And the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring good news to you of great joy which will be for all the people: 11 that today a Savior, who is Christ the Lord, was born for you in the city of David. — Luke 2:10–11 (LEB)
In just a few days we will being celebrating the birth of our Lord.
The angels brought the message of his birth to the shepherds in Israel about 20 centuries ago. And we celebrate each year because of one simple word that we translate as for you.
The angel could have told the shepherds simply that a savior was born, but he deliberately said the savior, the Messiah, the master of all humanity, was being born for us.
That a savior was born would be good news, but it’s only good news to us (same Greek word) if he was born for us.
Martin Luther wrote, “What good would it do me, if he were born a thousand times and if this were sung to me every day with the loveliest airs, if I should not hear that there was something in it for me and that it should be my own?”
The message is timeless: Christ was born in Bethlehem so that we may all be saved.
His arrival in Bethlehem is celebrated by us in response to his arrival in our hearts. His life gives us life. His death on the cross and resurrection rescues us from eternal death, but it’s his sinless life that is imputed to us as our Heavenly Father declares us righteous before him. We did nothing to earn that; it’s a gift of grace from God.
The only things we provide in the cause of our salvation are the sins for which we must be redeemed. God sent us a redeemer, to save everyone who accepts him.
So, we, like the angels, can joyfully proclaim:
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among people with whom he is pleased!” — Luke 2:14
I wish you all a wonderful Christmas and a blessed new year!
Your Brother in Christ,
Fr. Austin