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Advent Week Four - Friday
By Pat Lee | December 23, 2011
Friday - December 23rd: The shepherds praised and glorified God for all they had heard and seen
Scripture: (Isaiah 9:6-7, 11:1-2; Micah 5:2-4). Psalm 97:1-6, 11-12 Luke 2:15-20
Reflection: The first to hear the good news of the Saviour’s birth were not the rulers and religious leaders of Israel who were robed in riches and power. The angels came to humble shepherds to announce the birth of a king who was born in poverty and was now lying in a manger made for animals. After the angels had sung their hymn of glory in the presence of the shepherds, the shepherds went to adore the newborn king and sing their hymn of glory.
In the Christmas Season each year we commemorate past events – the birth of the Messiah—and we celebrate the present reality – Jesus Christ our redeemer who reigns in heaven also lives in our hearts through the gift the Holy Spirit received in our baptism and is in our midst when we gather in his name. We thank God for sending Jesus to us to offer us forgiveness for our sin and a new redeemed life as we try to continue Jesus’ mission and ministry as his church.
We thank God for the fact that, in Jesus, God became one of us–in order to offer us forgiveness and a healed redeemed relationship with God in the Kingdom of God.
In the Christmas Season Angels and Archangels and the whole company of heaven join with us in a song of praise for the good news proclaimed by the angels: Behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people, for to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:10-11).
Ultimately the joy of Christmas is not just for a day or a season. It is the joy that comes with knowing that Jesus is present in our hearts and in our midst through the Holy Spirit received in our baptism. This a joy which no pain nor sorrow can defeat, and which neither life nor death can take away.
“Lord our God, with the birth of your Son, your glory breaks on the world. As we celebrate his first coming, give us a foretaste of the joy that awaits us when the fullness of his glory has fills the earth and your kingdom comes on earth as it is in heaven.”
Topics: Advent |
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