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Lectionary Reflection
Christmas I [all years]
Gospel Reading
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Luke
2: 1-14 (15-20)
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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 Saviour, 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 favours!’*
[ 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.]
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Reflection on Luke 2: 1-14
(15-20)
by
John G. Gibbs, PhD
Worship embraces world. The first Hymnbook of God's
People sings repeated variations of that theme. "O sing
to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.
– Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field
exult, and everything in it. Then shall all the trees
of the forest sing for joy before the Lord–" (Ps. 96:11-12).
Luke's Birth Story takes up this tradition, and here
too worship embraces world. Jesus' cradle is accompanied
by starlit fields, shepherd, flocks of sheep, even a
special heavenly visitation by an angel. A child "wrapped
in bands of cloth" is also wrapped in the sounds of
cosmic acclamation when "a multitude of the heavenly
host" sings: "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and
on earth peace among those whom he favors" (Luke 2:13-14).
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To Reflections on other RCL Readings for Christmas
I (Primary Service), All Years:
| Reflections available at the
active links |
Reading
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| Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Reading |
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| Psalm |
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| New Testament Reading: |
Titus 2: 11-14
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| Gospel (this page): |
Luke 2: 1-14 (15-20)
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John
G. Gibbs, PhD, a retired theologian, attended Trinity Episcopal
Church, Park Rapids, MN, when he originally wrote this reflection
in 1998. He and we welcome your comments. Please address
your comments or additional reflections to John
Gibbs or any MEESC
member, or mail them to:
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MEESC
c/o C. Morello
4451 Lakeside Drive
Eveleth, MN 55743-4400 USA |
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The MEESC assumes
that all correspondence received is for publication on this
web site. If your comments are not for publication, please
so note on your correspondence. The MEESC reserves the right
to decide which items are included on the website.
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