Christmas on Dec. 25

In the midst of the phoney-baloney "war on Christmas" and "Jesus wasn't really born on Christmas day, so Jesus never existed" junk, there is a gem to be had. Whatever one thinks of "how" Christmas got to be December 25th (Mithraism, Sol Invictus, whatever...), all agree that there is a relationship to the winter solstice. Okay, but so what?

Well, there may be a good reason for that ... the winter soltice has the longest night of the year, and thus there is great symbolism of Christ being born during the time of the longest night to usher in the new dawn.

Listen again to the Canticle of Zechariah (Benedictus), used at morning prayer:

"In the tender compassion of our God *
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, *
and to guide our feet into the way of peace." (Luke 1:78-79)

Vigil of the Nativity

O Little Town of Bethlehem

O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by;
Yet in the dark streets shineth
The everlasting light;
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.

For Christ is born of Mary,
And gathered all above,
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars, together
Proclaim the holy birth,
And praises sing to God the King,
And peac to all on earth!

How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of his heaven.
No ear may hear his coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him, still
The dear Christ enters in.

Oh holy Child of Bethlehem,
Descend on us, we pray;
Cast out our sin, and enter in,
Be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide in us,
Our Lord Emmanuel! Amen.
-- Phillips Brooks

Psalm 103

Bless the Lord, O my soul, *
and all that is withim me, bless his hoy Name
Bless the Lord, O my soul, *
and heals all your infirmities;
he redeems your life from the grave, *
and crowns you with mercy and loving-kindness;
he satisfies you with good things, *
and your youth is renewed like an eagle's.

Glory to the Father and to the Son, *
And to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Lesson: Rom 1:3
The Good News is about the Son of God who, according to the human nature he took, was a descendant of David.


Collect
O God, you make us glad by the yearly festival of the birth of your only Son Jesus Christ: Grant that we who joyfully receive him as our redeemer, may with sure confidence behold him when he comes to be our judge; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and for ever. Amen.
-- adapted from the Monastic Breviary