Christmas Eve 2018- Luke 2:10

 As we worship together on Christmas Eve, let us pause to meditate on the meaning of our celebration by looking to Luke 2. To do that, let us focus on the announcement of the angel to the shepherds. St. Luke 2:10 says, “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people” (KJV).

The angel’s message “I bring you good tidings” translates two Greek words which could also be translated as “I announce good news to you” or “I proclaim the gospel to you.” So the announcement of Christ’s Birth is the beginning of the preaching of the Gospel. His Nativity is not an isolated event. It is an integral part of the whole story, the entire Christian message. This birth cannot be separated from all that Jesus Christ means.

This good news is “of great joy.” There are hardships in the story. Joseph and Mary are not rich and influential. They have to make a rough journey of several days at the whim of the Roman oppressor. They have to take shelter in a rock formation used as an animal barn. Mary’s labor is real, and there are evil forces that would destroy the child. But despite all the humility and suffering that are part of the story, it brings a deep and lasting happiness, an inner blessedness. And this joy is open to all people. The lowly shepherds are merely the first chosen to hear. They are humble representatives of all God’s people through the ages.

So regardless of our circumstances, let us focus on the source of true joy. The Gospel, the good tidings, is about God's gracious offer of redemption for sinners through the Birth, the Incarnation, of His only begotten Son who comes to save us. Glory to God in the highest!