The text for the message comes from the Epistle of Paul to Titus, chapter 2, verses 11 through 14:
For the grace of God has dawned upon the world with healing for all mankind; and by it we are disciplined to renounce godless ways and worldly desires, and to live a life of temperance, honesty, and godliness in the present age, looking forward to the happy fulfilment of our hope when the slendor of our great God and Savior Christ Jesus will appear. He it is who sacrificed himself for us, to set us free from all wickednes and to make us his own people, pure and eager to do good.The Christmas message tells us that God became one of us through the event of Jesus' birth in Bethlehem.
The epistle reading for Christmas might seem negative. After all, it talks about renouncing--renouncing impiety and worldly passions. But what is being said here is not negative at all. It is saying that we must think again and think more deeply about God's love for each of us. This love did not stop at Bethlehem; it goes on now.
God came to us through birth and then continued to grow in his human life. May we, too, continue to grow in our surrender to God's love for us. In faith we grow. As we grow, we become more open, more inclusive, more open to new ideas. A peace comes to us. We become more natural, spontaneous, peaceful, happy.
What a gift we have in Jesus. May we each accept him into our hearts. Then Christmas will not be a single day or even a holiday season but a condition we live in, an on-going state of mind.
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