Gospel
24
December 2017
The
Vigil of Christmas Luke 2:1-20
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all
the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken
while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be
registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to
the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and
family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and
who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to
deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in
bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them
in the inn. In that region there were
shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then
an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around
them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be
afraid; for see-- I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people:
to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the
Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of
cloth and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a
multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in
the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!" When
the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one
another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken
place, which the Lord has made known to us." So they went with haste and
found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this,
they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it
were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words
and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising
God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Tonight, as we begin the celebration of Christmas, we are
reminded at what lies at the heart of the celebration. Nothing else matters except the birth of this
child. Without this birth, there is
indeed nothing to celebrate, and there is no Christmas. Tonight, we stand with the first witnesses of
the Incarnation to proclaim in the darkness the Light of the World that shines
forth and shows the way on which we as Christians live and move and have our
being. Our God is in our midst, and life
is changed forever by the presence of God in human flesh.
Father Timothy+
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