Luke 2:8-14
- From: "Hildi" <hildigard8@xxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 25 Dec 2005 11:39:00 -0600
Bible Verse
-- Luke 2:8-14 --
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over
their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory
of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said
to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be
for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to
you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby
wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel,
praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The greatest event in history had just happened! The Messiah had been born!
For ages, the Jews had waited for this, and when it finally occurred, the
announcement came to humble shepherds. The good news about Jesus is that he
comes to all, including the plain and the ordinary. He comes to anyone with
a heart humble enough to accept him. Whoever you are, whatever you do, you
can have Jesus in your life. Don't think you need extraordinary
qualifications -- he accepts you as you are.
<><><><>
December 25th - Birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ
The birth of Jesus was both an ending and a beginning. It was the
fulfillment of the long awaited Old Testament "Promise of a Messiah" and the
birth of the New Testament "Promise of Salvation." Throughout the world
Christmas is celebrated with many and varied traditions. It is a time of
renewal and a time of peacemaking. Unfortunately it is also a birthday that
many have forgotten. Today is a good day to stop. To take some time, even if
only a few minutes to think about, "What Does Christmas really mean."
The "Catechism of the Catholic Church" tells us:
(525) Jesus was born in a humble stable, into a poor family. Simple
shepherds were the first witnesses to this event. In this poverty heaven's
glory was made manifest. The Church never tires of singing the glory of this
night.
The Virgin today brings into the world the Eternal
And the earth offers a cave to the Inaccessible.
The angels and shepherds praise him
And the magi advance with the star,
For you are born for us
Little child, God eternal! (Kontakion of Romanos the Melodist)
To become a child in relation to God is the condition for entering the
kingdom. For this, we must humble ourselves and become little. Even more: to
become "children of God" we must be "born from above" or "born of God." Only
when Christ is formed in us will the mystery of Christmas be fulfilled in
us. Christmas is the mystery of this "marvelous exchange."
O marvelous exchange! Man's Creator has become man, born of the Virgin. We
have been made sharers in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to
share our humanity. (Antiphon I of Evening Prayer for January 1st)
The name Christmas comes from the Old English Cristes-messe, which means
"Mass of Christ." There have been several explanations of how it came to be
celebrated on December 25th. The one most scholars accept today is that
Christ's birth was assigned to the date of the winter solstice, December 25
in the Julian Calendar and Jan. 6 in the Egyptian calendar. This coincided
with the pagan celebration of the birthday of the sun.
On Dec. 25th of the year 274, the emperor Aurelian dedicated a temple to the
sun-god and made him the primary patron of the empire. The celebration of
Christmas originated at a time when this pagan festival was especially
strong in Rome. From the beginning of the 3rd century the title, "Sun of
Justice," was given to Christ. The first verifiable date of the celebration
of this feast comes from the, "Depositio Martyrum," which was composed in
336 and the oldest Christmas sermon still in existence dates back to 383
from Numidia in Africa. While historians have not been able to prove with
certainty that our feast of Christmas was begun to counteract the pagan
festival, this seems to be the most plausible reason for Dec. 25th to have
been chosen.
The history of the Christmas creche or crib probably dates back to the
manger in Bethlehem itself, as told in Luke's Gospel, Chapter 2:7-8. It was
made very popular in 1223 by St. Francis of Assisi. The tradition of a
Christmas tree probably comes from 17th century Strasbourg, where it
originated from the Paradise Tree decorated with apples on Dec. 24th in
honor of Adam and Eve. Another tradition made popular by St. Francis of
Assisi was the Christmas Carol, although the first Christmas Hymns date back
to the 5th century and the more popular Christmas carols of today only date
back to the 19th century
The exchange of Christmas gifts may have first come from a pagan tradition
of exchanging gifts on January 1st. This tradition has gone through many
interpretations through the centuries, and presently most countries exchange
gifts on December 25th, but Italy and Spain do so on the feast of the Magi,
January 6th and France exchanges them on January 1st. Also the giver of the
gifts has been seen as different people. For some it is the Christ Child
himself, for others it is Father Christmas and/or St. Nicholas, in Italy it
is Befana, an old woman in the story of Epiphany. In the United States it is
generally Santa Claus, which originally was probably an evolution of St.
Nicholas.
Perhaps this would be a good time for you to get together with children,
grandchildren, nieces, nephews and read from the Bible, Luke chapters 1 and
2, especially Chapter 2 verse 11, "Today in the town of David a Savior has
been born to you; He is Christ the Lord." Then spend some time thinking
about and talking about what this means to each of you.
<<>><<>>
This day we celebrate the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord.
The following is a prayer to the Most Holy Trinity:
Lord Jesus Christ, on this feast of the Nativity I render unto
Thee my soul, my body, my will, my prayer, and my unfailing
fidelity to Thy Holy Church. May each breath of mine offer
praise and thanksgiving for that which I have received from
Thy bounty; and may what I possess be for the good of my
immortal soul. For love of Thee I offer all I am, my infant
Lord.
In Thy goodness grant unto me through the grace of the Holy
Ghost the deepest purity and wisdom, the intercession of Thy
Holy Angels and Saints on my behalf, and the love and
protection of Thy most blessed Mother.
Glory to Thee, God our Father, who art creation's Author and
Sovereign of all. Thou who livest and reignest with the Son in
the unity of the Holy Ghost, have mercy on me this day and
all the days of my life, 'til that time when pray my soul shall
come through the Judgment to rest in Thy peace, which
never ends. Amen.
.
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