Unto Us a Child is Born

For the week of December 25-31: 
Unto Us a Child is Born 

Theme: We who have walked in deep darkness have seen a great light! For unto us a child is born, one who will bring eternal peace. We celebrate Christ's birth because he became what we are, giving his life freely that through his grace we might have the hope of salvation. Because of Jesus, we praise God and declare his glory.

Opening Prayer: Bless, O Lord, the worship of your church this day, and bless our endeavors to glorify your name. Let not our hearts be unduly set on earthly things, but incline us to love things heavenly that even now, while we are placed among things that are passing away, we may cling to those that shall abide; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen. The Leonine Sacramentary 

OT Reading: Isaiah 9:2-7 

Reflection from Church Fathers: "Today was born the child, and his name was called Wonderful! For a wonder it is that God should reveal himself as a baby." Ephrem the Syrian, Hymns on the Nativity

Psalm of Response: Psalm 96 

NT Reading: Titus 2:11-14 

Reflections from the Church Fathers: "Worldly passions are directed toward things that perish with the present life. Let us then have nothing to do with these." Chrysostom, Homilies on Titus 5 

Gospel Reading: Luke 2:1-20 

Reflections from Church Fathers: "He was a baby and a child, so that you may be a perfect human. He was wrapped in swaddling clothes, so that you may be freed from the snares of death. He was in a manger, so that you may be in the altar. He was on earth that you maybe in the stars. He had no other place in the inn, so that you may have many mansions in the heavens. He, being rich, became poor for your sakes, that through his poverty you might be rich. Therefore his poverty is our inheritance, and the Lord's weakness is our virtue. He chose to lack for himself, that he may abound for all. The sobs of that appalling infancy cleanse me, those tears wash away my sins. Therefore, Lord Jesus, I owe more to your sufferings because I was redeemed than I do to works for which I was created." Ambrose, Exposition of the Gospel of Luke 2.41-42.

For Further Reflection and Prayer: 
1. Jesus came as a baby. He was once as helpless and silly as my little Liam is.  Imagine God as a helpless babe. What does this say to you?
2. What worldly passions are you clinging to? Ask God to help you to abide with that which remains.
3. Re-read Ambrose's exposition. His statements are beautiful and true. How do they affect you?  How do you think they should affect you? What is stopping you from feeling that way?

Closing Prayer: "Dearly beloved, today our Savior is born; let us rejoice. Sadness should have no place on the birthday of life. The fear of death has been swallowed up; life brings us joy with the promise of eternal happiness. No one is shut out from this joy; all share the same reason for rejoicing. Our Lord, victor over sin and death, finding no one free from sin, came to free us all." Leo the Great.

Taken from Ancient Christian Devotional by ed. by Thomas C. Oden and Cindy Crosby