Christmas Eve 2018: Luke 2:1-16
To you who are faint-hearted;
To you who are weary;
To you who feel the burden of your sins;
To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior.
To you who are broken-hearted;
To you whose children are not home;
To you who know the fear of darkness;
To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior.
To you pompous;
To you proud;
To you who have trusted in your own merits and strength;
To you also is born this day in the city of David a Savior.
In the mad rush of December, will what you bought still have meaning a year from now?
What will you get? Will it bear the name Savior?
Nothing on earth can bring back the one you lost.
Nothing on earth can create heaven for you.
But out of heaven comes God’s message to you: “On earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
God is glorified in the high places by sending His Son to us. God becomes man to bring man back to God’s peace. God becomes man, and in this man Jesus is God’s good pleasure.
To you without peace is born this day the Prince of Peace.
To you helpless ones is born this day the Helper.
To you sons of Adam is born this day the new Adam.
To you battered by the storms is born the One who stilled the storms with a word.
Are you weak? Look, Jesus became weak for you!
Are you sad? Look, Jesus comes to share your sadness, and give you His joy!
O you dying ones, see in the manger your Life!
O you lonely, see in the manger the Friend of sinners!
O you unrighteous, see in the manger your Righteousness!
You who hunger and thirst for righteousness, see in the feeding trough the living bread!
Is there good news coming from Afghanistan? Syria? Iran? Russia? The history of the fallen world is one of wars and rumors of wars. Fox News, CNN, NPR and the BBC cannot report the one news story you cannot live without: “Behold, I bring you good [news] of great joy [for] all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
To you caught in conflict;
To you filled with anger;
To you burdened by doubt;
To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior.
To you who far have wandered;
To you who much have squandered;
To you who feel useless and cast off;
To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior.
To you widows;
To you orphans;
To you lonely ones;
To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior.
To you who are depressed;
To you who are downcast;
To you are downtrodden;
To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Put everything else outside of your mind. Yes, care for your family and do your work. But spend no more anxious nights. He has heard your sad and bitter cry. This Child comes to you and says, “Peace! Do not be afraid. I have come for you. I come to save you. I come to bear your guilt. I come and bear your thorns as My crown. I have come to be your life. Be not anxious!”
Merry Christmas, dear friends, For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” +INJ+
December 24, 2018
Immanuel Evangelical-Lutheran Church, Alexandria, Virginia