‘Be born in us today’

A homily preached at Holy Communion on Christmas Day, 25 December A.D. 2013.

Titus 2:11-15; Psalm 110:1-4; Luke 2:1-14

I speak to you in the Name of Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh (John 1:1-14).

St. Luke tells us that when an angel of the LORD announced the birth of Christ to the shepherds in the fields: suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased.’

Who, then, are those with whom our LORD is pleased on this Christmas morning?

Well, they are, very simply:

• those, like the shepherds, who come, as it were, to Bethlehem believing that Jesus Christ is none other than God come down from heaven to us;
• they are those who receive this good news in their hearts;  
• they are those who both allow & expect this Saviour, God with us, to shine His glory in their lives.
• and finally they are those who return home glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard.

Those with whom our LORD is pleased and in whom His peace rests are those who, on this joyous day, glorify and sing praise to God in their hearts with words such as this:

 ‘O Holy Child of Bethlehem, Descend to us, we pray; / Cast out our sin, and enter in; Be born in us today. / We hear the heavenly angels The great glad tidings tell: / O come to us, abide with us, Our LORD Immanuel. Amen.’