Sunday 12/25/05 Year B - Christmas Day

Isaiah 52:7-10
Psalm 98
Hebrews 1:1-4
John 1:1-18

In our own time God has spoken to us
through his own Son,
the radiant light of God's glory
through whom he made everything.
May this Son, Jesus the Lord, be with you.

Many times in the course of history God spoke and his word was effective and liberating. He spoke, and the world was made. He spoke, and man and woman were created. He spoke, and he created the free nation of Israel, his Chosen People. But Israel refused to listen to God in the prophets and the gloom of sin over the world settled also over his people. God did not give up on humanity. He spoke his definitive Word, Jesus, and Jesus came and was born a child of people. He came to save us. Do we listen to his Word? Do we give him our word of acceptance and love?

A child is born to us! But who is he really? He is, from the beginning before creation, the Word of God. And this child is light that darkness cannot overcome. And the world, and even his own don't know him or receive him. But to those who see this child will give the power to become the children of God with him. The Word is made our flesh and pitches his tent among us. God has come home to dwell with his creation, his children on earth. History has been penetrated to its core, its heart and we see God's glory-the glory of an only Son coming from the Father, full of truth and loving-kindness. Do we see this glory? Because of the Incarnation do we see God's glory on the face of every human being? Look in love!

When a child is born

A ray of hope flitters in the sky
A shiny star lights up way up high
All across the land dawns a brand new morn
This comes to pass when a child is born

A silent wish sails the seven seas
The winds have changed whisperin the trees
And the walls of doubt crumble tossed and torn
This comes to pass when a child is born

A rosy fume settles all around
You’ve got the feel you’re on solid ground
For a spell or two no-one seems forlorn
This comes to pass when a child is born

(spoken)
And all of this happened
Because the world is waiting
Waiting for one child
Black, white, yellow, no one knows
But a child that would grow up and turn tears to laughter
Hate to love, war to peace
And everyone to everyone’s neighbour
Misery and suffering would be forgotten forever

It’s all a dream and illusion now
It must come true, sometimes soon somehow
All across the land dawns a brand new morn
This comes to pass when a child is born

All across the land dawns a brand new morn
This comes to pass when a child is born

When a child is born
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Thoughts in preparation for Sunday's sermon.