Isaiah 9:2-7 LIGHTING THE 4th CANDLE of ADVENT
The people in darkness have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.
You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest.
For the yoke of their burden and the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. There will be justice and righteousness from that time on, and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.
[Light the fourth ADVENT CANDLE]
We are here to celebrate the birth of Jesus, our Lord.
And yes, we know that this date is an arbitrarily assigned one. All the greeting cards with their peaceful snow scenes aside, it is most unlikely to have been snowing in Bethlehem that night. And, it really doesn’t matter at all on what day in what month this Child was born. He was born into a world filled with trouble and strife, much like the one we live in today.
What matters is that he was born into our world of ordinary people, and this is cause for all our celebrations and all our Christmas joy.
This Babe, this Child of God grew into a man of compassion and love. He taught us by his own actions that it is possible to live without hating, to refuse to view anyone who is not part of one’s own ‘tribe’ as an enemy and to instead see each other as fellow children of God – brothers and sisters to us -- deserving the same love that we hope for ourselves.
He lived with us to teach us that love is the answer for most of our problems – and that love is of God and is God’s will for us.
We are here to celebrate the birth of Jesus, our Lord.
And yes, we know that this date is an arbitrarily assigned one. All the greeting cards with their peaceful snow scenes aside, it is most unlikely to have been snowing in Bethlehem that night. And, it really doesn’t matter at all on what day in what month this Child was born. He was born into a world filled with trouble and strife, much like the one we live in today.
What matters is that he was born into our world of ordinary people, and this is cause for all our celebrations and all our Christmas joy.
This Babe, this Child of God grew into a man of compassion and love. He taught us by his own actions that it is possible to live without hating, to refuse to view anyone who is not part of one’s own ‘tribe’ as an enemy and to instead see each other as fellow children of God – brothers and sisters to us -- deserving the same love that we hope for ourselves.
He lived with us to teach us that love is the answer for most of our problems – and that love is of God and is God’s will for us.
Luke 2:1-7 -- CHRIST CANDLE
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world ..... and everyone went to their own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her son in the stable where the animals were kept.. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
[Light the CHRIST CANDLE]
May there be Peace and Hope and Joy and Love aplenty in your life and the lives of all around you.
There are many in our world who won’t find Joy an easy thing to come by right now. Some are grieving losses, some are dealing with painful illnesses, some are lonely and hungry and cold, some are incarcerated – and some are living in the midst of hatred and mindless war.
Such things existed in the world into which Jesus was born – and he still went out and loved the world enough to change it, and to begin the healing this world so desperately needs – that change our hearts need. And may we help bring about a world where those without hope find hope, and those without peace find peace, and those without joy find joy growing in their hearts, and those without love have love being offered them in all circumstance.
Regardless of circumstances, may this season of new birth bring God’s love to you and yours, and may we share that love far and wide. May the Christ-Child be born anew in all our hearts.
May there be Peace and Hope and Joy and Love aplenty in your life and the lives of all around you.
There are many in our world who won’t find Joy an easy thing to come by right now. Some are grieving losses, some are dealing with painful illnesses, some are lonely and hungry and cold, some are incarcerated – and some are living in the midst of hatred and mindless war.
Such things existed in the world into which Jesus was born – and he still went out and loved the world enough to change it, and to begin the healing this world so desperately needs – that change our hearts need. And may we help bring about a world where those without hope find hope, and those without peace find peace, and those without joy find joy growing in their hearts, and those without love have love being offered them in all circumstance.
Regardless of circumstances, may this season of new birth bring God’s love to you and yours, and may we share that love far and wide. May the Christ-Child be born anew in all our hearts.
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