25 December 2022 Christmas Day

Break forth together into singing,
you ruins of Jerusalem;
for the Lord has comforted his people,
he has redeemed Jerusalem.
The Lord has bared his holy arm
before the eyes of all the nations;
and all the ends of the earth shall see
the salvation of our God.

From Isaiah 52:7-10 , NRSV

Isaiah’s words were first addressed to the people of Israel as their time of exile in Babylon came to an end. He offered them the image of a joyful return to Jerusalem where they would once again know that their God was with them and that they would no longer have anything to fear. This time, the Lord does not only bring salvation to Israel but to the whole world. As we know, the mission that began with Christ and continued with his apostles is still ongoing. As we celebrate the birth of Christ, we remember that as Christians we also share in that mission to bring salvation to the world.

• • How do you suppose Isaiah’s words affected the returning Jewish exiles?
  • How does hearing these words make you feel?

As you celebrate Christmas, be mindful of all the little ways in which, as the Christmas carol says, Christ is “born in us today.”