Merry Christmas EARLY

 Christmas 2020---Luke 2:19

GOD, who makest us glad with the yearly remembrance of the birth of thine only Son Jesus Christ; Grant that as we joyfully receive him for our Redeemer, so we may with sure confidence behold him when he shall come to be our Judge, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

The First Lesson

Isaiah 9:2-7

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian. For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

The Epistle

Titus ii. 11.

THE grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

The Gospel

St. Luke ii. 1.

AND it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David :) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, 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, good will toward men.

The U.S. and its allies launched a massive aerial assault against Iraq on Friday. At 12:15 p.m. EST March 22 , 2003, anti-aircraft fire could be seen rising in the skies above Baghdad. Within an hour, tremendous explosions began rocking the Iraqi capital, as the Pentagon announced "A-Day" was underway.

The campaign was intended to instill "shock and awe" among Iraq's leaders, and it was directed at hundreds of targets in Iraq, officials said. Plumes of fire could be seen rising above targets in Baghdad at 1:05 p.m. EST. 

The attack was not limited to Baghdad. Targets were struck in Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city, which lies in the north of the country. And anti-aircraft fire lit up the sky over the southern city of Kirkuk as well.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld held a news conference at about 1:40 p.m. EST. He announced that the air war had begun, and he listed some of the coalition objectives in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Those objectives included defending Americans against Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction, ridding the Gulf country of such illegal weapons, liberating the Iraqi people, and ending the regime of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

Rumsfeld said that the strike had taken place "on a scale that indicates to Iraqis" that Saddam and his leadership were finished. He added that the allies would work to search for, capture, and drive out terrorists who had found safe harbor in Iraq, as well as to deliver humanitarian relief to the Iraqi people.

Iraqi leaders are "starting to lose control of their country," Rumsfeld announced on Friday. He added that the confusion among Iraqi generals was growing, and he speculated that those close to the Iraqi leader would question where they stood in terms of their support for Saddam.

( from an article by CNN)

   To introduce our Gospel today we want to focus on Mary and what is said about Mary's thought from Luke 2:19, " But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart." I imagine she had some shock and awe  in a good spiritual sense as we talked about Iraq above.

Shock-  All of us have felt that at some point in our lives.  

"a sudden upsetting or surprising event or experience. "from the web on shock. Yet Mary had been there for a bit having visited Elizabeth 1:39 after hearing of her own child coming, " ...thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a Son, and shall call his name Jesus..."1:31  " And Mary said unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?" v. 34

Imagine the shock .  Yet her shock went into awe quickly as she was a believer. " The Holy  Spirit shall come unto thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee: wherefore also the holy thing which is begotten shall be called the Son of God."  Mary had awe in her shock. Awe=an overwhelming feeling of reverence, admiration, fear, etc., produced by that which is grand, sublime, extremely powerful, or the like: in awe of God; or in awe of great political figures.....dictionary.com 

Her awe is in 1:38 " And Mary said, Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word."

Mary pondered these matters, literally weighed them sumballó: to throw together, hence to discuss, consider, meet with

Original Word: συμβάλλω- dispute with.  We had discussed the stages of grief earlier in the year.  This was good grief /change here but still had the shock , the first stage of Kubler-Ross grief.

How can anyone celebrate Christmas without shock and awe?  The shock is not there for an unbeliever , as they do not believe in the miracle of Christmas. If they did , they would trust in the Saviour of the world.  The Baby came to go to a Cross.  The Baby and the Miracle of Christmas go together.  The Virgin Birth , that Mary's baby had a Divine father is necessary.

"Gladness and Fear"

by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

"We have become so accustomed to the idea of divine love and of God’s coming at Christmas that we no longer feel the shiver of fear that God’s coming should arouse in us. We are indifferent to the message, taking only the pleasant and agreeable out of it and forgetting the serious aspect, that the God of the world draws near to the people of our little earth and lays claim to us. The coming of God is truly not only glad tidings, but first of all frightening news for everyone who has a conscience."

Source: "Watch for the Light "

Mary pondered it all. She pondered what the angel said unto them, " Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people: for there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord."

Mary kept or the Greek word is treasured(I preserve, keep safe, keep in mind, keep close.

HELPS Word-studies--Biblehub.com

4933 syntēréō (from 4862 /sýn, "closely together with" and 5083 /tēréō, "guard, keep") – properly, preserve close together (with close care); keep intact (safe). it all, these matters.  The Shepherds , the Angels, and the heavenly host praising God).  

Mary pondered, weighed and kept it, treasured these matters.   This is what the Christian does too.  The unbeliever has no knowledge of it truly. Do you see why ST Paul said we hold this treasure in earthen vessels?  2 Corinthians 4:7

I saw today while writing Friday DEC 18 my first Cardinals in a month. A momma and a dad.  I was shocked and awed!

Today we chatted about the Virgin Mary and there is so much to celebrate as Christians at this time of year that we have not even plumbed the depths totally.  We are in awe as Mary .  We ponder.  ( Weigh these things and wonder how God works in such remarkable ways---He does this today too and we receive things , answers to prayer that were things we had not even asked for). But as Mary did we are to treasure, or keep these matter in our hearts as well.

Today I can say it, officially on DEC 24 EVE, but we celebrate today , the Lord's Day this great event, as we will not be together on Christmas EVE.

Merry Christmas!  The Lord is Incarnate on earth in the human person of Jesus, the 2nd Person of the Trinity.  The God-Man, Truly Divine, and Truly human.  Jesus is our Immanuel, God with US.  Are you shocked?  Are you in awe?