I realize that Advent is anticipating Christmas. Thus, on the 25th, it is no longer Advent. Christmas is here. Yet, I like to include something for Christmas Day. As you've seen, among our ornaments are pieces of a Nativity scene. Since Christmas is a day to celebrate the birth of Christ, I save the baby Jesus ornament for the 25th. Since Advent is only 24 days and 24 pockets on the calendar, I decided to do something else with this one:
Growing up, it was tradition to read Luke 2 before exchanging gifts with each other. To me, it is important to remind ourselves of the gift of Jesus on the Earth, Emmanuel, and the gift of God's grace and eternal life. We don't give each other gifts just because we enjoy it, though we certainly do enjoy giving to those we love and (I'm not gonna lie) receiving gifts, too. We give gifts as a reflection of the gifts God has given.
What we are doing this year is to open the 25th ornament and read Luke 2:1-20 before we open our gifts. We'll see how it turns out!
In those days a decree went out from Caesar
Augustus that all the world should beregistered. This was the first registration
when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be
registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from
Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David,
which is called Bethlehem,because he was of the house and lineage of
David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while
they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth
to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths andlaid him in a
manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the
field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared
to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled
with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I
bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.For unto
you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the
Lord. Andthis will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in
swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And 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!”
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
When the angels went away from them into heaven, the
shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing
that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went
with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And
when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning
this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary
treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds
returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as
it had been told them.
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