Today marks one of the highest feast days of the liturgical calendar. It is the day we set aside to celebrate the incarnation of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Christmas day is celebrated so widely around the world that many non-Christians celebrate the holiday in some way. Likely you have been introduced to Christmas from your own family traditions and celebrations. There are many traditions that accompany this day, even many myths and legends. This may bring one to ask, what is Christmas and why is it important? And secondarily, how can we cut through all of the layers of legend and non-religious tradition to understand the heart of the celebration?
As mentioned above, the Feast of the Nativity is the day set aside to mark the date of Jesus’ birth. Stop for a minute and think about what this day truly celebrates. The Bible teaches us that Jesus was not simply a good man or a great prophet, but that he is God himself in human flesh. That truth has cataclysmic impact on our world and reality. The incarnation means that God keeps his promises. He promised to remake the world and by taking on human flesh, he is in the process of making all things new! What a glorious reality. Jesus’ incarnation was only the beginning, he had a sacred mission to accomplish through his life, death, and resurrection. Yet by simply taking on human flesh, and as an infant, shows Jesus’ deep humility and the lengths he was willing to go to set the world aright.
It is increasingly difficult, in our culture, to remember the true reason for Advent and Christmas. In the midst of the busyness of this day, as you celebrate with family, gifts, holiday movies, good food, and tinsel be sure to take the time to reflect on what today truly celebrates, the incarnation of our God and Savior Jesus Christ. Use the collect (prayer) and Bible reading below to focus your heart on the reality of the incarnation.
Collect (Prayer) for the Feast of the Nativity
Almighty God, you have given your only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and to be born [this day] of a pure virgin: Grant that we, who have been born again and made your children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with you and the same Spirit be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen. (taken from the ACNA Book of Common Prayer, 2019).
Bible Reading
John 1:1-5; 14-18 (ESV)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.
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