Christmas Eve – Luke 2:1-20

[The Angel says] Don’t be afraid! Listen! I bring good news, news of great joy, news that will affect all people everywhere. (Luke 2:10, VOICE)

It’s A Wonderful Life; A Christmas Carol; The Name of that Christmas Poem!

All of these are wonderful expressions of the joy that can be found this time of year, all centering around this day. Sometimes it can even feel as if it is in those (and in other Christmas favorites, those happen to be some of mine) where we find that good news, of great joy.

But, these stories, wonderful though they may be, cannot even begin to touch the truly great news.

Once, God seemed far off. Once, it was easy to wonder if God cared. Once, we couldn’t point anywhere and say, “This is where God has, is and will act!”

But, no longer!

No longer can we say we live in a world that God has not broken into. No longer can we say that we live in a world with a far-off God. For, God has become one of us… taking on our frailties and frustrations, our strengths and weaknesses. God knows what it feels like to feel abandoned and hopeless. God knows, because, in Jesus God is here and is one of us. That is the truly wonderful news about Christmas.

Almighty God, you made this holy night shine with the brightness of the true Light. Grant that here on earth we may walk in the light of Jesus’ presence and in the last day wake to the rightness of his glory; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

– The Editors