Forward Movement is an official, non-profit agency of the Episcopal Church whose mission is to create compelling content for Christian living. Since 1935 we have published the quarterly devotional Forward Day by Day, as well as pamphlets, booklets, and books that encourage and nourish people in their lives of prayer and faith.
FRIDAY, December 25 The Nativity of Our Lord: Christmas Day
Luke 2:(1-7) 8-20.* 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 when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
Both the historical and geographical context of the Christmas story (as I said yesterday) is key to its meaning. Matthew provides that context with his "begats." Luke provides it with his own "begats" (in chapter 3, different from Matthew's) and with this verse. But why do history and geography matter so much?
It's because we try to transform what God has done into something else. Like a lesson on the virtues of the humble poor. Or a picture of ideal motherhood or the innocence of childhood. Or something about hospitality to strangers or following your star. Or a pageant in the chancel. All that is fine, but the point is that at a particular place, with a particular name like Kentucky or Kalamazoo, and on a particular date, at a particular time of day, the Creator of the universe took on human flesh. Think of everything human flesh entails--it's not the kind of thing one would have expected the Creator of the universe to take on. The very thought is unsettling, so much so that we want to make it into something else, anything else. Don't.
*The author writes on and lists the readings from Proper II for Christmas Eve and Day.
PRAY for the Diocese of Yola (Province of Jos, Nigeria)
Ps 97; Isaiah 62:6-12; Titus 3:4-7
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