And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

Christmas is the celebration of God Most High come among his children, God of the Heavens sending his messengers to the lowly shepherd, God of all Eternity clothing himself in mortal flesh and choosing to be present with us. Inexplicable and terrifying in its mystery and mercy.

For God is both apart and near, transcendent and immanent. He is high, mighty, majestic, and beyond–holy, exalted, worshipped, and eternal. And yet the Creator of all things, God beyond time, chose to step within our world and become known, near, accessible. He chose to lower himself that we might be raised–to life, and life with God. To a God who is both high and low, near and far–Emmanuel and El Elyon–we give praise during this season.

Merry Christmas all.

This entry was posted on Sunday, December 23rd, 2007 at 6:56 pm and is filed under From the nation of Indig. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.