Grant, we implore You, Heavenly Father, that the new birth of Your only-begotten Son in the flesh may set us free, who are held in the old bondage under the yoke of our sin; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Collect for Christmas)
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God" (John 1:1-2). We hear in St. John's Gospel that in the beginning, God created all things through His Word, His Son. But man fell into sin, and with man all Creation was cursed. Therefore, God spoke His Word again- this time into the womb of the blessed Virgin Mary. The glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle of our human nature (Exodus 40: 17-21, 34-38). "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us" (John 1:14).
The Son of God took on our flesh and blood in order that we might receive the right to become children of God through faith. Truly in Christ the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man has appeared.
The season of Christmas begins on Christmas Eve with the celebration of Our Lord's birth. In the Nativity, Bethlehem has now become the new Eden, for paradise will now be opened with the birth of Christ. Look not upon Him who was laid in the manger as a babe merely, but in our poverty see Him who as God is rich, and in the measure of our humanity Him who prospers those in heaven, and who therefore is glorified even by the angels. And how noble was the hymn, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, and among men good will!'
Heaven and earth are united in the Nativity, for Christ is born. God has come upon earth, and mankind gone up to heaven.
To God be the glory,
Pastor Ray
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God" (John 1:1-2). We hear in St. John's Gospel that in the beginning, God created all things through His Word, His Son. But man fell into sin, and with man all Creation was cursed. Therefore, God spoke His Word again- this time into the womb of the blessed Virgin Mary. The glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle of our human nature (Exodus 40: 17-21, 34-38). "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us" (John 1:14).
The Son of God took on our flesh and blood in order that we might receive the right to become children of God through faith. Truly in Christ the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man has appeared.
The season of Christmas begins on Christmas Eve with the celebration of Our Lord's birth. In the Nativity, Bethlehem has now become the new Eden, for paradise will now be opened with the birth of Christ. Look not upon Him who was laid in the manger as a babe merely, but in our poverty see Him who as God is rich, and in the measure of our humanity Him who prospers those in heaven, and who therefore is glorified even by the angels. And how noble was the hymn, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, and among men good will!'
Heaven and earth are united in the Nativity, for Christ is born. God has come upon earth, and mankind gone up to heaven.
To God be the glory,
Pastor Ray