Merry Christmas!
“In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see-- I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.”
Luke 2:8-11
Today is the last day of the season of Advent, during which we have been preparing ourselves for the coming of the Lord. When the sun sets on the day before Christmas, on the Eve of Christmas, we usher in the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. When I was growing up, my family always went to the midnight mass on Christmas Eve, a service that typically began around 10:30 p.m. with caroling, so the first thing we did on Christmas day was to celebrate the Eucharist. Growing up in Colorado, it was almost always very cold with clear skies as we walked out of the service. You could see millions of stars in the sky and your breath freezing into sparkling ice crystals in the air. I would think about those shepherds on the night of Jesus’ birth, tending their flocks under a similar star-lit sky.
I invite you to think of the shepherds watching their flocks in the dark of night, with only the light from the stars and moon. Then imagine the angel of the Lord appearing before them with the glory of the Lord shining around them. What a terrifying and yet wonderful sight that must have been! Imagine the wonder as the angel told them not to be afraid, that a Savior had been born for them, and know that He was born for us. Take a moment to read the scripture above, Luke 2:8-11, then close your eyes and imagine yourself hearing that good news of great joy for the very first time, learning that the Messiah, the Lord, has been born to save you. Then rejoice. Merry Christmas!
A Christmas Prayer by Robert Louis Stevenson:
Loving Father, Help us remember the birth of Jesus,
that we may share in the song of the angels,
the gladness of the shepherds,
and worship of the wise men.
Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world. Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting. Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clear hearts.
May the Christmas morning make us happy to be thy children, and Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.[i]
