Monday, December 25

God's Gift Was Peace

Narrative Lectionary Daily Devotions written by Kace Leetch from Clergy Stuff.

“Peace on earth!” It is a Christmas blessing so common it is easy to let the words gloss over us as nothing more than a cheesy saying on an old Christmas card.

But peace on earth is not cheesy and it is not wimpy. Peace is an incredibly difficult thing to achieve. Ironically, peace often cannot be achieved without conflict or war. And this earth is rarely, if ever, completely void of conflict.

For the people of Israel, conflict was upon them. Rome occupied Jewish lands and a foreign government controlled God’s people. Peace would have meant regaining control over their own land and governing themselves. For the Israelites, that peace never came. The land has been in conflict ever since.

For us, peace might mean peace from war – indeed, many of our sisters and brothers, fathers and mothers, and daughters and sons are fighting overseas. The promise of peace might also mean freedom from more personal conflicts – physical ailments, mental illness, addiction, broken relationships, lost jobs. The turmoil that surrounds any of these indeed begs for peace.

So, is the angels’ proclamation of peace for us? Can Jesus bring peace into a broken world (globally or locally)? For some, peace is already upon them. For others, they may still be waiting. But the promise is solid. Christ brings hope for the possibility of peace on this earth and the certainty of peace in the life to come.

Merry Christmas!!!!!

A happy Christmas carol medley for you. It's my favorite this year (even though it's nearly as old as me).

Narrative Lectionary Text: Luke 2:1-20

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 Savior, 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 favors!” 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.