Time in the Word: The Nativity of Our Lord
[This week,
Time in the Word includes summaries of all the
Old Testament, Epistle, and Gospel readings appointed for
Christmas, the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord.]
Old Testament, Epistle, and Gospel readings appointed for
Christmas, the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord.]
CHRISTMAS
EVE
O. T.: Isaiah 7:10–14 — Epistle: 1 John 4:7–16 —
Gospel: Matthew 1:18–25
The Word of the Lord Is Fulfilled in the Flesh of
Jesus
Though Ahaz would not ask, the Lord gives a sign to
the House of David, that “the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and
shall call his name Immanuel” (Is.
7:14 ). With this promise He signifies that salvation is by His
grace alone; it is no work or achievement of man, but the Lord’s own work and
His free gift. The promise is fulfilled as the Son of God is conceived and born
of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the sign is received in faith by the House of
David in the person of Joseph (Matt. 1:20–24 ). “Incarnate by
the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary” (Nicene Creed), God is with us (Immanuel)
in the flesh of Jesus, Mary’s Son. Joseph believes that Word of God and so
demonstrates a marvelous example in his immediate and quiet obedience, taking
Mary to be his wife and caring for her in faith and love. He loves her because
the love of God is manifest in this, that “the Father has sent His Son to be
the Savior of the world,” “to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:9–12 ).
CHRISTMAS
MIDNIGHT
O.T.: Isaiah 9:2–7 — Epistle: Titus 2:11–14 — Gospel: Luke
2:1–14 (15–20)
The Light of Christ Shines Forth in the Darkness
Heaven and earth rejoice on this night, because the
glory of the Holy Trinity is manifested in the human birth of “our great God
and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus
2:13 ), through whom the Father’s grace and mercy permeate the world.
Death’s silence is nullified by this “good news of great joy that will be
for all the people” (Luke
2:10 ). And all we who have gone astray like lost and wandering
sheep, who have “walked in the darkness” of doubt, fear, and sinful
unbelief, behold “a great light” in the nativity of Jesus Christ (Is. 9:2 ). In Him “the grace of
God has appeared” (Titus 2:11 ).
For this child of Mary who is born for us, this dear Son of God who is given to
us, bears the burden of our sin and death in His own body on the cross. By
initiating and fulfilling His earthly journey from nativity to crucifixion,
Christ establishes a government of peace, “with justice and with
righteousness,” which shall have no end; not by any work of man, but “the
zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this” (Is. 9:7 ).
CHRISTMAS
DAWN
O.T.: Isaiah 62:10–12 — Ep.: Titus 3:4–7 — Gospel: Luke 2:(1–14)
15–20
Christ Jesus Reveals Himself in the Signs He Has Given
to His Church
The Lord has not forsaken us. He has come to us and
sought us out to save us (Is.
62:11–12 ), so that, “being justified by His grace we might
become heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:7 ). In Christ Jesus,
conceived and born of Mary, “the goodness and loving kindness of God our
Savior appeared” (Titus 3:4 ).
Now He is lifted up in the Gospel, “a signal over the peoples” (Is. 62:10 ), that He might call
us to rejoice in His salvation. St. Luke emphasizes the signs by which the
shepherds once found Him: in Bethlehem, the City of David, “wrapped in
swaddling cloths and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:12 ). The same Lord Jesus reveals Himself to us in
the sure and certain signs of His Gospel. His Church is a true Bethlehem
(House of Bread); for the Son of David, “a Savior, who is Christ the Lord”
(Luke 2:11 ), feeds us
with His Body and His Blood from the manger of His altar, wrapped in under and
with bread and wine. We ponder these mysteries as we receive the Word of God
and live out our vocations, “glorifying and praising God” (Luke 2:19–20 ).
CHRISTMAS
DAY
O.T.: Isaiah 52:7–10 — Ep.: Hebrews 1:1–6 (7–12) — Gospel:
John 1:1–14 (15–18)
The Living and Life-Giving Word of God Dwells Among Us
in the Flesh
The Lord sends out His ministers of the Gospel to make
disciples “of all the nations,” so that “all the ends of the earth
shall see the salvation of our God.” The Lord has “bared His holy arm”
in the incarnate Christ (Is. 52:7 ,
10 ). The child in
the manger, born of the Mary, is the very Word of God, the only-begotten Son of
the Father, “whom He appointed the heir of all things, through whom He also
created the world” (Heb. 1:2 ).
As “all things were made through Him” (John 1:3 ), so are all things redeemed and made new in
Him. In his body of flesh and blood, we behold “the radiance of the glory of
God” (Heb. 1:3 ),
“glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14 ). He dwells among us
in peace, that we might have life and light and salvation in Him. For by His
Word of the Gospel, we are born again as the children of God, bearing His name
and sharing His eternal life. (In the picture at right, ὁ λόγος is Greek for ‘the Word’).
Prayer for grace to receive the Word: Blessed Lord, You have
caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning. Grant that we may so
hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them that, by patience and
comfort of Your holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope
of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and rules with
You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
A Prayer
for the Morning: Faithful
God, whose mercies are new to us every morning, we humbly pray that You would look
upon us in mercy and renew us by Your Holy Spirit. Keep safe our going out and
our coming in, and let Your blessing remain with us throughout this day.
Preserve us in Your righteousness, and grant us a portion in that eternal life
which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Additional collects for the season:
Sources: Prayers from Lutheran Service Book ©
2006 Concordia Publishing House
Collect for Pentecost 24 from Lutheran Worship © Concordia Publishing House
Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series C by John Brokhoff © 1979 CSS Publishing Lima OH
Schnorr von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS permission granted for personal and congregational use
Almighty
God, You have poured into our hearts the true Light of Your incarnate Word.
Grant that this Light may shine forth in our lives; through the same Jesus
Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives, and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen.
O
God, You make us glad with the yearly remembrance of the birth of Your only-begotten
Son, Jesus Christ. Grant that, as we joyfully receive Him as our Redeemer, we
may with sure confidence behold Him when He comes to be our Judge; through the
same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Almighty
God, grant that the birth of Your only-begotten Son in the flesh may set us
free from the bondage of sin; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who
lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Collect
for Christmas Eve: O
God, You make us glad with the yearly remembrance of the birth of Your
only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Grant that as we joyfully receive Him as our
Redeemer, we may with sure confidence behold Him when He comes to be our Judge;
Collect
for Christmas Midnight: O
God, You make this most holy night to shine with the brightness of the true
Light. Grant that as we have known the mysteries of that Light on earth we may
also come to the fullness of his joys in heaven;
Collect
for Christmas Dawn: Most
merciful God, You gave Your eternal Word to become incarnate of the pure
Virgin. Grant Your people grace to put away fleshly lusts, that they may be
ready for Your visitation;
Collect
for Christmas Day: Almighty
God, grant that the birth of Your only-begotten Son in the flesh may set us
free from the bondage of sin; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who
lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Collect for Christmas 1 – O God, our Maker and Redeemer, You wonderfully created us and in the incarnation of Your son, yet more wondrously restored our human nature. Grant that we may ever be alive in Him who made Himself to be like us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives, and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Collect for Pentecost 24 from Lutheran Worship © Concordia Publishing House
Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series C by John Brokhoff © 1979 CSS Publishing Lima OH
Schnorr von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS permission granted for personal and congregational use
No comments:
Post a Comment