Christmas Midnight
Many Christians gather for a midnight Divine Service, or Mass. Here are the Scripture readings appointed for this service, according to the historic lectionary:
CHRISTMAS MIDNIGHT
Isaiah 9:2–7
Titus 2:11–14
Luke 2:1–14 (15–20)
The Light of Christ Shines Forth in the Darkness
Heaven and earth rejoice on this night because the glory of the Triune God is manifested in the human birth of “our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). In Him, the Father’s grace, mercy and peace rest upon the world. The silence of death is broken by this “good news of great joy that will be for all the people” (Luke 2:10). And all we who have gone astray like lost and wandering sheep, who have “walked in the darkness” of doubt and fear and sinful unbelief, behold “a great light” in the nativity of Christ (Is. 9:2). In Him “the grace of God has appeared” (Titus 2:11). For this Child of Mary who is born for us, this dear Son of God who is given to us, will bear the burden of our sin and death in His own body on the cross. He thereby establishes a government of peace, “with justice and with righteousness,” which shall have no end; not by any work of man, but “the zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this” (Is. 9:7).
Rev. Mc Cain,
Blessings. I attended The Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord at Saint John Wheaton. It was full blast Worship; pastoral care at its finest. I can’t think of a place I rather have been at this late, Silent and Holy Christmas Midnight. It is one of the few time and place sinful beggars, like myself, can publicly participate in receiving His gifts with bent knees and in turn give back the best we can possibly offer to God. From the get go, all the senses were stimulated by the rich symbols of our faith found in the Lutheran Mass. One can think of it as worship without words. The lighting of so many candles, each reminding us that Jesus Christ is the light of the world, the light no darkness can overcome. The swinging Censer, with smoking incense, reminds us of the sweet aroma of Jesus, the Rose of Sharon and the lily of the valleys. It also reminds us of our petition to let our prayers rise to the Lord as incense. 2 Corinthians 2, the fragrant Triumph of Christ, also comes to mind. There couldn’t have been an anymore appropriate time to accelerate the smoke than when the Lord comes to us in the Eucharist. Pastor Genig beautifully chanted the Eucharistic Prayer and the Words of Institution; it move worshipers to acutely listen. The slow methodological gestures are so meaningful and reverent from the processional to the recessional.