Jesus our brother, kind and good
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Christmas Eve
Luke 1:67-68, 78-79
Zechariah, John’s father, filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesied: “Blessed be the Lord, for he has come to his people and set them free. He has raised up for us a mighty Savior … In his tender compassion the dawn from on high shall break upon us, shine on those who dwell in darkness.”
The sun shines bright on this cold hard day, and six deer have come out of the woods. Along the edge of a meadow, they stand and stare at me. They must feel the sun warming their skin just like I do. They seem so unafraid.
The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it. We are God’s children, and he wants us to care for the world he puts us in. How can I love these deer? What do they have to say to me, and how can I know what they need? And in truth, do they know what I need from them? How do we belong to each other?
Francis of Assisi seemed to understand this from the inside out. In 1223 he created the nativity crèche, where the animals are as interested in the baby Jesus as the shepherds and the wise men.
Jesus our brother, kind and good
Was humbly born in a stable rude
And the friendly beasts around Him stood,
Jesus our brother, kind and good.
We are all in this together, and what happens to the animals makes a difference to me. It makes a difference to God, and they know it. They paid attention to Jesus, because Jesus pays attention to them. It seems only fitting. There are voices ringing in heaven.
Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o’er the plains,
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains.
There is glory to be revealed in us. This miracle begins and ends with Jesus. Paul writes that all creation waits for us “in eager expectation.” And so we sing, all together, hearts and souls and minds and strength.
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
We fall into the deadly lie that we are trapped by decay, but this baby Jesus being born tonight heralds our world’s freedom from this death, and we are right to rejoice, along with all the creatures made by God. Yes, we are.
When we sing it’s all our voices, Lord, one on top of another, and we sing to you, praise you, worship you. Follow you and learn your way to love.
Lyrics for Angels We Have Heard on High: http://cyberhymnal.org/htm/a/n/angelswe.htm and The Friendly Beasts: http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/friendly_beasts.htm
Song: Angels We Have Heard on High (Chris Tomlin) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHkroAFnQwc and The Friendly Beasts https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4q8JOeAVCtI
http://www.christiancounselingservice.com/archived_devotions.php?article_id=1220
