GOD PAUSE- Dec. 27 Of the Fathers Love Begotten, ELW 295 One of the joys of the Christmas season is the opportunity to sing some of the lovely carols through which the creative imagination of poets and musicians continue to usher us into the celebration of the birth of the Christ-child in a special way that seems to belong only to Christmas. Although church historians tell us that early Christians did not celebrate Christmas until well into the 4th century, some of our earliest carols, like this one, come from this period. And it is difficult to improve on this one either in its poetic imagination—that links Jesus the Christ as Alpha and Omega from creation to eternity—or in its lilting plainsong melody that has a way of seeping into your mind and accompanying you during your days activities. And those ancient singers also got the message right from the get-go: Christmas at its heart is about Love. This child born in a manger is all about the Love of God that has been poured out for us in Him. O God of Love, stir our hearts to receive this child, and then to join with those who sing his praises from creation to eternity as the one in whom all your promises ring true for evermore. Amen. James L. Boyce Emeritus Professor of New Testament and Greek Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn. Master of Divinity, 1972
Posted on: Sat, 27 Dec 2014 13:04:21 +0000
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