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Nativity of Our Lord • Year C
December 25, 2024 • Christmas Day
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Historical Collect
Almighty God, grant that the new birth of your only-begotten Son in the flesh may set free all who are held in servitude under the yoke of sin; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Gelasian Sacramentary, 7th Century)
Thematic Collect
God of majesty, open our eyes to see the light of your presence in the world around us revealed through the birth of your Son, Jesus, who took on our human existence. Sustain us through the Word made flesh so that in these last days we might be your body in the world; through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord; who reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen.
The Common Thread
The Word became flesh. Nothing has made such an impact on all creation. This dark, dead world may not recognize the Light. But those who believe, are reborn in a living hope, through the death and resurrection of the Word come into the world (1 Pet 1:3). This is the ancient good news, declared by the prophet Isaiah: “All the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of God.” The “very God of very God” who “upholds the universe by the word of his power” has become the Son begotten now in flesh, in order to save all flesh.
First Reading • Isaiah 52:7-10
The gospel can do no good for others if we do not bring the good news to them. So, Isaiah and Paul proclaim, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation” (Rom 10:15). It is Christmas Day. Proclaim the news to someone today: the Savior is born. The Lord has comforted his people.
Psalm • Psalm 2:1-12
We celebrate the only begotten Son of God, he “who proceeds from the Father” (John 15:26). God has made him “the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords” (1 Tim 6:15). Though the nations rage against God and his Anointed, every knee will bow to him. Even the dead will confess that he is Lord (Phil 2:10-11). Let us, this day, bow to his glory, for we are already with him in the heavenly places (Eph 2:6). Let us serve him every day with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
Second Reading • Hebrews 1:1-6, 7-12
The Spirit of God speaks to us in the entirety of Scripture, and the focus of his word to us is the divine Word, the Logos. It is not only the New Testament that speaks of the Son; the Old Testament is also a proclamation of Christ. Luther declared, “The entire Scripture deals only with Christ everywhere” (Luther’s Works, vol 25, 405). The Bible reveals the Father in the Son. Jesus is his Father in every detail, so much so that, he who has seen Jesus, has seen the Father (John 14:9).
Gospel • John 1:1-14, 15-18
The Logos, or Word, was with God before creation. Indeed, the Word was God. Everything there is was created by the divine Word. As life comes from him, eternal life also comes from the Logos. John reveals the Logos of God as the light shining in the darkness, the true light coming into the world he created. The eternal Word of God has become flesh and lived among us. Today, we see the glory of the Son who proceeds from the Father, full of the grace and truth of divinity.
Resources
Links to Worship Resources for this Service
