Thursday within the Octave of the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord
Posted on December 30, 2021 by under
Scripture: Hebrews 1:1-12 (NKJV)
1:1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
5 For to which of the angels did He ever say:
“You are My Son, today I have begotten You”?
And again:
“I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son”?
6 But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says:
“Let all the angels of God worship Him.”
7 And of the angels He says:
“Who makes His angels spirits and His ministers a flame of fire.”
8 But to the Son He says:
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”
10 And:
“You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands.
11 They will perish, but You remain; And they will all grow old like a garment;
12 Like a cloak You will fold them up, and they will be changed. But You are the same, and Your years will not fail.”
Devotion
The book of Hebrews reflects the theology of St. John’s gospel account. The Son of God is the incarnate Word of the Father. The creation of the world and of mankind is connected to the power of the Son. The Word Himself came to us as true man in the world in order to purge our sins and give us everlasting life.
This message has not changed throughout the centuries and generations. Soon after man fell into sin and death, God promised to defeat Satan and save us. That was His Word after all things were created, and that is the same Word that was fulfilled in His Nativity and continues to be proclaimed in His Church.
This work of God and the message of His Gospel is so much more far-reaching and so much more important than the passing games and politics of the sinful world. Our Lord transcends and rules over all things, and from this divine view He has taught us the more important things, like love, mercy, peace, joy, and faithful hope. He intended goodness and righteousness to be the state of the world when He created it. Even though our sin has damaged the world, His grace and His glory are shown to us so that we can still focus on things above in this life. In Him we live and walk in the Word of His Gospel so that we can enjoy some of His holy blessings now, even as we look forward to the fullness of His glory in the world to come.
Prayer: Almighty and Everlasting God, direct our actions according to Thy good pleasure, that in the Name of Thy beloved Son, we may be made to abound in good works; 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.
Collect for the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord: Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that the new Birth of Thine Only-Begotten Son in the flesh may set us free who are held in the old bondage under the yoke of sin; 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.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
