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Christmas Eve Reflection and Prayer

Luke 2 – King James Version

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

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For four Sundays in Advent, we have been waiting and preparing for this, for the coming of Christ into the world. Emmanuel, God-with-us in the form of a tiny human baby, precious and helpless and innocent. 

God was born in a stable, on the ground, and laid in a feed trough re-purposed as a bed. Born to a teen-age mother, surrounded by livestock, first witnessed by shepherds; God made themselves accessible to the least of us. 

And yet, some of us may feel shut off from God, from the church, from acceptance. We internalize the rejection that there is no room for us at the inn. Maybe we are painfully aware of our failings, our shortcomings, our sins. Maybe religious officials have shamed us in the past and we feel oh so un-holy. Maybe we don’t go to church, or don’t go often and we feel guilty.  Here is the good news… 

Luke’s gospel tells us “to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior…” 

“Fear not!” By using Mary, by being born in a stable, by appearing first to shepherds—we can know that God is for everyone. God can and will appear to anyone, anywhere. God is here, in this world, and God is here for you, and for each and every one of us. Just as we are. 

Having received the gift, the light of Christ in this world, now what can we do? 

We can become as the angels that appear, proclaiming, “Fear not!”     We can bring “good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” We can welcome everyone. We can be bearers of hope, peace, joy and love in all times and in all places. 

Having received the gift, the light of Christ in this world, now what must we do? 

I hear the answer in this prayer poem of Howard Thurman.

The Work of Christmas

When the song of the angels is stilled, 

When the star in the sky is gone, 

When the kings and princes are home, 

When the shepherds are back with their flock,

The work of Christmas begins:

To find the lost,

To heal the broken,

To feed the hungry,

To release the prisoner,

To rebuild the nations,

To bring peace among others,

To make music in the heart. 

Let us each, as we leave this place, begin, or continue, the work of Christmas.

Amen Rev. TJ Mack – December 24, 2024