Christmas Eve / Christmas Day
Devotional
Water From the Rock
Lectionary Devotional for Cycle C
Object:
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises.
-- Psalm 98:4
In the formation of the lectionary, the psalm is chosen to respond to the Hebrew selection, in this case Isaiah 52:7-10. There are echoes of that passage in such phrases as "his holy arm" and "in the sight of the nations." The psalmist is inviting the faithful to make a public witness to a revealed reality that seems to run counter to the accepted truths of the larger world. Christmas Day is not just a private celebration of the faithful but a public testimony to the world around us. That public testimony is made in a fashion that can unnerve the cynical power brokers of the world. The whole of the Christmas story undermines the structures of the world that rule through the exercise of power and fear.
God comes into this world not with the loud trumpets of a military charge but the soft cry of an infant. The news is revealed not to the inner circles of the rich who rule in the capital cities but to the poor and almost invisible people who serve the rich by staying up all night to watch the sheep that will later be served to the wealthy. Even the location of this history-changing event is not in an important city or country but in an unimportant village in a small, forgotten corner of the mighty Roman empire. Because, as Christians, we have celebrated this event and sung about Bethlehem and shepherds so frequently, we can easily forget how unimportant these events seemed to the world when they happened. Twelve days from Christmas, we will celebrate the visit of the wise men -- pagan astrologers from outside of the faith community. "He has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations."
Music transcends the rational logic of the world and trumpets a greater truth. The psalmist realizes that such praise cannot be expressed just in words but finds its melody in the lyre (v. 5) and its power in the trumpet and horn (v. 6). Praise recognizes who truly rules in life. When such praise is properly uttered in sounds beyond words, then all creation joins in (v. 7). Both the chaos of the flood and the strength of the hills join in giving joy (v. 8) because it is clear that there is one who judges the world with righteousness and the people with equity (v. 9). Such praise strikes fear in the hearts of those who believe that their power gives them the right to take advantage of the vulnerable. Such praise anticipates, on the basis of signs of one's own saving experience, a time when all peoples will recognize and be obedient to God's purpose. It is a powerful song of hope to be sung on Christmas Day.
-- Psalm 98:4
In the formation of the lectionary, the psalm is chosen to respond to the Hebrew selection, in this case Isaiah 52:7-10. There are echoes of that passage in such phrases as "his holy arm" and "in the sight of the nations." The psalmist is inviting the faithful to make a public witness to a revealed reality that seems to run counter to the accepted truths of the larger world. Christmas Day is not just a private celebration of the faithful but a public testimony to the world around us. That public testimony is made in a fashion that can unnerve the cynical power brokers of the world. The whole of the Christmas story undermines the structures of the world that rule through the exercise of power and fear.
God comes into this world not with the loud trumpets of a military charge but the soft cry of an infant. The news is revealed not to the inner circles of the rich who rule in the capital cities but to the poor and almost invisible people who serve the rich by staying up all night to watch the sheep that will later be served to the wealthy. Even the location of this history-changing event is not in an important city or country but in an unimportant village in a small, forgotten corner of the mighty Roman empire. Because, as Christians, we have celebrated this event and sung about Bethlehem and shepherds so frequently, we can easily forget how unimportant these events seemed to the world when they happened. Twelve days from Christmas, we will celebrate the visit of the wise men -- pagan astrologers from outside of the faith community. "He has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations."
Music transcends the rational logic of the world and trumpets a greater truth. The psalmist realizes that such praise cannot be expressed just in words but finds its melody in the lyre (v. 5) and its power in the trumpet and horn (v. 6). Praise recognizes who truly rules in life. When such praise is properly uttered in sounds beyond words, then all creation joins in (v. 7). Both the chaos of the flood and the strength of the hills join in giving joy (v. 8) because it is clear that there is one who judges the world with righteousness and the people with equity (v. 9). Such praise strikes fear in the hearts of those who believe that their power gives them the right to take advantage of the vulnerable. Such praise anticipates, on the basis of signs of one's own saving experience, a time when all peoples will recognize and be obedient to God's purpose. It is a powerful song of hope to be sung on Christmas Day.
