Lectionary Reflection
Christmas I [All Years]
Gospel Reading
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Luke 2: 1-14 (15-21)
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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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| New
Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989
by the Division of Christian Education of the
National Council of the Church of Christ in the
USA, and used by permission. |
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Reflection
on Luke 2: 1-14 (15-21)
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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John
G. Gibbs, PhD, a retired theologan, attended Trinity Episcopal
Church, Park Rapids, MN, when he originally wrote this reflection
in 1998. He and we welcome your comments. Please address
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Gibbs or any MEESC
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