Pericope Study

Christmas Eve

Presenter: Richard M Burgess

I am operating on the assumption that most of us will be doing a “Christmas Eve” service with the emphasis on the Luke 2 Christmas story. Therefore, I have included the lessons for Christmas Eve and devoted most of the study to Luke’s birth narrative. At the same time, I have included all three collects for your considertation, Christmas Eve, Christmas Morning, and Christmas Day, as they have their merits for general use.

As usual, while I have made certain minimal efforts in these regards, I gurantee neither the veracity nor the completeness nor the relavance of the contents herein. I also confess I do not like the 2^nd lesson. Proceed with extreme caution, if you dare!

Collect / POD

I (XMas Eve): Almighty God, you made this holy night shine with the brightness of the true Light. Grant that here on earth we may walk in the light of Jesus' presence and in the last day wake to the brightness of his glory; through your only Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (6)

II (XMas Dawn): Almighty God, you have made yourself known in your Son, Jesus, redeem of the world. We pray that his birth as a human child will set us free from the old slavery of our sin; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns withyou and the Holy Spirit, one God, anow and forever. (7)

III (XMas Day): Almighty God, you wonderfully created and yet more wonderfully restored the dignity of human nature. In your mercy, let us shatre the divine life of Jesus Christ who came to share our humanity, and who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (8)

Lesson I: Isaiah 9.2-7 [NRSV]

[2] The people who walked in darkness

have seen a great light;

those who lived in a land of deep darkness--

on them light has shined.

[3] You have multiplied the nation,

you have increased its joy;

they rejoice before you

as with joy at the harvest,

as people exult when dividing plunder.

[4] For the yoke of their burden,

and the bar across their shoulders,

the rod of their oppressor,

you have broken as on the day of Midian.

[5] For all the boots of the tramping warriors

and all the garments rolled in blood

shall be burned as fuel for the fire.

[6] For a child has been born for us,

a son given to us;

authority rests upon his shoulders;

and he is named

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

[7] His authority shall grow continually,

and there shall be endless peace

for the throne of David and his kingdom.

He will establish and uphold it

with justice and with righteousness

from this time onward and forevermore.

The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

9.2-3   Rejoice

9.4-7   Why?

9.4            Burden removed

9.5            Enemies Destroyed

9.6-7         Child / King born

9.7                  Child’s (Davidic) dynasty will be eternal

9.6      The “son given” is a king, probably Hezekiah, though I think most people tend to assume it means Jesus. What do you do with this?

9.6      This is royal coronation language, often used at the birth of a king (apparent). This will also figure in the Gospel lesson, Lk 2.1-20.

Psalm 96 [NRSV] here (LBW on p 261)

96 O sing to the LORD a new song;

sing to the LORD, all the earth.

[2] Sing to the LORD, bless his name;

tell of his salvation from day to day.

[3] Declare his glory among the nations,

his marvelous works among all the peoples.

[4] For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;

he is to be revered above all gods.

[5] For all the gods of the peoples are idols,

but the LORD made the heavens.

[6] Honor and majesty are before him;

strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

[7] Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples,

ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

[8] Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;

bring an offering, and come into his courts.

[9] Worship the LORD in holy splendor;

tremble before him, all the earth.

[10] Say among the nations, "The LORD is king!

The world is firmly established; it shall never be moved.

He will judge the peoples with equity."

[11] Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;

let the sea roar, and all that fills it;

[12] let the field exult, and everything in it.

_[12]Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy

[13] before the LORD; for he is coming,

for he is coming to judge the earth.

_[13]He will judge the world with righteousness,

and the peoples with his truth.

96.1-3       Sing a new song of praise to the LORD

96.4-6       The LORD is better than the other “gods”

96.7-9       All creation worships the LORD

96.10-13   The LORD is King and Judge

96.11-13a        Nature rejoices in the LORD

96.13b                  Because the LORD judges w/ righteousness & truth

Note that the LBW / BCP and NRSV have the same number of verses, but they are divided slightly differently in the last three verses. The NRSV is used here, and where they differ the LBW verse numbers are indicated as _[subscripts]. THE LBW / BCP translation is available online in several formats at http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bcp/.

Psalm 96 is roughly the same as 1Chro 16.23-33. Is this significant?

Lesson II: Titus 2.11-14 [NRSV]

[11] For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, [12] training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, [13] while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. [14] He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.

2.11    God’s grace has brought salvation to all

2.12          (By) instructing us to live moral, disciplined lives

2.13          while wait 2^nd coming

2.14    Christ gave himself so we could be a holy people

Q: Is this a Christmas lesson? Would another be suitabler?

     RCL I         Titus 2.11-14         God’s gift of salvation to all

     RCL II        Titus 3.4-7             Gift of salvation thru Jesus Christ

     RCL III       Hebrews 1.1-12    God has spoken to us by a Son

     SBH alt      1 John 4.7-16        God’s love revealed thru his Son

     RC Vigil    Acts 13.16-19,22-25    Salvation history up thru John the Baptist

Luke 2.1-20 [NRSV]

2 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. [2] This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. [3] All went to their own towns to be registered. [4] Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. [5] He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. [6] While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. [7] And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

[8] In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. [9] Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. [10] But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see--I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: [11] to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. [12] This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger." [13] And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,

[14] "Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace among those whom he favors!"

[15] When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." [16] So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. [17] When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; [18] and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. [19] But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. [20] The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Outline of Luke 2.1-20:

2.1-7   Setting & Birth

2.1-5         Joseph & (pregnant) Mary go to Bethlehem for the census

2.6-7         Mary has her baby

2.8-14 Angels Announce Jesus’ birth

2.13-14           Gloria in Excelsis

2.15-20     Shepherd Respond to Jesus’ birth

2.15-17           Shepherds visited baby Jesus

2.19-20           Mary, Shepherds, & People amazed, moved, praise God

2.1      “Emperor Augustus” was also referred to as bringing peace and salvation. How is Jesus the true bringer of salvation and peace?

2.11    “to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” What is the significance of each of these:

           ∙    city of David

           ∙    Savior

           ∙    Messiah

           ∙    the Lord                                                                                      = ”the Lord” / YHWH?

           ∙    The use of all 4 in a single sentence to describe baby Jesus

How are these 4 titles / themes used in other parts of this and other Advent / Christmas / Ephiphany stories? The Gospels as a whole(s)? The Bible as a whole?

What is the “climax” / “focal point” of this pericope? Is this more than one unit? If so, what are the climaxes of those units, and how do they fit together?

There are numerous historical problems with the dates implied in this passage, eg, date of known census, reigns of Herod & Augustus, etc. Some have suggested Luke has messaged the data so it points to Jesus being from Nazareth but born in Bethlehem. If this is true, how does it affect the interpretation of this birth narrative? What other interpretive significance might the time, geographical, and social locations of Luke’s gospel have?

Much is made of the witnesses to Christ’s birth in this passage, suggesting a miracle story form: presentation of the situation / problem; miracle / healing per se; and witness / confirmation / wonder at the miracle. Assuming the birth of Jesus is the miracle and the angels & shepherds are the witness, what is the situation &/o problem in this case? Do our communities experience any similar situations to which this text might speak? Ask the same question, but with the “sign” of the birth being the witness / confirmation. Then what is the miracle?

Compare Luke’s and Matthew’s birth narratives. Luke emphasizes the marginal and the ordinary (shepherds, small out-of-the-way village, un/semi-wed mother, manger, “all who heard it”, angels on a par with shepherds), while Matthew focuses on the powerful and the exotic (Herod, Magi, slaughter of innocents, flight to Egypt). What is the significance of this?

How can the specifics of this birth narrative be translated into 2002 terms? What might bring Mary and Joseph to New Haven? Where might Jesus have to be born here? Who might fill the role of the angels & shepherds? What would your role be?

Rel      Relevance: d = Hymn of Day e = Ti 2

                             o = Is 9                      g = Lk 9

p = Ps 96

LBW    Lutheran Book of Worship

WOV  With One Voice—A Lutheran Resource for Worship

S91      Hymnal Supplement 1991 (GIA)

TFF      This Far by Faith—An African American Resource for Worship

732(a)  Silent Night (732a) and Night of Silence (732) in S91 can be sung simultaneously as a descant / counterpoint thing.

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Copyright © 2004 by Richard M Burgess                                      latest revision: December 31, 2004