Day 2: Christ in you
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned (Isaiah 9:2).
In His name the nations will put their hope (Matthew 12:21).
To [the Lord’s people] God has chosen to make known...the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27).
We boast in the hope of the glory of God (Romans 5:2).
"As we think today of the birth of the Savior, let us aspire after a fresh birth of the Savior in our hearts; that as He is already ‘formed in us the hope of glory,’ we may be ‘renewed in the spirit of our minds;’ that we may go to the Bethlehem of our spiritual nativity and do our first works, enjoy our first loves, and feast with Jesus as we did in the holy, happy, heavenly days of our espousals.” ~ Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Almighty God, who has poured upon us the new light of Your Incarnate Word; Grant that the same light enkindled in our hearts may shine forth in our lives through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ~ Book of Common Prayer
Fill our hearts with Your blessed hope today, O Savior, calling to our mind that Your compassions never fail, they are new every morning, great is Your faithfulness (Lamentations 3:21-23).
O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie! Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by. Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light; The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above, While mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wond’ring love. O morning stars, together proclaim the holy birth, And praises sing to God the King, and peace to men on earth!
How silently, how silently, the wondrous Gift is giv’n; So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His Heav’n. No ear may hear His coming, but in this world of sin, Where meek souls will receive Him still, the dear Christ enters in.
Where children pure and happy pray to the blessed Child, Where misery cries out to Thee, Son of the mother mild; Where charity stands watching and faith holds wide the door, The dark night wakes, the glory breaks, and Christmas comes once more.
O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray; Cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell; Oh, come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!
~ Phillips Brooks ~ 1867
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