Christmas Day
Scripture Reading for Today:
Isaiah 9:2-7
2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. 3 You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder. 4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. 5 Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire. 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.
Psalm 96
1 Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. 2 Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. 3 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. 4 For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. 6 Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary. 7 Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. 8 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts. 9 Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth. 10 Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.” The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity. 11 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. 12 Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy. 13 Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his faithfulness.
Titus 2:11-14
11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
Luke 2:1-14 (15-20
The Birth of JesusIn those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register. 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
New Life in the Dark
by Elle Pyke
Elle Pyke is the Director of Programs & Innovation for the New Leaf Network. Elle has served on the board of a number of organizations such as Women Powering Technology Global, TEDxWaterlooWomen and The Christian Entrepreneurial Leaders Organization. She is currently pursuing her MA in Theology and Culture from the Institute for Religion, Peace and Justice at St Stephen's University. She loves spending time with friends and family, the great outdoors and all things New Leaf.
There is a small forest near my home that I love to walk in at dusk. The trail is well-worn. My feet know the way by heart. Why do I choose this trail time and again? There are certainly ones that are more peaceful and full. Maybe it's because God and I have done a lot of business there together. I've looked for His divine presence in the soft pine needles on the earthen floor on more than one occasion. I've added a lot of tearful prayers to the sounds of gently swaying trees as night falls.
Dusk is all I can handle for my trail walks; darkness has never been a favourite of mine. I still sleep with a nightlight, after all. I have vivid memories of running up the wooden stairs of my childhood home as fast as my little feet would take me so the basement's darkness wouldn't overtake me. When it comes to darkness, my physical life is remarkably similar to my spiritual life - I am no cheerleader for the dark. You’ll never find me planning a trip there. Bless the childlike feet of my heart for thinking I can outrun grief, anger, and sadness year after year. Even though it is a fool's errand, I still make feeble attempts to run toward the light.
Barbara Brown Taylor’s book Learning to Walk in the Dark has a quote in it that I could not outrun this Advent season, even if I tried. I’ve read it almost every morning as part of my daily practice, sometimes even before my head has left the pillow.
"I have learned things in the dark that I could never have learned in the light, things that have saved my life over and over again, so that there is really only one logical conclusion. I need darkness as much as I need light….new life starts in the dark. Whether it is a seed in the ground, a baby in the womb, or Jesus in the tomb, it starts in the dark."
Likewise, Luke's telling of the Christmas story starts in the night's darkness from the shepherds' perspective. These Ancient Near East outcasts, outdoors at night, in the dark on the late shift. I'm no historian, but I'm guessing city lights or headlamps were not lighting up the night for these gentlemen. There they were, in the field with the moon, the sheep and their deep longing. Patiently waiting for the Messiah they had been promised. Waiting for a burst of light to end the unspeakable and gratuitous violence, the fear and hopelessness, the burden of poverty and economic oppression. They couldn't outrun their darkness either.
And then, a blessed intrusion. Unexpected life happening in the dark. A baby in a dark womb ready to see the light of day. Hope admits despair. People who cried for peace and those who least expected it received it first. The "with-ness" that God promised to Mary, the shepherds now experiencing as a "with-ness" for all of creation. A God that was pleased to be born among the humble, the lowly, those waiting in the dark.
This Christmas morning, wherever you are, I pray that you will experience, deep in your bones, a blessed intrusion into your current darkness. May you know the glory of a newborn King under the rubble and alongside you in whatever valley of the shadow of death you are experiencing. May you celebrate a baby in a manger this Christmas morning who has come and yet will come again, a God who keeps His promises.
May you find this promised peace on the trail walks of your life.
May you see this good news enfleshed in your witness as you hold on to hope that a great light has come into the darkness.
"O holy child of Bethlehem … be born in us today … abide with us, our Lord Immanuel."
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