“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not
be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of
great joy for all the people: to you is born this
day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the
Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you
will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and
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 heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favors!’”
~Luke 2.10-14
What a day, right? What a season Christmas has been!
What an ending to 2017.
Isn’t it hard to believe we had 60-degree weather in
the first part of December? And now, reports of
inches of snow AND wind-chill will get down to minus
15! Are. You. Serious. Right. Now?!
Isn’t it beautiful though? All the snow? All the
change? All the ways the world still does her thing
amidst the lives we live? Isn’t it incredible how
God creates mighty mountains and light, fluffy,
snowflakes and cares for us?
Indeed, on this the fifth day of Christmas, we see
how much God loves us.
Yup, this is the fifth day of Christmas. We continue
traveling with the wise men to the manger. We hear
reports of how there was a birth, a star appearing
bright in the night sky, and a baby has the folks in
the executive office shaking in their snow boots.
The holiday music has stopped, and the Christmas
trees are on the curbs, but the Christmas season is
unfolding before us.
The reason for this season is the incarnation. The
birth of Christ is the revelation of God’s heart.
And at the heart of God is celebration. God
celebrates you. God loves you. God delights in you.
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Think about that, please. The God who
created the heavens and the earth, who separated
light from darkness, and brought forth creation, not
only loves you but created you in Her image and
likeness. If that wasn’t enough, God came to us in
the Christ child. The Messiah, who is the Savior,
our Redeemer, was born for all people. Now, like
then, amid all that frightens us, all that we are
anxious about, the impact of the past and concerns
about the future, God is here, and light triumphs.
That, my friends, is such good news!
As the world quiets beneath the white blanket of
snow, silencing the sirens and the incessant barking
of your neighbor's dog, ponder what it means for God
to choose us, all of us, when God’s incarnate Son,
was born, bringing peace, joy, and love into the
world!
I imagine, as you do, you too will proclaim,
‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favors!'
What a day! What a season Christmas is! What a way
to begin!
Indeed, God is good!
[Adam Quine of First Presbyterian Church in
Lincoln] |
