The Vigil of the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord
Posted on December 24, 2022 by under
Scripture: St. Luke 2:15-20 (NKJV)
2:15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.
Devotion
The wait is almost over. Advent is a season of waiting and repentance. However, the wait is almost over. We are going to celebrate the first coming of our Lord tomorrow, but we are still waiting for His return in glory.
When the shepherds saw the newborn babe, they told the good news just as the angels had proclaimed to them. There was no waiting anymore for that first coming of the Lord. There was only joy and confessing the good news of what had taken place concerning this newborn. So also, we continue to confess to the world the good news of the Incarnation and the redemptive work of Jesus Christ.
The wait for Christmas is almost over, but the work of the Church continues until the Lord returns in His glory to judge both the quick and the dead. Therefore, confess the truth of Christ to the world and rejoice that your King has come to you. He comes to you to give you the forgiveness of sin. He gives His Word and Sacraments, and calls all men to be saved by Him alone.
Prayer: O God, who hast made this most holy night to shine with the brightness of the true Light, grant, we beseech Thee, that as we have known on earth the mysteries of that Light, we may also come to the fullness of His joys in heaven; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
