Christmas Day
“And she brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn” — Luke 2:7.
EACH recurring Christmastide gives occasion to emphasize anew the wonderful story of the love of God that led Him to send His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. Christianity rests on three great pillars, the Incarnation, the Crucifixion, and the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Incarnation alone could not redeem sinful men. But apart from the Incarnation there could be no propitiatory sacrifice that would avail to put away sin. God became Man in order to die. We cannot, therefore, make too much of the mystery of the union of the human and the divine in Him who was both Son of God and Son of Mary. In Him we have the Daysman for whom the patriarch Job longed, one who can lay His hand upon both God and man (Job 9:33) because He combines the natures of both in one glorious Person. Bethlehem, Calvary, and the empty tomb, all alike should stir our souls and draw our hearts out to God in wonder, love, and praise.
Peace on Earth
“Here Peace alighted once,
But could not find a home.
To Him who brought it, earth
Could give no room.
Him and His peace man would not have.
And in this Child of peace
Man saw no heavenly excellence,
No grace, no comeliness.
Peace in that cradle lay,
The Prince of Peace was there;
The fullness of His Peace
He brought with man to share.”
―Horatius Boner.