Theme: Joy! For the child is born who brings hope to the downtrodden.

The Prophet Isaiah 9: 1 - 7
The child that is born, brings healing and freedom to a people that walked in darkness. The weapons of war are to be put aside, and the people enter into the era of peace. As promised, it is God that is doing this. God keeps the Covenant with the faithful People of God. They are glad! For, “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light…you have made their joy increase; they rejoice in your presence.”

Letter of Paul to Titus 2: 11 - 14
Paul urges us to put aside worldly ambition and all that does not lead us in the Way of God, for the Lord has come among us, to set us free, and to bring healing. Paul invites us to make it our only ambition to do good, “We must be self-restrained and live good religious lives here in this present world, while we are waiting for the blessing which will come.”

Gospel according to Luke 2: 1 - 14
Luke in setting the historical scene, relates how the Good News of the birth of the promised Messiah, is announced with joy. Not, in the first instance, to mighty kings, nor to rich princes, but instead and unexpectedly, it is proclaimed to the poor shepherds, who in their time were treated as unwelcome outcasts, like refugees, gypsy travellers, or homeless people in our own time. The message is for everyone, outcasts as wel! “Listen, I bring you news of great joy, a joy to be shared by the whole people. Today…a saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.’

© Peter Harrison 2000

Theme: The People of God are happy to hear the news of the Saviour’s birth!

The Prophet Isaiah 62 : 11 - 12
The verses preceding this text are addressed by the prophet to the watchmen in the city of Jerusalem whose task it was to remind the people, of God’s promise, and to recall God’s historical deeds in saving the People of Israel. So, “Your saviour comes!” is the cry that goes out to the very ends of the world, “They shall be called ‘The Holy People,’ ‘The Lord’s Redeemed.’”.

Letter of Paul to Titus 3 : 4 - 7
Paul gives us a timely reminder that nothing we have done can make us deserving of the grace of God. It is God’s gift to us, that renewed, healed and changed by the Holy Spirit in the waters of baptism, we become heirs of Christ and can now look forward to everlasting life.

Gospel according to Luke 2 : 15 - 20
The poor shepherds, hearing the news of the birth of the long expected Messiah, go to the town of Bethlehem to see for themselves. “When they saw the child they repeated what they had been told about him, and everyone who heard it was astonished…” Like Mary, Mother of Jesus, they ponder in their hearts all that they have seen and heard. Then rejoicing they return to their workplace praising God, “for it was exactly as they had been told.”

© Peter Harrison 2000

Theme: The WORD of GOD made flesh lives among us.

The Prophet Isaiah 52 : 7 - 10
There is excitement in the ruined city of Jerusalem, as the ‘watchmen’ repeat the good news brought by the herald, shouting throughout the city - the return of Sion’s King and Lord, bringing the new era of restoration, the era of peace and lasting happiness. “Listen! Your watchmen raise their voices, they shout for joy…for they see the Lord face to face as he returns to Sion.”

Letter to the Hebrews 1 : 1 - 6
God spoke to our ancestors in times past in may ways, but now speaks to us directly through Jesus Christ. “He is the radiant light of God’s glory, the perfect copy of God’s nature.... let all the angels of God worship him.”

Gospel according to John 1 : 1 - 18
This familiar opening passage from the Gospel according to John, provides us with a theological reflection on the deeper meaning of the Christ event. Essentially, the WORD of GOD, taking human flesh, and living among us. In meeting Jesus through his human being, sharing with him the pains, suffering and joys of life, we discover the divinity of his being, and so learn something about ourselves and about our destiny. “He was in the world…he came to his own…to all who did accept him he gave power to become children of God.”

© Peter Harrison 2000