December 24, 2025

 

Suggested Readings

Isaiah 9:2-7

Psalm 96

Titus 2:11-14

Like 2:1-14

 

The angelic announcement is one of “good news!” It is certainly a pertinent and necessary word of hope in a world ravaged by war, hatred, bigotry, and idolatry. As human beings we often make the tragic mistake of elevating a human being to God-like status. This is demonic and destroys the image of God in which each of us is created.

 

The message delivered to the shepherds is that the King of Kings came into the world as a humble child, wrapped in bands of cloth, and placed in a manger. It doesn’t sound very regal. And in fact, it was not regal at all. It was God’s Son birthed in humble surroundings, raised as the village carpenter, identifying with ordinary people in their daily lives.

 

God’s Son knew the hunger of a forty-day fast. Jesus understood the human frailty of temptation, and the power of prayer. Jesus surrounded himself with ordinary people, fisherfolk, tax collectors, women, a revolutionary, and one who betrayed him.

 

Each week we gather to worship God’s Son with music, prayer, scripture, and the spoken word. It is an appropriate response to the gift of salvation that is freely offered to each of us through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus the Christ.

 

On this night, let us pause in the midst of parties, dinners, and other celebrations to remember God’s gift of the Son whose presence changed the course of our lives and made the gift of salvation possible.

 

“Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people”

 

Proclaim it. Live it!