December 21, 2021

“And we have come to know and believe the love that God has for us. God is love.” (1 John 4:16)

The opening lines of Elizabeth Browning’s famous sonnet are an apt description of what God has done at Christmas.

“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height…”  The theme picked up by Christina Rosetti her poem turned Christmas hymn.

“Love came down at Christmas, love all lovely, Love divine; Love was born at Christmas, stars and angels gave the sign.”

God loves you so very much. I wish I could say this in a way that you and I both could truly hear and receive it. Can we look now to the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and believe it?

“O God, you make us glad by the yearly festival of the birth of your only Son Jesus Christ: Grant that we, who joyfully receive him as our Redeemer, may with sure confidence behold him when he comes to be our Judge; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.” (Christmas Day – BCP)