesus' message... how might it change your life today?
Luke 3:1-6 1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”
“That is why, behind all our fun and games at Christmastime, we should not try to escape a sense of awe, almost a sense of fright, at what God has done. We must never allow anything to blind us to the true significance of what happened at Bethlehem so long ago. Nothing can alter the fact that we live on a visited planet.” ~ J.B. Phillips, The Christian Year
The Fourth Week of Advent – Love The first three candles were lit to represent Hope, Peace, and Joy respectively. This final Sunday of Advent we light the fourth candle, which reminds us of God's Love, demonstrated through the birth of his Son Jesus Christ. John points out that “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:9), and Jesus tells his followers, “Love your enemies and do good to those who hate you” (Luke 6:27). At its core, then, Christianity is characterized by hope, peace, joy and (most of all!) – love! – God's love, present and overflowing in us, being poured out toward others. This seems to be what Isaiah was talking about when he said: Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. ~ Isaiah 58:8 Is your life characterized by hope, peace, joy and especially a deep sense of love – love even for your enemies? If not, we invite you to consider one of the great claims of Christianity: that Christ is alive, well, and truly present here in our midst. Scripture insists that if we recognize God's love for us – even though we were his enemies (Romans 5:10), we too will be free to love those who are different from us – even those who aim to harm us. Jesus did not come simply to “save us” – he came that we might live a full life, a life that overflows with hope, peace, joy, and love. If your life is devoid of these things, perhaps you are not seeing Jesus as clearly as you could. Ask Christ to help you see how deeply he loves you. This week, after reading the Scripture passages provided, we light all four outer candles – the candles of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love – and then conclude with a slightly different call and response: [Reader lights all four outer candles]
Reader: Behold Jesus, the light of the world! Family: Come quickly, Lord Jesus! Sunday, December 23rd We have lit three candles – for Hope, for Peace, and for Joy. This week we add the fourth candle – the candle of Love. With this flame we signify the love of God that surrounds and fills us at all times, but that we recognize in a special way in the Christmas story. There is no greater power than love. It is stronger than rulers and empires, stronger than grief or despair, stronger even than death. We love, because God loves us.
Zephaniah 3:14-17 14 Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! 15 The Lord has taken away the judgments against you; he has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil. 16 On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak. 17 The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”
“Christmas reminds us we are not alone. We are not unrelated atoms, bouncing and ricocheting amid aliens, but are a part of something, which holds and sustains us. As we struggle with shopping lists and invitations, compounded by December's bad weather, it is good to be reminded that there are people in our lives who are worth this aggravation, and people to whom we are worth the same. Christmas shows us the ties that bind us together, threads of love and caring, woven in the simplest and strongest way within the family.” ~ Donald E.Westlake
Monday, December 24th – Christmas Eve It's finally here – Christmas Eve! The night we have all been waiting for! Not because of Santa, not because of presents, but because one night, long ago, God actually visited us in a way nobody had ever dreamed – he took on flesh and became one of us. A tiny helpless little baby, totally dependent on insignificant earthly parents who couldn't even manage to procure lodging. Wow. When God said he'd be with us, we had no idea he meant it this... literally. And if his promises then were meant to be taken seriously, what about now? Will we doubt? Or will we trust? That's really the spirit we're seeking to cultivate this Advent season – faith in God's promises, both then and now.
Matthew 1:18-25 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel” (which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.
“Eternal God, this holy night is radiant with the brilliance of your one true light. May that light illuminate our hearts and shine in our words and deeds. May the hope, the peace, the joy, and the love represented by the birth in Bethlehem this night fill our lives and become part of all that we say and do. May we share the divine life of your son Jesus Christ, even as he humbled himself to share our humanity. Amen!” Tuesday, December 25th - Christmas Day! n this Christmas Day, we light all of the candles on the Advent wreath, including (finally!) the white candle in the center – representing Christ! As you celebrate this Christmas Day, why not begin by pausing – to give thanks for the coming of Jesus the Lord, to ask him to be present in you. Behold, our Light has come!
Luke 2:1-20 1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. 8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” 15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
“When we celebrate Christmas, we are celebrating that amazing time when the Word that shouted all the galaxies into being limited all power and for love of us came into us in the powerless body of a human baby.” ~ Madeline L'Engle