“My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or
modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to
wait for Christmas to do that?” ― Bob Hope (American Actor 1903 – 2003)
Gospel Text: (LK 1:67-79)
Zechariah his father, filled with the
Holy Spirit, prophesied, saying:
“Blessed be the Lord, the God of
Israel;
for he has come to his people and set
them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty
Savior,
born of the house of his servant
David.
Through his prophets he promised of
old
that he would save us from our
enemies,
from the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our
fathers
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath he swore to our
father Abraham:
to set us free from the hand of our
enemies,
free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
You, my child, shall be called the
prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord to
prepare his way,
to give his people knowledge of
salvation
by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon
us,
to shine on those who dwell in
darkness and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of
peace.”
Jesus was born into a very lowly
place. This is the wonderful sign of God's self-emptying. This is how God chose
to come and be among us - as a new born baby, in a manger, a feeding trough.
Our Savior comes in this way, and it can become most meaningful today, if we
let ourselves “chew” this good news, in the midst of whatever we are doing. It
can mean so much if we let it. It can be a part of what we celebrate tonight
and tomorrow. Yes, there might be people and parties, and there might be gifts
shared. But, we can be filled with something our world will likely not be
celebrating - that our God is a God who desires to meet us in the lowliest
places in our lives.
God with us, Jesus, comes to
"save his people from their sins."
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