And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ[a] the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2: 9-14
“Love came down on Christmas Day so many years ago and brought the greatest happiness the world would ever know. Peace came down on Christmas Day to fill the hearts of men with all the sweet tranquility each Christmas brings again. Joy came down on Christmas Day as angels came to earth heralding the miracle of our Messiah’s birth.”
Author Unknown
“Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.”- Matthew 1:23
“God has entrusted his last, deepest and most beautiful word to the world, in the Word made flesh. This Word says: I love you world, man and woman. I am there. I am with you. I am your life. I am your time. I weep your tears. I am your joy. Do not be afraid. When you do not know how to go any further, I am with you. I am in your anguish, because I suffered it myself. I am in your need and your death, because today I began to live and to die with you. I am your life. I promise you: for you,too, life is waiting. For you, too, the gates will open.” These moving words are from Karl Rahner at the closing of a Christmas sermon copied from a wonderful Christian blog by Colleen Spiro
After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east[a] went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.Matthew 2:9-11
On June 5 2009, a baby changed everything. Kyla Eve my granddaughter was born. I wrote on this blog: “Did you hear it? That loud whooshing noise last Friday? At the exact moment of my new granddaughter’s birth, with her first intake of air, Kyla Eve stole my heart. Love for this new child swiftly gushed into my core and changed me forever.”
I imagine Mary and Joseph felt the same as they held the newborn Jesus in their arms. Not only were they changed forever, but the whole world changed. God’s love whooshed into each of our hearts, healing us with his love.
A Baby changed everything.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. John 1: 1-5
May the Word dwell within each one of us as we come and adore the newborn King. May God continue to bless you and hold you in his arm this Holy Christmas season and for the rest of your eternal life.
Jeanie
I love the words, “I am your time,” I had never thought of that before. Good words for today, dear friend. Merry Christmas