Merry Christmas!! He’s here! Tonight we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the culmination of the last four weeks and the day that points us to His coming again as He promised.
You’ll note that today is one of THREE potential lectionary readings. I chose the first one just because, well, it was first on my list. No matter if these are your readings at church—I think they are good to listen to no matter what. And if you are in a spot where you can’t make it to church, maybe these will serve as a great reflection time for you and your family. I’ve included a couple of video clips this week because they are just too good.
Since Christmas falls on a Sunday this year, there are technically no readings for Christmas Day. These are the readings for Christmas Eve. Also, take note! If you have paraments (fabric that decorates and covers the altar), they aren’t blue anymore! On Christmas Eve they change to white and will remain white through Epiphany. Throughout the year the colors of the altar are yet another reminder of the changing seasons and the passage of time.
Gospel: Luke 2:1-20
God bless Charles Schultz. Thanks to him, these are arguably some of the most familiar Bible verses to an entire generation of kids including me.
For today’s Gospel reading we are in Luke rather than Matthew. We will get back to Matthew with the Wise Men but for now, we get the account of Jesus’ birth from Luke. I’m not going to do an entire introduction to the book of Luke as that is really more of a “Year C” topic. But one thing to be aware of in Luke is the contrast between “high” and “low,” especially with regard to importance and power.
To be honest I’m hesitant to talk about power dynamics because that topic has been so thoroughly overtaken by Marxism and “critical thinking.” But it’s terribly important to this passage and throughout Luke’s Gospel. Again and again, he contrasts those who have earthly or political “power” with the power of God. It’s impossible to see Jesus’ birth in anything but humble circumstances.
I could write a LOT about this passage, and many people who are much smarter than I am have already done so. Just for today, let’s reflect on who is involved in this passage. We’ll just step through the characters as they are introduced.
- Caesar Augustus: the most powerful person in the world at the time. The Kyrios of the world, held up as a god as was each Roman emperor during his lifetime. Calling for a census was a huge power move: it let the emperor take stock of what he had as well as plan military and tax strategies. Inconvenient? Who cares!
- Quirinius: The governor of the backwater eastern region of Rome.
- Joseph: We met him last week. A craftsman and faithful Jew, he lived in Nazareth. But since his family was originally from Bethlehem, he and Mary made the 100-mile journey “up” to that small city for the census. Bethlehem was just a little town—Micah 5:2 specifically calls it out both as “too little to be among the clans of Judah” AND as the birthplace of the Messiah. It was a small town south of Jerusalem.
- Mary: Joseph’s betrothed, hugely pregnant but making the journey anyway.
- The firstborn son: Spoiler. Jesus! She placed him in the manger, an animal food trough—which Luke thinks is important enough to point out three different times.
- Shepherds: This was a low-status job, especially NIGHT shepherds. As a matter of fact, one commentary I read said that shepherds at that time were considered so unreliable that their testimony was inadmissible in trial!
So here we have the single most powerful man in the world at the time, and his lieutenant, followed closely by some of the least powerful people in the world, a bunch of nobodies, really. And then we meet:
- An angel of the Lord: This language is important! An angel “of the Lord” was a messenger, and this is the THIRD time in Luke that we meet an angel of the Lord. Gabriel is named specifically in his annunciation to Mary, but we don’t know if it’s the same one here. In addition, remember that Joseph also had an angel appear to him in a dream. That appearance was in Matthew. But this news isn’t just for Zechariah, or Mary, or Joseph. This news is for everyone. Glory to God!
The angel says “Fear Not!” This is a good place to pause and compare Caesar and Jesus. Caesar wants people to fear him. When he tells someone to do something, they do it because they are afraid not to—they fear the consequences. Jesus doesn’t want us cowering and afraid. He wants strong, brave men and women who do not fear. He invites us, and He exhorts us to be brave and not fearful.
- A multitude of angels: Glory to God, indeed. Arrayed more powerfully than any emperor’s army, but SINGING. Glorifying God and preaching PEACE, not war, to the friends of God. “In exclesis Deo.”
Imagine the shepherds, roused out of nighttime torpor by light, a loud voice, and then the entire heavenly host! They were told to go and see, and they did. A baby in swaddling clothes was normal, but NOT one lying in a manger. And that brings us to the last actors in our little drama:
- All who heard: the townsfolk. They “wondered.” Imagine the excitement, the skepticism, the gossip and the energy. Bethlehem was already buzzing because of the census. In some quarters it probably felt like a family reunion. But then the news that a bunch of shepherds had seen angels, and then went and found a strange scene that was exactly what had been described. Can you imagine? Would you have gossiped? Tried to go find this baby? Decided it was all just a joke?
God used Augustus’ plans for power to execute His own plans for rescue. Jesus came into a tiny town, as a little baby, for the greatest purpose possible, one that leads to the cross. And he did it for me and for you. Glory to God in the highest, indeed.
Old Testament: Isaiah 9:2-7
Handel set these words to music as part of his Messiah chorale. If it’s possible to make them even more beautiful, he did. Just enjoy. Honestly, if you can, enjoy the entire chorale this weekend. I think it’s one of the most miraculous, beautiful pieces of music ever written.
Who is coming? One man, many roles:
- Wonderful counselor
- Mighty God
- Everlasting Father
- Prince of Peace
All of this but born as a child, a son.
Sing a new song! It is a NEW day!
This is one of my very favorite Psalms. It’s easy to imagine David leaping and dancing with this one—the joy is from first to last, barely contained in the verses. The Psalmist recounts his overwhelming gratitude and the recognition of the sheer goodness of the Lord.
Declare His work to ALL the people. For ALL the earth.
For you and me, friend.
New Testament: Titus 2:11-14
Titus was a coworker of Paul’s, and this letter was written after his first imprisonment. Paul is free and is trying to figure out ways to spread the Gospel to Spain. This is one of the “Pastoral” letters, like Timothy 1 and 2. The pastoral letters were aimed more at the leaders of churches and ministers rather than at converting or sustaining bodies of believers. Paul is able to talk more directly and specifically about ministry in them.
This passage is a set of instructions in how to live the in-between time: after Jesus earthly ministry but before his return. It’s the time we are in, too, and therefore the instructions apply to us as well as Titus. It’s our response to the angel’s appearing:
- Renounce ungodliness and worldly passions
- Live self-controlled lives
- Wait for Jesus to come again.
And he points out the necessity of Jesus’ coming the first time: Jesus came to redeem us, and he came to make a people pure as a possession for Himself. Paul’s challenge for Titus, and us, is to live out the reality of being a people redeemed and set apart. Jesus came, as promised. He will come again, as promised!
Prayer
Glory to You, Lord! You sent Your Son, as You promised! Thank You for the new day that ushered in. Thank You for the daily opportunity to be Your people, set apart for You, living lives of self-control, godliness, and LOVE. Thank You for the beauty that Your gift inspires in the world. Help me to add to that beauty and that glory today and always. Amen.
