Lectionary for Christmas Day
I bring you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:10-11
Collect. Almighty God and Father of light, a Child is born for us and a Son is given to us. Your eternal Word leapt down from heaven in the silent watches of the night, and now your Church is filled with wonder at the nearness of her God. Open our hearts to receive his life and increase our vision with the rising of dawn, that our lives may be filled with his glory and his peace, who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
Reading. Titus 3:4-7. This is a familiar reading that is used as we approach the celebration of the birth of Jesus. So, while this reading has a particular focus for us, when it was first penned it was written in order to encourage a congregation struggling with significant problems. We know very little about Titus, the recipient of this letter. We do know that he was a Gentile Christian who was appointed by Paul to give leadership to the church in Corinth. Thus these four verses give a short but clear overview of the Christian message. Firstly it heralds the arrival of Jesus Christ while at the same time reminds the Christians that Jesus Christ was no other than God himself: Between God and Jesus Christ there is no division. This reminds us again that in Jesus Christ, God is our Saviour. By saying that he “appeared” is a reminder that something new is breaking through. With the appearance of the Saviour Paul is contrasting the old nature with the new nature that salvation brings.
Paul then reminds Titus that this salvation is God’s initiative, a believer plays no part in the salvation gained it comes because of God’s mercy. The past is washed away. There is no merit in “good deeds” God wants to give each one a fresh, clean start. It is Isaiah who reminds us that when we approach God we need the clean start that Jesus here is offering. (Isaiah 64:6)
Some commentators consider that the washing Paul describes is a reference to baptism but others note that the word used to describe “washing” is not one of the usual words relating to baptism: Rather, this is much more a deep inner cleansing that God achieves on our behalf. While it does not discount baptism the sense is of an inner cleaning that radically changes life and attitudes. (Could we perhaps suggest that this may be a forerunner to a believer wishing to be baptised as a recognition of what God has already done!)
However, Paul then moves on to his main point to show that this outpouring of grace through the Holy Spirit is centred in Jesus Christ. It is on Him that our attention is centred. As we read this passage to celebrate the festival of Christmas Paul’s reminder takes us from a babe in a manger to the towering stature of our Lord Jesus Christ whose ministry has had such a profound influence on all those who believe. A reminder that God in his mercy has changed the world.
Prayer. O come, O come Emmanuel and ransom captive Israel. Lord we thank you for coming among us and for bringing us new life in the Holy Spirit. We thank you for your faithfulness and for the promise of your glorious return. May the love that reflects your presence surround all who will gather to celebrate in remembrance of all that you have won for mankind. Help us to always keep your love and care in view as we make the choices that guide the ways that we go. May our living be in keeping with your will and bring you the praise and glory you deserve. We praise your Name. Amen
Reading. Luke 2:[1-7] 8-20. This story is so familiar that we can so easily rush over the words, not fully understanding their meaning. Then again, after hearing it explained so many times perhaps we may feel that there is nothing original left to say. While that may be true somehow each year Luke’s record seems to sparkle with a newness that is unique. Perhaps that is because we view a moment in history which has links right up to the present day. Luke has woven so many normal events into the story that it is easy to place ourselves into the description. The story is anchored into a defined time in history and Joseph and Mary are normal people forced into action by laws and regulations. As is so often the case, life does not run smoothly and they are forced to compromise. This is all so normal we can easily identify with all that is happening.
It is then that Luke opens up a much wider picture with shepherds, again ordinary people, who are low on the pecking order being confronted with a celestial message. This moves the ordinary to the amazing and stirs the shepherds into action, so much so that they leave their flocks and search for and find the baby in a manger. However by Luke’s description even the lowly shepherds know that this is not simply a birth to celebrate but the action of God. Luke makes it clear that the blessing of God revealed in this birth is for every strata of society. The key theme is the message from the heavenly host, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors”. This is the essential message that Luke is wishing to convey. It is the coming of Jesus that brings to us the blessing of God in order to change our lives and equip us to live in harmony with God and with all God’s people. God is here and like the shepherds we need to open our hearts and minds to find that the blessing the angels announced is still present among us. We remember the birth story but it is the journey that we have travelled with Jesus until this point that gives the birth so much significance and power. It is who we see Jesus to be now that gives us such deep feelings about the story of nativity and enables us to accept afresh the salvation that he has won. He is no longer the babe in the manger but Saviour of the world and we now wait with expectation for his coming in glory to reign on the peace filled earth.
Prayer. Lord, you are the giver of every good gift and so today we thank you for the gift of Christmas; that Christ came and made his home with us, bringing new possibilities for us out of your love. He brought the light which shines into the darkness of our world like a beacon of hope which illuminates every heart that trusts in him. When the tinsel and the fairy lights have gone, we thank you most sincerely that his beacon of light will still be shining. Once more at Christmas we are reminded that we are blessed indeed by your grace made visible in Jesus Christ our Lord. All praise be to you Lord God. Amen.
Collect. O God our Father, whose Word has come among us in the Holy Child of Bethlehem: may the light of faith illumine our hearts and shine in our words and deeds; through him who is Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
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